Author Topic: Nanoracks  (Read 66385 times)

Offline Danderman

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Nanoracks
« on: 06/17/2013 03:40 pm »
This is the thread for Nanoracks news that is not necessarily related to ISS science stuff.

To begin:

http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/nanoracks-cargo-delivered-by-the-atv-funding-raised-for-ext-platform-.html

NanoRacks: Cargo delivered by the ATV + Funding raised for ext. platform



    NanoRacks, the Houston space-science startup located a stone’s throw away from NASA, announced today it has raised $2.6 million. Emerge, a Brussels-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage startups in telecom and e-commerce, is the lead investor to the tune of $1.5 million in the Series A round for NanoRacks. Chris Cummins, NanoRacks’ CFO, says the remainder of the investment is largely from individuals from Texas and California.

Analysis: This will provide the required capital for the Nanoracks External Platform to be delivered to ISS  in the next year or so. Also, I would not be surprised if some of the money were to be used to expand the company into asteroid/Moon/Mars exploration activities.

« Last Edit: 06/17/2013 03:41 pm by Danderman »

Offline jongoff

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #1 on: 06/17/2013 08:19 pm »
Analysis: This will provide the required capital for the Nanoracks External Platform to be delivered to ISS  in the next year or so. Also, I would not be surprised if some of the money were to be used to expand the company into asteroid/Moon/Mars exploration activities.

Congrats on closing the Series A round! It'll be good having something like the NanoRacks EP on station.

~Jon

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #2 on: 06/27/2013 06:05 pm »
http://www.planetaryresources.com/2013/06/planetary-resources-prepares-for-launch-of-the-arkyd-series-of-spacecraft/

Planetary Resources Prepares for Launch of the Arkyd Series of Spacecraft

Planetary Resources, Inc., the asteroid mining company, will advance its mission to mine resource-rich near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) by launching the first in its Arkyd Series of spacecraft – the A3 – into low-Earth orbit as early as April 2014.  The A3 is the Arkyd 100’s technology demonstrator, and the mission will provide for early testing and serve to validate the spacecraft’s core technology and software in the development of the program.

Planetary Resources is under contract with NanoRacks, through its Space Act Agreement with NASA, to release the A3 from the International Space Station’s Kibo airlock. “We are excited for the opportunity that this rapid launch option provides us to begin testing the avionics and control systems of the Arkyd Series spacecraft,” said Chris Lewicki, President and Chief Engineer, Planetary Resources, Inc.

Offline ClaytonBirchenough

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #3 on: 07/03/2013 05:50 pm »
Analysis: This will provide the required capital for the Nanoracks External Platform to be delivered to ISS  in the next year or so. Also, I would not be surprised if some of the money were to be used to expand the company into asteroid/Moon/Mars exploration activities.

Care to speculate on the BEO exploration activities that would be conducted/offered?
Clayton Birchenough

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #4 on: 07/03/2013 06:06 pm »
Analysis: This will provide the required capital for the Nanoracks External Platform to be delivered to ISS  in the next year or so. Also, I would not be surprised if some of the money were to be used to expand the company into asteroid/Moon/Mars exploration activities.

Care to speculate on the BEO exploration activities that would be conducted/offered?

My speculation is just that. I would imagine that when crewed spacecraft are sent out there, their confined volumes would lend themselves to small experiments, such as those supported by Nanoracks.

Offline ClaytonBirchenough

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #5 on: 07/07/2013 10:39 am »
My speculation is just that. I would imagine that when crewed spacecraft are sent out there, their confined volumes would lend themselves to small experiments, such as those supported by Nanoracks.

Awesome; can't wait to follow Nanoracks BEO! :)
Clayton Birchenough

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #6 on: 08/22/2013 06:09 pm »
NanoRacks' CEO Jeffrey Manber receiving the NASA 2012 Exceptional Public Achievement Medal this week in Houston.

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #7 on: 09/09/2013 06:13 pm »

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #8 on: 09/13/2013 03:39 pm »
Nanoracks is looking for a controller:

http://spaceref.biz/careers/job.php?jid=12

Job Description

Opportunity for a Houston- based Senior Controller to handle the financial nuts and bolts of one of the most dynamic space companies in the industry today. Reporting directly to the CFO and CEO, you will be expected to handle the full range of responsibilities, from bank transactions to financial reports as a key member of a world-class, high energy team.

