Author Topic: Stealth startup Arkyd: "low-cost commercial robotic exploration" of space (Read 7191 times)

neilh · « **on:** 07/09/2011 06:18 pm »

I saw this post about Arkyd Astronautics, which I'd never heard before and I don't think has ever been mentioned here:

http://www.geekwire.com/2011/nasa-veteran-emerges-helm-arkyd-stealthy-space-travel-startup
via http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=30815

The President and Chief Engineer is Chris Lewicki (mission manager for the Phoenix Mars Lander), chairman of the company is Peter Diamandis (X Prize Creator), and Eric Anderson (of Space Adventures) is also involved. Their twitter account has no posts, but has the description "Arkyd Astronautics develops technology and systems to enable low-cost commercial robotic exploration of the solar system."

Any random speculation on what sort of approach they might take?

jongoff · « **Reply #1 on:** 07/09/2011 07:26 pm »

I'd think it was another GLXP team, if it weren't for the fact that the registration is now closed for that competition, IIRC. Being a fellow space roboticist these days, my interest is piqued, however.

NotGncDude · « **Reply #2 on:** 07/09/2011 11:18 pm »

Jon! They're a competitor!

neilh · « **Reply #3 on:** 07/09/2011 11:47 pm »

Quote from: GncDude on 07/09/2011 11:18 pm

Jon! They're a competitor!

?

neutrino78x · « **Reply #4 on:** 07/11/2011 05:05 am »

I hope they are a company that is going to make probes to prospect and mine asteroids.

--Brian

go4mars · « **Reply #5 on:** 07/11/2011 05:28 am »

Quote from: neutrino78x on 07/11/2011 05:05 am

I hope they are a company that is going to make probes to prospect and mine asteroids.

--Brian

Diamandis believes in orbital mining anyways... That would be cool!

Danderman · « **Reply #6 on:** 07/11/2011 03:39 pm »

Quote from: GncDude on 07/09/2011 11:18 pm

Jon! They're a competitor!

Is the implication that this team is one of the Google Lunar XPrize competitors?

jongoff · « **Reply #7 on:** 07/11/2011 04:47 pm »

Quote from: Danderman on 07/11/2011 03:39 pm

Quote from: GncDude on 07/09/2011 11:18 pm
Jon! They're a competitor!
Is the implication that this team is one of the Google Lunar XPrize competitors?

No, I think GnDcude was joking that they're a competitor of Altius because both of us are doing space roboticsy related stuff.

~Jon

neilh · « **Reply #8 on:** 07/11/2011 08:33 pm »

Quote from: jongoff on 07/11/2011 04:47 pm

Quote from: Danderman on 07/11/2011 03:39 pm
Quote from: GncDude on 07/09/2011 11:18 pm
Jon! They're a competitor!
Is the implication that this team is one of the Google Lunar XPrize competitors?

No, I think GnDcude was joking that they're a competitor of Altius because both of us are doing space roboticsy related stuff.

~Jon

If anything, they seem more like potential customers.

NotGncDude · « **Reply #9 on:** 07/12/2011 06:01 am »

Quote from: jongoff on 07/11/2011 04:47 pm

Quote from: Danderman on 07/11/2011 03:39 pm
Quote from: GncDude on 07/09/2011 11:18 pm
Jon! They're a competitor!
Is the implication that this team is one of the Google Lunar XPrize competitors?

No, I think GnDcude was joking that they're a competitor of Altius because both of us are doing space roboticsy related stuff.

~Jon

Yup. I admit that was a bit cryptic if you don't know what Jon's working on.

NotGncDude · « **Reply #10 on:** 07/12/2011 06:04 am »

Quote from: neilh on 07/11/2011 08:33 pm

Quote from: jongoff on 07/11/2011 04:47 pm
Quote from: Danderman on 07/11/2011 03:39 pm
Quote from: GncDude on 07/09/2011 11:18 pm
Jon! They're a competitor!
Is the implication that this team is one of the Google Lunar XPrize competitors?

No, I think GnDcude was joking that they're a competitor of Altius because both of us are doing space roboticsy related stuff.

~Jon

If anything, they seem more like potential customers.