SpaceMETA
SpaceMETA[1] is a Brazilian Group founded in 2010 to explore aerospace opportunities motivated by Google Lunar XPrize Competition[2]
Important update
Due the lack of launch vehicle and some premisses defined by Google, several teams made a coalisaion to have the rights to sign the contract called LIA , defined by the GLXP XPrize organization. SpaceMETA has two option in that age to complete its mission , and one of them was using the Orbit Rocket and other the India Rocket. Due the rule of the GLXP that don't allow more than 10% of gov participation the Indian rocket cannot be used and at this moment Orbital Rocket was not totally ready tested and despite all teams asked to Google and GLXP an extension in the date for the launch , the comptetion was close and only the Israely team TeamIL , move ahead and have crashed news the Moon surface, BTW and fantastic archive but very expenssive according non official sources , that estimate the mission value in 100 USD MM. 20% more expenssive that the Indian Mars landing mission. This information should be verified.
Introduction
As one of the less than 30 active teams around the world (info as of 2012.), and selected to participate in a competition that offers US$30 MM for who first lands on the lunar surface and succeed to realize several special milestones (like send picture and movies to the earth, survive some days there, context some ancient sites from old missions, and walk 500 meters).,[3] in its first mission, SpaceMETA decided to participate bringing rupture ideas to the race, considering to use at minimum level conventional and already used old age space technologies and solutions. SpaceMETA was the last team to be selected by the X Prize Foundation to participate on the GLXP, and the only one selected from Brazil.
Introduction
Checked on 28 January 2016 by an unrelated observer, the SpaceMETA website is no longer operational. No official announcement of termination is easily found. An oficial Update about the domain move report that: At this time the oficial web site from SpaceMETA was moved to http://www.spaceMETA.com.br , for a Brazilian domain , despite there is still an landing page on the English version.
As one of the less than 30 active teams around the world (info as of 2012.) ( in 2017 there was only 5 finaists ), and selected to participate in a competition that offers US$30 MM for who first lands on the lunar surface and succeed to realize several special milestones (like send picture and movies to the earth, survive some days there, context some ancient sites from old missions, and walk 500 meters).,[4] in its first mission, SpaceMETA decided to participate bringing rupture ideas to the race, considering to use at minimum level conventional and already used old age space technologies and solutions.
SpaceMETA was the last team to be selected by the X Prize Foundation to participate on the GLXP, and the only one selected from Brazil.
Checked on 28 January 2016 by an unrelated observer, the SpaceMETA website is no longer operational. No official announcement of termination is easily found. An oficial Update about the domain move report that: At this time the oficial web site from SpaceMETA was moved to http://www.spaceMETA.com.br , for a Brazilian domain , despite there is still an landing page on the English version.
History
SpaceMETA was initially sponsored by Intel Corporation[5] which has the first right refusal for a first round of investment on a success case basis.
Founders
SpaceMETA was founded by Sergio Cabral Cavalcanti,[6] a researcher from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Teams
First Team ( 2010 ) SpaceMETA first Team was formed by - Sergio Cabra; Cavalcanti ( founder ) - Juliana Laxe - Nelson Marques - Laurent Gil - And several professors from UFRJ ( Federal University of Rio de Janeiro ) and UERJ ( State University of Rio de Janeiro )
After 10 years of Project development and several world roadshow with Google GLXP , and fund raise , SpaceMETA start to build its second team and have moved its first goal to a low orbit goal to deploy an ionic powered engine to make power test before start a moon movement.
Second Team ( 2020 ) - Sergio Cabral Cavalcanti ( founder ) - Juliana Laxe - Davi Clemente Monteiro Correia - Scientist Charles Duvoisin Instituto IBCI[7]
Presentations
All SpaceMETA presentations can be found at www.slideshare.net/ideavalley123
Joint Venture with Synergy Moon
SpaceMETA and several other teams has join Synergy Moon as one of the 5 finalist teams to land on the Moon using a possible Orbital Rocket as a primary payload or as Indian rocketas a second payload. As a premisse to don't use a comoditie project Falcon 9 from SpaceX , Sergio Cabral Cavalcanti , founder os SpaceMETA has declared that the teas was more interested on an independent innovation once Falcon 9 has Merlin Engine no news differente from Saturn V from Rockectdine engines, despites its fantastic tehnology project.
Mission overview
SpaceMETA Mission Overview Summary,[8][9] as presented to the XPrize Committee, has proposed several rupture innovation approach for its mission. Actually the disclosed innovations are related with the following technical approaches:
- Usage of ethanol as rocket fuel
- Launch the vehicle not from the ground but a lifted launch using balloons / auxiliary craft
- Usage of inflatable structures instead, to transport big things that should be armed there (like antennas and solar panels)
- Infinity Motion - SpaceMETA doesn't use conventional energy system to create movement on the moon rover (called Solitaire[10] (x-Frog and x-Blob)), but a NITINOL and Coil based kinetic energy converter called Infinity Motion.
- Send information to the Earth not using electromagnetic waves, but a special Optical Modulation reflecting the solar light
- During the movement of the Lunar Modules on the Surface, usage of the contact/impact process, so imbedded sensors will capture the echoes above the surface
- Geographically, SpaceMETA plans to visit some SETI / Scientific related sites of interest on the Moon
Gallery
- SpaceMETA Solitaire near Apollo 12
- SpaceMETA Lunar Rover
- SpaceMETA Windtunnel simulation
- SpaceMETA windtunnel simulation
- SpaceMETA supersonic pressure simulation
- SpaceMETA rupture rocket design
- SpaceMETA Solitaire Lunar Rover with NITINOL Legs Coil
References
- "Google Lunar XPrize".
SpaceMETA at GLXP Official site
- "The Launchpad".
SpaceMETA Selected to participate on the GLXP
- "Rules of the $US30 MM XPrize Competition".
SpaceMETA Selected to participate on the GLXP
- "Rules of the $US30 MM XPrize Competition".
SpaceMETA Selected to participate on the GLXP
- "Intel-SpaceMETA Sponsorship".
Intel Official Press Release About SpaceMETA Sponsorship
- "Sergio Cabral Cavalcanti Profile at GLXP".
- "Instituto IBCI".
Eletromagnetic Tint Radiation Protection
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"SpaceMETA Mission Overview".
SpaceMETA LUMEM Overview
-
"Google Lunar XPrize".
SpaceMETA Lunar Mission Overview
- "The SpaceMETA Moon Rover Solitaire".
External links
- Official website
- Official SpaceMETA website at GLXP
- About Intel Sponsorship to SpaceMETA
- About SpaceMETA SocialNet Facebook
- About Founders Sergio Cabral Cavalcanti Interview
- SpaceMETA - Intel Interview
- Eletromagnetic Tinta Aeroespacial - Eletromagnetic