Escape Dynamics, which focused on sending cargo to space on a wave of beamed propulsion, shut down five weeks ago. The following message is now on its website: After years of research and several technology demonstrations which advanced the state-of-the-art in external propulsion, we concluded that, while microwave propulsion is feasible and is capable of efficiency and performance surpassing chemical rockets, the cost of completing the R&D all the way […]

LaserMotive PR — Seattle, Wash. (June 13, 2011) – LaserMotive, an independent R&D company specializing in laser power beaming and winner of the 2009 NASA Power Beaming Challenge, today announced it has been invited to demonstrate its wireless power systems for unmanned aerial vehicles at the NASA Day on the Hill, Wednesday June 15 in the Rayburn Foyer, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC.
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An interesting — if sketchy — report from the website of futurist Ray Kurweil about a joint DARPA-NASA project on interstellar travel:

NASA Ames Director Simon “Pete” Worden revealed Saturday that NASA Ames has “just started a project with DARPA called the Hundred Year Starship,” with $1 million funding from DARPA and $100K from NASA.

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Monday, Oct. 11, 2010: 2-3:30 PM PDT: We welcome back Dr. Alan Stern, PI of the New Horizons Project. We will also be talking about research opportunities with the developing suborbital market. Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010, 7-8:30 PM PDT: We welcome back Dr. Wendell Mendell from NASA JSC. We will be discussing lunar and planetary exploration and more. Wednesday, Oct. 13, 7-9 PM PDT: OPEN LINES. All topics are welcome […]

An overview of the Singularity University student space projects from the school’s closing ceremony last Friday.

NASA Jump-starts Space Technology Program
Space News

Senior NASA officials are so eager to jump-start advanced technology efforts that they sought and won congressional approval to devote $36.5 million in 2010 funding to eight high-priority research projects.

Those projects, which include joint efforts with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to investigate horizontal launch capabilities, in-orbit satellite servicing and power-beam propulsion, are set to begin immediately, said Robert Braun, NASA chief technologist.

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I just came from the Singularity University over at NASA Ames. Students presented their business proposals this afternoon for how to open up space over the next decade so that it positively affects a billion people. A total of 24 students — a third of the class — were involved in developing space projects. They will be forming companies to pursue their ideas.

There were five ventures presented:

1. Cheap Access to Space – Beamed propulsion for sending satellites into orbit
2. SWARM – An Iridium-on-steroids constellation of 300 multipurpose LEO satellites
3. Made in Space – In-space manufacturing that negates the need to ship things up from Earth
4. SpaceBio Labs – Cheap and reliable access for bio-tech research
5. AI Labs – Using artificial intelligence and virtual environments to explore and experience space.

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