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #9 on: 10/14/2013 03:03 pm »
http://celestialcircuits.com/

This company makes controller boards for CubeLabs. I guess they are in competition with the Ardulab people.

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #10 on: 10/15/2013 02:34 pm »
The first Lithuanian-made satellite Lituanica SAT-1 departs for NASA space center in the US on October 17th.

The Baltic country’s first satellite is expected to blast off on December 8th.

The small satellite weighs only 1.3 kilograms and is stuffed with modern high-tech electronics.

The satellite project is being developed by the University of Vilnius and a public agency, Innovative Engineering Projects, in cooperation with Nanoracks, a private company from the USA.

The satellite is expected to stay in orbit for more than six months.


http://gbtimes.com/focus/science-technology/web-tv/gbtimes-daily-1510-lithuania

Offline VatTas

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #11 on: 10/15/2013 07:58 pm »
The first Lithuanian-made satellite Lituanica SAT-1 departs for NASA space center in the US on October 17th.
Here's web page for this nanosatellite: Lituanica SAT-1
Unfortunately, more detailed info is only in Lithuanian. They are probably too busy now to update English version...

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #12 on: 10/15/2013 08:05 pm »
The first Lithuanian-made satellite Lituanica SAT-1 departs for NASA space center in the US on October 17th.
Here's web page for this nanosatellite: Lituanica SAT-1
Unfortunately, more detailed info is only in Lithuanian. They are probably too busy now to update English version...

http://www.kosmonautai.lt/en/

Offline VatTas

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #13 on: 10/22/2013 02:04 pm »
Ha ha. It appears that Cygnus mission will in fact carry TWO Lithuanian "first" satellites. Second one (or first...) is called LitSat-1. Actually, this one is a bit more interesting, as it will carry prototype of piezoelectric motor based attitude control system. Unfortunately, no info in English. Here's one google-tranlated article:

Article on LitSat-1

edit: spelling
« Last Edit: 10/22/2013 05:56 pm by VatTas »

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #14 on: 10/22/2013 02:57 pm »
http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/44777/nasa-intends-to-launch-lithuanias-domestically-engineered-satellites-this-year-201344777/

According to www.lrt.lt and ‘Invest Lithuania’, the first two satellites developed by Lithuanian scientists will be launched into space this autumn.

The United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will place the first of two satellites – the ‘LitSat-1’ created by a joint team from Kaunas Technology University (KTU) and the Space Sciences and Technology Institute in Vilnius – into orbit after final preparations.

“The satellite is now undergoing additional testing. We must ensure the satellite passes vibration tests because during the launch phase there can be excessive vibration. When all components are assembled, the satellite will be delivered to NASA,” stated Algis Karpavičius, a KTU student.

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #15 on: 10/22/2013 02:58 pm »
Ha ha. I appears that Cygnus mission will in fact carry TWO Lithuanian "first" satellites. Second one (or first...) is called LitSat-1. Actually, this one is a bit more interesting, as it will carry prototype of piezoelectric motor based attitude control system. Unfortunately, no info in English. Here's one google-tranlated article:

Article on LitSat-1

Two Lithuanian Amateur Radio CubeSats Plan 2013 Launch

http://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/26/two-lithuanian-cubesats/

It is hoped that two Lithuanian satellites will be among the CubeSats sent by Nanoracks LLC to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX CRS-3 mission in November, 2013. They will be deployed from the ISS by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The Kaunas University of Technology is developing LituanicaSAT-1 while the Lithuanian Space Federation is working on LitSat-1.

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #16 on: 10/25/2013 02:38 pm »


Litsat-1.


Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #17 on: 10/26/2013 03:01 pm »
DIY Space Programs
Citizen-science satellites allow anyone to run experiments in orbit


http://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/satellites/diy-space-programs

For the past four years, a small company called NanoRacks has been flying science experiments into orbit on board the space shuttle and on ISS resupply missions. NASA and Japanese astronauts control the experiments, many of which have been designed by high school students. Over 20 000 U.S. students have been involved, raising the necessary funds (a 30-day mission starts at $30 000) from bake sales and car washes.

