INTRODUCTION TO THE RPCs

Click here to view Fred's presentation on Research Partnership Centers
Click here to view Fred's presentation with audio narration

What you've seen so far in the presentations is a progression of the general to the specific. I'm going to describe the capabilities and opportunities of the RPCs. You'll have opportunities later to discuss things more with those individuals. I represent power in space, so come see me afterwards if you want more information on that topic.

Research Partnership centers throughout the US - I'd like to introduce several of the folks here from the various locations and organizations. I'm just naming some of the 80+ organizations.

Prototype Single Locker Freezer Using a Stirling Engine - This is a piece of hardware you can buy and use right now.

Glacier - This is another piece of hardware usable right now.

Bioreactor with Real-time Sample Assay - We'll have breakout areas later for you to see more about this.

Ultra-Sensitive Laser Optical Nose

System Status Informatics for Exploration Missions

Realistic Medical Capabilities Training for CEV Operations - How do you do surgery in space?

Physiologic Status Assessment During EVA - This is about people doing hard activities in space and not just up there enjoying themselves on a vacation.

Imaging Informatics: System for Mission Based Vehicle and Human System in Exploration - What are the responses and diagnoses that can be made?

Space Automated Bioproduct Lab (SABL) and Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)

AMG-162 (previously OPG): Bone Loss Countermeasure - This is very important.

Wireless Sensor Networks: BioNet- This is about the human body.

Mouse Pad a.k.a. Commercial Biomedical Test Module (CBTM) - This is the Mouse Hilton. It takes care of everything they need.

Hyperspectral Imaging is Providing New Knowledge - These are images of the same hand but showing different things about the hand and forearm.

Institute for Technology Developments Patented Hyperspectral Sensors - These include ultraviolet, visible and near infrared, and short wave infrared.

Space Foundation Hall of Fame 2005 Inductee - " ITD's Portable Hyperspectral Imaging System" was inducted into the US Space Foundation Hall of Fame. Only 52 technologies have been inducted over the past 17 years. This is a major achievement for RPC.

Hyperspectral Imaging - This is about more than just visualization. It also includes biopathogen detection.

Spectroscopic LASER Sensors - This about things you do with lasers developed for space.

Miniature and High Energy Density Capacitor Banks for High and Cryo Temperature Applications

Fuel Cell, Thin Film Solid Oxide - Fuel cells will be used in the future, as they are already being used now.

Multi-Functional Optoelectronic Chemical Sensor - Nano-liters can be detected here.

Rad-hard Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) - This is a piece of hardware ready to go.

SpaceDRUMS Operations and Research. - It's a containerless storage system. You can levitate material without a container for ultra pure processing. You can mix it, levitate it, then ignite it. This is available and is manifested for flight.

Fire Suppression System for Spacecraft and Aircraft - This system is based on making an ultra-small particle of fog that doesn't have a sustained impact on your item.

Lunar Excavation and Oxygen Production - RESOLVE

Mitigation of Dust and Electrostatic Accumulation for Lunar and Martian Missions - Dust on any planetary surface is very important. How do we handle it?

HDMAX imaging System for Exploration Missions (ITSC) - Ultra high definition quality is even better than 35mm film quality.

STC Analysis, Design, and Test of Prototypes and Engineering Models - If you wanted an organization having the capability to build structures and test them, this is it.

Ultrahigh Definition Space Video - This is a joint effort with ITSC at Florida Atlantic University. There is a huge difference between the resolution of this to anything we now have.

New Star Tracker Technology - These systems are ready to buy now.

160W Free Piston Stirling Battery Charging Systems for DOD - This was developed for the Department of Defense initially.

Stretched Lens Solar Array/Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) - The notion is to use materials at higher rates but not pay the penalty or cost.

Solar Electric Propulsion - There are multiple technologies that are available now around this.

Wireless Heterogeneous Sensor Networks for Space Exploration - This is from the Maryland Hybrid Network Center. They work with having everything be able to talk to everything else. It's an intelligent communication system for lots of different applications.

Dynamic Network Monitoring and Management Supporting Exploration Missions

Communication Architectures and Systems for the CEV and InSS - How do things adjust themselves?

Reduced Gravity Propellant Management - A mockup Delta 4 is shown here.

Photovoltaic Development

Integrated Power and Attitude Control Bearing Development - This is an interesting technology. It is one that combines energy storage and attitude control. It puts multiple flywheels together in 3D space and moves momentum around through a multiple axis and stores energy.

Lunar Manufacturing Facility

Those are some of the technologies around. You'll be able to talk with the directors of some of these later today.

Thank you, Fred. Are there any questions?

Q: Are these all under SPD?

A: Yes, they are all at research partnership centers right now. However, we do have hybrids. That comes under putting consortias together to meet various needs. Mark mentioned ROI. When a product gets produced, the directors for centers have had input on that.

We will soon move into breakouts and begin the interactive part of the session. This is a 2.5 day experience. There is no typical agenda. There will be a series of activities, either individual or in teams, and every activity will produce a product. Everything you make will get shared in some fashion. Things are happening in parallel. Everyone will not be a part of every conversation, so sharing the products will be important.

We also work differently by assuming everyone will be here for the whole 2.5 days. We feel it is important to know who is here, but not necessarily through formal introductions. There are activities in parallel, but the thing you produce can be iterated over the 2.5 days. So it doesn't have to be "right" the first time. All these activities focus on exploring, discovering, and uncovering what opportunities exist.

Our team is documenting the work you produce. We will have a website produced within 24 hours after you finish. You'll have access to it and learn about how to access it through an email soon after the event ends. We're capturing everything done in the large group format. So you do not need to take notes, but you can if you want to. This gives you more time to focus on building relationships.

There are no formal breaks so take care of yourselves accordingly. There will be refreshments available throughout the session. Our job is to create activities and questions compelling enough to engage you in conversation with each other.

As mentioned earlier, there are 12 RPC centers that have been narrowed down to seven. These will be addressed in the next breakout rounds. An 8th team will explore private possibilities. There is a team list and breakout number. We've tried to cross pollinate expertise and energies of people, but feel free to change teams if you really want to. You will also have an opportunity to talk to everyone at the reception later tonight. The assignment for each RPC focus area is to look at the supply, demand, and investment for it. Are there any questions? No? Tthen let's get to work. Thank you.