Excalibur Almaz

[Ronsmytheiii]

Excalibur Almaz Inc (EAI) has successfully completed its Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. EAI, based in Houston, began exchanging technical information with NASA about its human spacecraft concept for low Earth orbit crew transportation in October 2011 under an unfunded Space Act Agreement (SAA).[\quote]

http://www.bis-space.com/2012/07/08/5834/nasa-signs-deal-with-almaz

[Capt. David]

And yet, I can't get a single photograph of a gutted Almaz capsule which is being displayed at the International Space University in France

Was this capsule the same one which is on the Isle of Man ?

The one in France isn't. It's one of the four owned by EA. My interest in this particular capsule is that it is the only one to have all internal components removed. It's just the shell with the spaceframe, and I have yet to see the entire spaceframe.
Regards,

David L. Rickman

Finally got views of the capsule in France (with some measurement I wasn't supposed to see), and the fourth capsule which has had the interior gutted except for the entire internal space frame. Here's a couple of videos which include the fourth capsule.

http://www.manx.net/tv/mt-tv/watch/6227/manx-space-race-1-

http://www.manx.net/tv/mt-tv/watch/6228/manx-space-race-2-

Enjoy,

David L. Rickman

[Nicolas PILLET]

Finally got views of the capsule in France (with some measurement I wasn't supposed to see), and the fourth capsule which has had the interior gutted except for the entire internal space frame. Here's a couple of videos which include the fourth capsule.

http://www.manx.net/tv/mt-tv/watch/6227/manx-space-race-1-

http://www.manx.net/tv/mt-tv/watch/6228/manx-space-race-2-

I don't see the fourth capsule.
In Jurby, they have :

- VA n°009/3
- VA n°103/2
- VA that was flown as Cosmos 929 and Cosmos 998. This one has been white-painted and fitted with factice control panel. In your videos, the capsule that appears to be on the exterior is probably the same one.

[Capt. David]

Hi Nicolas!

The fourth capsule is the one at The International Space University in Strasboug, France. There's a couple of Flickr pages from two of the student:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/niamhiepoos/sets/72157629529597224/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlinglx/sets/72157629819753565/

Interesting note is that this the inner side of the main hatch doesn't have the two seals normally on the hatch.

I've not been able to get a serial number for this capsule, but unlike the 009/3 this one looks like it was never fitted with a space-frame for the various instruments. I'm wondering if this is the capsule at the end of this row:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/2222642773_d9340fabb0_o.jpg


Best,

David L. Rickman

[Zond]

Widow Says Spacey Attorney Took Her For $300,000

"Dula defrauded Beck by inducing her and her husband (since deceased) to advance $300,000, and later purchase an investment in Excalibur Exploration Limited, one of the Excalibur entities, with the fundamental false representation that the company had the technical expertise and associations to develop a business to fly the first commercial prospecting space flight to an asteroid", the complaint states

Hat tip to NewSpaceWatch

[Danderman]

 

Some of this lawsuit is basically the plaintiff realizing that their money is gone and not coming back, but there is some content indicating that the defendant made assertions that were not true.

It is not clear to me the position of Eric Anderson, who seems to have either received $200,000 or paid in $200,000 as part of this asteroid mining project.

[Moe Grills]

Some of this lawsuit is basically the plaintiff realizing that their money is gone and not coming back, but there is some content indicating that the defendant made assertions that were not true.

It is not clear to me the position of Eric Anderson, who seems to have either received $200,000 or paid in $200,000 as part of this asteroid mining project.

Eric Anderson in trouble again?
Isn't this the second time he's run into trouble with the law (either criminal or tort law?)

Something smells fishy here.

[HMXHMX]

Some of this lawsuit is basically the plaintiff realizing that their money is gone and not coming back, but there is some content indicating that the defendant made assertions that were not true.

It is not clear to me the position of Eric Anderson, who seems to have either received $200,000 or paid in $200,000 as part of this asteroid mining project.

Eric Anderson in trouble again?
Isn't this the second time he's run into trouble with the law (either criminal or tort law?)

Something smells fishy here.

Eric Anderson is not in trouble regarding this venture.  He contributed $200K to the capital of the firm.  It's all laid out in the complaint.  He put in $200K and the plaintiff put in $300K; that was the sum total of equity capitalization.

[Capt. David]

Over the past couple of days I have been in contact with several people from Excalibur Almaz and Excalibur Exploration regarding this Lawsuit.

The first thing is to state that this lawsuit was incorrectly reported to be against Excalibur Almaz. It is actually brought against Excalibur Exploration (EE), and has nothing to do with Excalibur Almaz.

The lawsuit was brought by Donna Beck, a long term investor in Excalibur Exploration. Art Dula explained to me that the facts alleged in the complaint are not accurate, and that representatives for Excalibur Exploration will be able to prove this in court. According to Art Dula, "Excalibur Exploration is an active company in good standing which has purchased two excellent phase A asteroid mission studies (one from MDA of Canada, one from Ad Astra Rocket Company of Houston)." He also stated that Excalibur Exploration, "... also bought the right of first refusal to use the VASIMR rocket engine for space resource recovery."