Last year, NanoRacks deployed its first satellite from an ISS air lock. “Today we have over 50 satellites under contract. We’re now designing our own cubesat dispenser to maximize how many satellites we can put out during a hatch opening,” says Jeffrey Manber, NanoRacks’ founder and managing director.

NanoRacks will handle the November launch of the aforementioned ArduSats as well as two other high-profile citizen-science satellites. Planetary Resources, a start-up hoping to prospect and mine near-earth asteroids, is planning space telescopes that armchair astronomers will use to take high-resolution photos of celestial objects for $200. Cheaper still is SkyCube, built by Southern Stars. This ultrabasic satellite will broadcast a 120-character tweet of your choice from orbit for just $1 or shoot a low-res image of Earth for $6.

Offline Jirka Dlouhy

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #18 on: 11/01/2013 09:31 pm »
Florida To Invest $500,000 in NanoRacks

http://www.spacenews.com/article/civil-space/37954florida-to-invest-500000-in-nanoracks

By Irene Klotz | Nov. 1, 2013


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space Florida, a state-backed economic development agency, will invest up to $500,000 in NanoRacks LLC, an in-space commercial services provider that next month will fly its first cubesat launcher to the international space station.
 
The $500,000 represents the final piece of a $3.1 million round of Series A investment in XO Markets, the holding company for Houston-based NanoRacks.
 
Previously, XO Markets raised $2.6 million from outside investors including Near Earth LLC, a Connecticut-based financial services firm that specializes in financing for satellite and space technologies.
 
Space Florida’s board of directors gave chief executive Frank DiBello a green light to proceed with negotiations for the $500,000 investment during its Oct. 30 meeting in Miami. The company was not identified by name during the meeting, but NanoRacks Managing Director Jeffrey Manber later confirmed the financing was for his firm.
 
DiBello told SpaceNews the direct investment in a company was not Space Florida’s first, nor its largest. Previous investments include $1 million to U.K.-based Cella Energy, a hydrogen storage developer, for a facility near the Kennedy Space Center. More typically, Space Florida makes loans that can be converted into equity at a later date.
 
“We’re a very flexible financing agency,” DiBello said. “We’re not venture capitalists, but we will help a company.”
 
Florida’s investment in NanoRacks will cover some of the costs of two pieces of hardware to be flown to the space station. The first is a small-satellite launcher that is slated to fly to the station in December aboard an Orbital Sciences Corp. Cygnus cargo ship.
 
The launcher will be operated from Japan’s Kibo module, which includes a small airlock, robotic arm and external platform. The Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA) already operates a cubesat launch service aboard the station, similar to what NanoRacks intends to provide on a commercial basis.
 
Cubesats are standardized, 10-centimeter sided cubes weighing about 1.2 kilograms. Designed by California Polytechnic State University and introduced in 1999, cubesats are relatively inexpensive miniature spacecraft that produce their own power and transit signals. Individual cubesats can be configured to fly together.
 
More than 30 cubesats are scheduled to be flown inside NanoRacks’ launcher and deployed from the station early next year, Manber said.
 
“This is really a historic new relationship between the private sector and the space agency. We saw the demand for increased small satellite deployment — and we didn’t ask NASA for money — and we designed and have now manufactured six cubesat deployers to supplement the Japanese dispensers,” Manber said.
 
NanoRacks’ second piece of space station equipment will be an external platform that will be used to mount sensors, materials and experiments outside the orbital outpost.
 
“We have very strong interest in that from the U.S. government and commercial organizations,” Manber said.
 
The platform is being built by Astrium North America, an offshoot of EADS, the Netherlands-based European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. It is slated to fly on Space Exploration Technologies’ fifth Dragon cargo run to the station, targeted for 2014.
 
The cubesat launcher cost about $700,000 and the external platform about $10 million, Manber said.
 
“We’re self-investing and we have millions of dollars at stake on space station utilization,” Manber said. “Florida shares our vision and we’re delighted if they would come in and be a partner.”
 
Space Florida’s investment will give it about a 3 percent ownership stake in NanoRacks’ parent company, Manber said.

Offline Danderman

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Re: Nanoracks
« Reply #19 on: 11/02/2013 02:22 am »
Good news indeed for Nanoracks!

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