Re HOPE:

I just returned from a two week missions trip to India. It was a great delight to see the bright faces of hundreds of young people, alive with Hope for a future traditionally denied them! As Dalit, these children traditionally could expect little from a life without education and opportunity. The NGO I have long supported initiated education in these villages almost two decades ago. Gradually, India's promises to its traditionally oppressed “Scheduled Casts” has been implemented, and the private program now supplements the efforts of the Government School. Not surprisingly, the “Faith Based” organization imparts a “Spirit of Excellence” which carries the talented and ambitious to heights unimagined by their parents! And the Love, tangibly present in these collections of youth and their mentors, enables even those with more limited gifts to reach their full potential.

Meanwhile:

Micro-Space has inked an Option/Reservation contract with “Legacy Stone” of Colorado (www.legacystone.com [1]) for the first Moon Rocks returned by our expeditions for architectural use.

Early use of Extraterrestrial Rock is likely to be limited to ornamental stonework, where it can add a high note, along with or in place of other rare and exotic materials.

Legacy Stone is an innovative and forward looking corporation which seeks to celebrate and showcase the inherent beauty of God's creation by integrating stone into indoor and outdoor architecture. Its specialized products and techniques preserve that beauty while reducing the economic, energy and environmental drawbacks of classical rock construction. Customized application of its technology allows relatively cost effective use of exotic materials including Moon Rocks.

Moon rocks made available for architectural use will be prescreened for scientific interest, with unusual specimens being diverted for scientific study. Partnerships for scientific study of unique lunar material returned by Micro-Space have not yet been formalized, although an initial arrangement with the University of Western Ontario has been negotiated.

Note that Micro-Space is negotiating a “Lunar Sample Return” capability for its “Lunar Landers” with one interested funding group. That capability, either integrated into our “Google Lunar X PRIZE” effort, or limited to parallel and follow on efforts, would enhance the value of this investment. Sample return capability can be offered for Polar and Far Side lunar landings, as well as for classic Near Side landing zones. This capability requires as little as a 50 pound increase in the fuel load of the lightweight Micro-Space lander.

Thank God the oppressive spirit which has blinded people to the near term possibilities of radically mass minimized spacecraft is dissipating! Not only entrepreneurial plans have been rejected but the lightweight concepts researched by NASA decades ago have also been rejected out of hand. At present only a few are willing to embrace the practicality of these concepts, but no frontier has needed more than a few pioneers. These self selected individuals step into novel opportunities and reap the rewards. Their successes will eventually feed the “What If” daydreams of those who watch and wait.