Hello world. Although a little delayed by travel (more on that in our next post), here are some notes on what happened at ISDC 2011, which Fred Bourgeois attended last month on behalf of Team FREDNET. This was a great opportunity to meet some new faces and reconnect with some already well known, as well as to gain some insight into what is really happening in Space Development - or at least what people are talking about in Space Development. So many secrets!

Fred sat in on a few of those stodgy policy discussions, but of course that wasn't where the real action of the conference was taking place. Far more interesting were the talks on real innovation, missions, spacecraft, designs, robots, electronics, software, and service models. Those presentations were relegated to little salons on the second floor of the Von Braun Civic Center. Fred attended several of these talks, but since the presentations were so short - questions had to be asked (and answered) afterward out in the hall. All of these talks were excellent and highly recommended! One of the best and most illuminating, was that of Rex Ridenoure from our former GLXP Competitor, Southern California Selene Group.

Rex' presentation gave an excellent overview of how SCSG came together and built a plan to conquer the GLXP. As Fred mentioned afterward, "I must admit that I'm both disappointed and slightly pleased that they withdrew from the competition. Disappointed, because had SCSG remained in the competition we would probably be witnessing their lunar landing about now! Based on what Rex related on their mission plan, design, and ability to execute, were it not for the unpleasantries surrounding the first GLXP 'Master Team Agreement'" [that first appeared in the Strasbourg Team Summit of February 2009] "SCSG would now be holding one of those big ceremonial checks. So in the end I'm pleased because if not for SCSG withdrawing from the competition, Team FREDNET would not be able to win the contest!" We must acknowledge this both to the SCSG Team and to the world: Harold, Deborah, Rex, and all the SCSG folks, You Had Us All Beat, hands down. If not for the less than "ept" handling of the MTA, the GLXP would be a fait accompli by the end of 2011!

Without giving too much away though, Team FREDNET is not too far behind them. The Team FREDNET plan has significant areas of overlap with the SCSG plan.

The "unofficial" GLXP panel was a lot of fun! Michael Doornboos of Evadot.com is an excellent moderator and led a lively discussion. This was not the typical GLXP panel we've seen in the past, but a real opportunity for team representatives to interact. All panel members had the opportunity to ask each other questions and (to some extent) interact with each other and the audience. Yet again, when Michael asked "Who will win the GLXP" Team FREDNET's leader was the first to raise his hand. If this competition were to be decided by a race to raise hands, then FREDNET's got this one in the bag.

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