“Zooming ahead? Not so fast!”
Henry Mintzberg
December 8, 2020
We are smitten with the latest videoconferencing technology much as a lover is smitten with a new partner. We notice everything that is wonderful and nothing that is not—for a while, at least. Then the reality sets in. Read More »
Berea Offers Grants to Small Businesses
The City of Berea will again award $2,000 grants to area small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City gave $2,000 grants to 55 Berea businesses in May, using funds leftover from another business grant program plus funds contributed by City Council from its budget. This time, federal CARES money will fund the grants.
Mayor Cyril Kleem emphasized that the Emergency Relief Grant Program could be used for rent, mortgage payments, utilities, payroll, and other related business expenses.
Berea-based retail, personal service and food businesses are eligible to apply. Nonprofits, offices, and contractors are not eligible. The City will only be accepting applications submitted online at http://bit.ly/bereacovidgrant and applications are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
NASA Announces Partners to Advance ‘Tipping Point’ Technologies for the Moon, Mars
October 14, 2020
NASA has selected 14 American companies, including several small businesses, as partners to develop a range of technologies that will help forge a path to sustainable Artemis operations on the Moon by the end of the decade.
U.S. industry submitted the proposals to NASA’s fifth competitive Tipping Point solicitation, and the selections have an expected combined award value of more than $370 million. NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate will negotiate with the companies to issue milestone-based firm fixed-price contracts lasting for up to five years.
“NASA’s significant investment in innovative technology demonstrations, led by small and large U.S. businesses across nine states, will expand what is possible in space and on the lunar surface,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “Together, NASA and industry are building up an array of mission-ready capabilities to support a sustainable presence on the Moon and future human missions to Mars.”
Bridenstine announced the selections Oct. 14 during a keynote address at the virtual fall Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium meeting. Continue Reading »
NASA Seeks Ideas from the Public for Powering Exploration on the Moon
September 25, 2020
NASA’s Watts on the Moon Challenge — the agency’s newest public prize competition — is now open and accepting submissions. NASA invites innovative minds from across the United States to provide ideas for sustainable energy storage, distribution, and management on the lunar surface.
As part of the Artemis program, NASA will send astronauts to new areas of the Moon including the lunar South Pole, and prepare for human exploration of Mars. As noted in the agency’s recent lunar surface report, sustainable missions will require an unprecedented capacity for power. Astronauts will need a continuous supply of power from multiple sources to live and work on the Moon for long periods. A flexible and robust system for surface power is key to safe and robust lunar exploration.
“Operating throughout the lunar night creates some of the most demanding energy storage and thermal management challenges in our exploration of the solar system,” said Walt Engelund, the deputy associate administrator for programs within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. “We are calling on the public for their fresh ideas to help us innovate power solutions for the Moon.” Continue Reading »
