Blue Alchemist has been awarded a @NASA Tipping Point partnership to produce scalable solar power systems from lunar dust. We’re developing this technology to access and utilize space resources that enable sustainable exploration for the benefit of Earth.
NEWS | JUL 25, 2023Blue Origin Awarded NASA Partnership to Turn Lunar Regolith into Solar-Power Systems on the MoonBreakthrough could lead to autonomous manufacture of unlimited amounts of solar power, power transmission cables, and oxygen anywhere on the surface of the MoonNASA awarded Blue Origin a $35 million Tipping Point partnership today to continue advancing its innovative Blue Alchemist breakthrough revealed earlier this year. Blue Alchemist is a proposed end-to-end, scalable, autonomous, and commercial solution that produces solar cells from lunar regolith, which is the dust and crushed rock abundant on the surface of the Moon. Based on a process called molten regolith electrolysis, the breakthrough would bootstrap unlimited electricity and power transmission cables anywhere on the surface of the Moon. This process also produces oxygen as a useful byproduct for propulsion and life support.According to NASA, a technology like Blue Alchemist is considered at a Tipping Point if the agency’s investment can help grow the innovation into a viable commercial solution. Today’s investment will result in a demonstration of autonomous operation in a simulated lunar environment by 2026.“Harnessing the vast resources in space to benefit Earth is part of our mission, and we’re inspired and humbled to receive this investment from NASA to advance our innovation,” said Pat Remias, vice president, Capabilities Directorate of Space Systems Development. “First we return humans to the Moon, then we start to ‘live off the land.’”
New KSC/Cape flyover!Covering construction of SpaceX's new crew access tower for Crew Dragon at SLC-40, Blue Origin's developments at Exploration Park and Launch Complex 36, and Amazon's Kuiper satellite integration, and more.youtube.com/watch?v=yjpT9e…Hosted by Matt (@badnewsbaron), joined by Max (@_mgde_) and Ryan (@dpoddolphinpro).
It sounds like Blue Origin is considering acquiring Ball Aerospace. Would bolster Blue’s spacecraft division.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1686862326073356288QuoteIt sounds like Blue Origin is considering acquiring Ball Aerospace. Would bolster Blue’s spacecraft division.
As a former long time Ball Aerospace team member, definitely mixed feelings about this.In many ways, Ball Aerospace was shackled and severely limited by Ball Corp in my opinion and I won't elaborate- but being able to break free of that would potentially be good for them.On the other hand, the culture clash and a severe impedance mismatch between organizational capabilities and practices would potentially wreck many of the last remaining great parts about Ball Aerospace under Blue ownership.The only way I can see it being good for the acquired Ball Aerospace team and programs would be if it got better access to capital for projects and in particular much needed facilities and capabilities improvements.I don't think it would be great for many of my former colleagues- but they're already in a minority at this point as the amount of hiring, growth, and change have been significant in the last few years. I can't think of a way that the Ball capabilities would help Blue on the spacecraft front except for perhaps if there was a huge focus at Blue on Lunar program work. Those lunar programs need very different talent and capabilities from what Kuiper needs. (And, Frankly, I think Kuiper has exactly the wrong set of folks working at Blue for what that program needs, except for perhaps some integration and test folks.)
<snip>I can't think of a way that the Ball capabilities would help Blue on the spacecraft front except for perhaps if there was a huge focus at Blue on Lunar program work. Those lunar programs need very different talent and capabilities from what Kuiper needs. (And, Frankly, I think Kuiper has exactly the wrong set of folks working at Blue for what that program needs, except for perhaps some integration and test folks.)
Kuiper is Amazon project and company. Blue is only providing some of launches that are needed to deploy Kuiper satellites. Bezos is only a minor shareholder by percentage in Amazon and no longer runs company.
Quote from: jimvela on 08/03/2023 06:09 pm<snip>I can't think of a way that the Ball capabilities would help Blue on the spacecraft front except for perhaps if there was a huge focus at Blue on Lunar program work. Those lunar programs need very different talent and capabilities from what Kuiper needs. (And, Frankly, I think Kuiper has exactly the wrong set of folks working at Blue for what that program needs, except for perhaps some integration and test folks.) Blue Origin (really just Bezos) is buying Ball Aerospace before someone else can.
Quote from: jimvela on 08/03/2023 06:09 pmAs a former long time Ball Aerospace team member, definitely mixed feelings about this.In many ways, Ball Aerospace was shackled and severely limited by Ball Corp in my opinion and I won't elaborate- but being able to break free of that would potentially be good for them.On the other hand, the culture clash and a severe impedance mismatch between organizational capabilities and practices would potentially wreck many of the last remaining great parts about Ball Aerospace under Blue ownership.The only way I can see it being good for the acquired Ball Aerospace team and programs would be if it got better access to capital for projects and in particular much needed facilities and capabilities improvements.I don't think it would be great for many of my former colleagues- but they're already in a minority at this point as the amount of hiring, growth, and change have been significant in the last few years. I can't think of a way that the Ball capabilities would help Blue on the spacecraft front except for perhaps if there was a huge focus at Blue on Lunar program work. Those lunar programs need very different talent and capabilities from what Kuiper needs. (And, Frankly, I think Kuiper has exactly the wrong set of folks working at Blue for what that program needs, except for perhaps some integration and test folks.) Kuiper is Amazon project and company. Blue is only providing some of launches that are needed to deploy Kuiper satellites. Bezos is only a minor shareholder by percentage in Amazon and no longer runs company.
B.O. fears/respects SpaceX more than the FCC/ITU?
Quote from: matthewkantar on 08/03/2023 11:23 pmB.O. fears/respects SpaceX more than the FCC/ITU? At present Blue have nothing to fear from SpaceX as lack of missions is all due to lack of operational LV not competitors outbidding them.
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 08/03/2023 07:19 pmQuote from: jimvela on 08/03/2023 06:09 pm<snip>I can't think of a way that the Ball capabilities would help Blue on the spacecraft front except for perhaps if there was a huge focus at Blue on Lunar program work. Those lunar programs need very different talent and capabilities from what Kuiper needs. (And, Frankly, I think Kuiper has exactly the wrong set of folks working at Blue for what that program needs, except for perhaps some integration and test folks.) Blue Origin (really just Bezos) is buying Ball Aerospace before someone else can.Who else might have wanted to purchase Ball?
I'm having a hard time with what the new company will be called. You just can't make up this stuff.
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/02/2023 10:12 pmhttps://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1686862326073356288QuoteIt sounds like Blue Origin is considering acquiring Ball Aerospace. Would bolster Blue’s spacecraft division.I have heard that this is NOT happening, at least not directly.edit: Not SNC eitheredit 2: If you don’t KNOW the short list, don’t guess. It’s a waste of time.(For discussions of possible names and nicknames, etc., we do have the Party Thread.)
Berger was soo certain.Well, at least we'll be spared the endless jokes, though it might've been fun
