{"id":4907,"date":"2013-10-14T04:56:54","date_gmt":"2013-10-14T04:56:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=4907"},"modified":"2013-10-14T04:56:54","modified_gmt":"2013-10-14T04:56:54","slug":"ares-institute-lunarsail-project-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=4907","title":{"rendered":"Ares Institute LunarSail project update"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Ares Institute<\/a>\u00a0recently completed a very successful\u00a0Kickstarter campaign<\/a>\u00a0in support of their \u00a0LunarSail<\/a>\u00a0project. Here is a description of the project, its status and what they hope to accomplish with it.<\/p>\n

Innovative solar sail spacecraft will demonstrate new technologies for
\nlow-cost exploration beyond Earth orbit while allowing students and
\nthe public to explore the Moon\u2019s environment<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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(TITUSVILLE, FL) – The Aerospace Research & Engineering Systems Institute, Inc. (Ares Institute), a non-profit organization on Florida\u2019s famed Space Coast, is excited to announce the successful completion of the first phase of crowdfunding and conceptual development of a unique spacecraft to explore the Moon with the public and classrooms across the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Based in Titusville, FL, Ares Institute is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization dedicated to promoting space exploration and STEM education through hands-on educational projects and public outreach. Ares Institute created the LunarSail project to involve students and the public in the excitement of space exploration and promote STEM education by collaborating to design and build a small spacecraft and place it in orbit around the Moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to create something that would bring the excitement of space exploration to the public and advocate the importance of STEM education for our country\u2019s young students,\u201d says Matthew Travis, Executive Director of Ares Institute, Inc. \u201cAt Ares Institute, we believed the most effective way to do this would with a real world project that engages students and permits them to contribute in a meaningful way to its success. Since promoting the benefits of space exploration to the public at large is part of our core mission, we are managing LunarSail as an open-source program and inviting the public to participate in the design process and mission-related activities after launch. To further promote public involvement, a substantial portion of our finances are being raised via crowdfunding which allows anyone to donate directly to the spacecraft\u2019s construction and operation.\u201d<\/p>\n