Chris Holland - the In-house lawyer and Council for Excalibur Almaz and Excalibur Exploration had this to say concerning the lawsuit: "Ms. Beck and her husband were both involved in the investment discussions. Mr. Beck's passing is sad, but Ms. Beck led the effort for the two of them and she is a savvy person and an informed investor. She represented to EE in writing that she had opportunity to have her own professional and independent analysis of the investment prior to her commitment. She also represented in writing that she understood this will be a long term investment. She was a Founder and sat on the Board. Excalibur Exploration is an ongoing concern and data thus far produced will benefit all who share in the vision to exploit the vital resources above our heads."

Art Dula added this sentiment, "Ms. Beck made a long term investment. I deeply regret that she is so unhappy that she brought this lawsuit."

My personal take on the situation is that this IS a simple frivolous lawsuit, which ultimately will not affect the future of Excalibur Exploration, or Excalibur Almaz.

Best Regards,

David L. Rickman
549 Caribou Road
Asheville, NC 28803
USA

[Robert Thompson]

Capt. David, I'm not a fan of the EA business plan. I am however appreciative of your efforts to clear the names of New Space players. The margins are so thin, like tin foil, that there is no room at all for schadenfreude. Every last hand on deck. I look forward to hearing your updates.

[Star One]

Just a heads up that there is a short article covering this proposal in the November 2012 issue of Spaceflight magazine, including a few interesting illustrations of Almaz.

[Capt. David]

Just a heads up that there is a short article covering this proposal in the November 2012 issue of Spaceflight magazine, including a few interesting illustrations of Almaz.

I would LOVE to see this, but haven't been in a position to purchase a subscription to Spaceflight. And the nearest University which carries it is 4 hours drive.

I would be great to see these somehow!!!

Thanks for the Heads-Up!

David L. Rickman
549 Caribou Road
Asheville, NC 28803
USA

[Danderman]

http://www.space.com/16373-private-spaceflight-excalibur-almaz-photos.html

[Star One]

Just a heads up that there is a short article covering this proposal in the November 2012 issue of Spaceflight magazine, including a few interesting illustrations of Almaz.

I would LOVE to see this, but haven't been in a position to purchase a subscription to Spaceflight. And the nearest University which carries it is 4 hours drive.

I would be great to see these somehow!!!

Thanks for the Heads-Up!

David L. Rickman
549 Caribou Road
Asheville, NC 28803
USA

Only just spotted this post so sorry for the late reply, did you track it down?

[Capt. David]

Just a heads up that there is a short article covering this proposal in the November 2012 issue of Spaceflight magazine, including a few interesting illustrations of Almaz.

I would LOVE to see this, but haven't been in a position to purchase a subscription to Spaceflight. And the nearest University which carries it is 4 hours drive.

I would be great to see these somehow!!!

Thanks for the Heads-Up!

David L. Rickman
549 Caribou Road
Asheville, NC 28803
USA

Only just spotted this post so sorry for the late reply, did you track it down?

Many thanks, but I did get a copy. As it turned out there was nothing in it (information or images) which I didn't already have.

Best regards,

David L. Rickman

[Downix]

Somehow got into a discussion of EA today. Hoping all is well, and I, for one, am rooting for you guys.

[Danderman]

Excalibur Almaz RRV makes its first journey to Saudia Arabia

http://www.ameinfo.com/step-excalibur-giant-leap-saudia-cargo-337455

For the first time Excalibur Almaz RRV, the only space capsule to have been into space twice, made its first journey to the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.

Its journey started from the Isle of Man which many do not realise is one of the largest investors in space travel behind the USA, Russia and China, where it was trucked to East Midlands Airport.

Saudia Cargo flew the capsule on the 28th March 2013 from EMA to JED where it connected to Riyadh. Meticulous planning was made to ensure safe passage to its final destination.

Excalibur Almaz RRV will be at the science fair in Riyadh and will be taken to schools for space education.

This historical capsule Excalibur Almaz Reusable Return Vehicle (Almaz RRV) took its first flight part of the Cosmos-929 spacecraft which flew on orbit from 17 July-18 August 1977, since then it travelled again on the 30th March 1978, this important flight demonstrated the space capsule's reusability and was designated Cosmos-998. Only the space shuttle has made more journeys into space.

"Saudia Cargo was honoured to move this wonderful piece of engineering for the first time, we strive to move, and go where no other carrier has gone before."

[trothamel]

Wasn't Gemini 2 in space twice, as well?

[QuantumG]

Wasn't Gemini 2 in space twice, as well?

It would appear so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_2#MOL

[fregate]

Wasn't Gemini 2 in space twice, as well?

It would appear so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_2#MOL

There is a tiny tiny difference - Gemini-2 had been used TWICE for SUB-ORBITAL flight (without reaching LEO). TKS VA on another hand had been twice launched into orbit and returned to Earth.