Chicago companies launch plans for business in outer space

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Orbital Transports mentioned in the Chicago Tribune: [Hurst] wants Orbital Transports to eventually develop infrastructure in space — cosmic equivalents to earth’s roads, trains and bridges — to support continuing operations in the first 100 to 200 miles of space, called low-earth orbit, and beyond. That could mean mining ice from the lunar south pole or metals from asteroids near earth, … or delivering rocket fuel to spacecraft while they’re in orbit. “The entire goal is to really develop this infrastructure that will make it possible and in fact easier for people to travel and work and operate in space,”…

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SmallSat Conference 2017 Summary

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Orbital Transports highlighted space logistics and orbital infrastructure services for small satellite missions at the recent SmallSat Conference 2017 in Logan, Utah. Smallsats range in mass from less than 2 lbs to 360 lbs, and are gaining in popularity as affordable space missions across a growing range of industries. The annual Small Satellite Conference provides a forum to review recent successes, explore new directions, and introduces emerging technologies.  The conference creates an excellent environment for networking and offers the opportunity to launch new, innovative, and low-cost technologies. We had a successful trade show at the exhibition with an impressive turnout…

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Small Sats, Bigger Conference

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Several years ago, while attending SmallSat Conference in Logan, Utah, CEO David Hurst recognized the growing need for a space logistics provider in the space industry. It galvanized the core purpose of Orbital Transports, and has helped to build the network of partners we have today. To serve the ever-growing satellite market, Orbital Transports works with its clients to solve space logistical challenges. We coordinate the complex elements involving space vehicles, people, facilities, and services to deliver small satellite solutions from concept to through to completed mission. If you’re one of the many who descend upon Logan for the SmallSat…

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CubeSats Moving Out of the Box

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The Cal Poly CubeSat program has been hosting the CubeSat Developers’ Workshop for the past thirteen years, but this year is a bit different. Driven by years of success, and growth of the market, the event has outgrown the facilities they used in previous years.  It will now be relocating to the Performing Arts Center on the Cal Poly Campus to host the workshop on April 26-28, 2017. The annual event brings together participants from around the world to share and discuss the latest developments in space and CubeSat technology. Orbital Transports will be one of this year’s attendees. Dr…

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Regional Roundup: Chicago aims to be space travel hub

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Orbital Transports mentioned on STARTLAND: SpaceX may be the company people think of when it comes to finally plunking a flag into the red soil of Mars, but a Chicagoan David Hurst has other ideas. The serial entrepreneur has sky-high plans to help area startups get in on the ground floor of the “next trillion dollar industry.” Hurst aims to make Chicago a thriving hub for space innovation, beginning with the founding of Orbital Transports — a space tech design and engineering firm — and the non-profit NewSpace Chicago. Hurst already has onboarded a startup that is currently flight-testing recreational…

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Chicago…A Hub for Space Travel? This Entrepreneur Says Yes.

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Orbital Transports mentioned on ChicagoInno: When you think about the future of commercial space travel and the possibility of long-term human presence in outer space, you think Elon Musk–and rightfully so. SpaceX has been one of the darlings of the tech world, making massive advancements in space innovation and collecting more than $1 billion in funding. But innovation in the space industry isn’t exleusive to SpaceX, nor is it limited to startups in Silicon Valley. The space industry is poised to be the “next trillion dollar industry,” and there’s a big opportunity for startups to get in on the ground floor, said…

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NewSpace Chicago Announces Business Plan Competition

NewSpace Chicago, an open community of space entrepreneurs in Chicago, announced they are holding a business plan competition (BPC) to encourage the development of commercial ventures in outer space.  The competition is focused on space-related and space-scalable business start-ups in and around the Chicagoland area.  The NewSpace Chicago BPC will be held from 9:00 to 12:00 on March 16, at 1871, a local high-tech incubator in downtown Chicago. Submissions will be accepted from February 2 until March 9.  Contestants will compete in a “shark-tank” style event, each having 15 minutes to present their business plan and answer questions before a…

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NITESat… meet NITELITE!

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A major system in NITESat is the imaging payload.  It’s correct design and proper operation are critical to the success of the NITESat mission.  Consequently, we are building a prototype imaging system, called NITELITE.  This prototype will provide an engineering demonstration of the NITESat imaging system.  It will allow us to test as much of the functioning system as possible by mirroring the actual design of the NITESat architecture.  We plan to run synchronized tests of the NITELITE imaging system from a high altitude balloon while obtaining ground-based observations of light pollution during the flights. We are currently planning to…

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