PISCES Projects and Accomplishments-
Projects
In addition to the Student Design Competition, which is described on the "Competitions” page, the following projects were operational at PISCES as of January 2008:
Lunar Analog Field Demonstrations of In-Situ Resource Utilization & Human Robotic Systems
NASA Co-Investigators: William E. Larson, KSC; Gerald B. Sanders & Robert O. Ambrose, JSC
NASA Organization Supported: Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
Other Partners: Canadian Space Agency, NORCAT, Carnegie Mellon University
Concept:
- Utilize Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) volcanic sites in Hawaii to perform lunar analog testing of NASA ISRU-related hardware, software, and operations
- PISCES to prepare and provide both analog site and infrastructure to support 1 to 2 week field demonstrations
- Utilize NASA understanding and expertise of future lunar robotic and human exploration missions to support development of PISCES analog site(s) and student involvement activities
- Establish procedures to select test locations, dates, infrastructure, and costing to ensure demonstrations on a timely and flexible basis
- Establish potential long-term needs and activities for PISCES planning and development
- NASA perform at least one with a goal of two field demonstrations utilizing technologies and hardware develop under the Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP) to drive process and demonstrate analogy and infrastructure capabilities and support
- NASA support at least one PISCES student activity
- Invite the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to participate and develop relationship and data exchange protocols that will make future flight project collaboration easier
Low-Temperature, Long-Life, Compliant Wheels for the Lunar Surface and Beyond
NASA Principal Investigator: Jaret Matthews, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
NASA Organizations Supported: Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and Science Mission Directorate
Other Partners: Michelin Americas Research and Development Corp., Clemson University, Carnegie Mellon University
Accomplishments (June 2007 to date)
- November-December 2006: Proposal Written and Submitted through DBEDT to Hawai’i State Legislature
- January 2007: Student Design Competition Launched
- January-April 2007: SB907 Passes without a Single Negative Vote - $400K for PISCES - Governor Lingle Signs into Law June 7, 2007
- August: Student Design Winners Selected
- July-August 2007: Three Proposals Written to NASA Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP): 1) ISRU with JSC/KSC, 2) Robotic Tests with ARC, 3) “TWEEL” Tests with JPL.
- August 2007: Proposal Written to NASA’s Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research (LASER) Program: “Advanced Materials Research at a Lunar Outpost”
- August 2007: Interviews with Local Business, Civic, Government, Education, Cultural Leaders – Much Support for PISCES
- September 2007: Space Science Course Created at UHH – First Offering Spring Semester 2008
- October 2007: Two awards received from NASA for work at and with PISCES - $640K total.
- September-October 2007: PISCES Video Produced
- November 2006-October 2007: Eleven PISCES Papers/Presentations given at professional conferences around the world (STAIF, JAXA, JAMMS, Tokyo Tech, LPSC, NASA Ames, AIAA, IAC, LEAG, SRR)
- November 7-10, 2007: PISCES Conference, Naniloa Volcanoes Resort, Hilo, HI: Attended by ~100 space professionals from industry, academia and government, and by local business, educational, civic and cultural leaders; keynote address by Lieutenant Governor Aiona.