About this project
The SpaceMiners are a group of aerospace engineers which design & manufacture hightech robotic machinery for NASA funded Aerospace Contests, part of the Centennial Challenges & Xprize.
[Video is an excerpt of the SpaceMiners at the 2006 Xprize Space Elevator Games in Las Cruces, New Mexico]
We plan to enter the 2009 Lunar Regolith Excavation Competition and claim the grand prize of $500,000 dollars!
The rules are simple. Our robot needs to dig at least 330lbs of regolith within 30 minutes without getting stuck, falling apart, draining batteries, going out-of-bounds, digging in the wrong spot, etc. So, to make sure we succeed we must invest in the best possible equipment and the right programming.
we are asking all individuals, inventors, designers, programmers, corporations and manufacturers of electronic components, sensors, computers, motors/actuators, construction, communication, power, etc to KICKSTART THE SPACEMINERS INTO HIGH GEAR by supporting us NOW, where it counts most. Give us the proper budget to purchase the right equipment for this exciting opportunity!
[Funds will be also used to pay contest entry fees, insurance, travel expenses, spare parts, promo items, banners, t-shirts, etc.]
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
1
Backer
$125
pledged of $8,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on August 1, 2009.
Pledge $5 or more
1 SpaceMiners 3D Trading Card
Pledge $10 or more
1 SpaceMiners Promo Item [coffee cup, LEDUFO, T-shirt]
Pledge $100 or more
1 of each promo item & name/logo on spaceminers website list of sponsors
Pledge $2,000 or more
company name/logo printed on all promo items and on robot chassis
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Here's a lil SpaceMiner History:
In 2005, the SpaceMiners made their debut at the 1st Annual Space Elevator Games in Mountain View, California by revealing a robotic prototype constructed out of the team leader's wheelchair. With top sponsors like Dremel, Sunrise Medical & Edmund Scientific printed on the robots skin, it was very easy to get worldwide publicity. Popular Mechanics highlighted on the SpaceMiners experimental thermal engine nicknamed, the SMEG. We were also extremely proud to spot all six of our sponsors logos on the back of our team shirts in a popular CNN news video about the space elevator. This video clip can be seen on our website listed below.
In 2006, The Space Elevator Games joined forces with X-prize in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The SpaceMiners were there with a new ultra simple, ultralight design to account for the increasingly difficult requirements. Industry leaders took notice. PRG, Syncrolite & Advanced Mobility Systems each supported us with a generous donation. Our sponsors were again seen across the world on the back of our team shirts, this time in a one hour space documentary entitled, “The Space Cowboys”. Our team leader, Vincent Lopresti, was also featured in the 1st issue of Dallas CEO Magazine 2006: Space-Based businesses.
In 2009, The SpaceMiners unveiled their latest robotic creation, The MoonDawg Lunar Regolith Excavation System. We have researched the NASA database on Lunar Regolith as well as two years worth of valuable video & website information from previous robotic excavation teams. The MoonDawg is specifically designed to out-perform in every aspect of its competitor's prototypes. We are certain that with our unique, yet simple design breakthrough, our MoonDawg excavator will more than exceed NASA's requirements!
www.youtube.com/spaceminers
www.myspace.com/spaceminers
www.centennialchallenges.nasa.gov
www.regolith.csewi.org
