call for collaboration

On Christmas Eve, i sent the following letter to around 15 associates (loosely used), friends, and colleagues, asking for collaboration and cooperation. The 15 included Bob Zubrin and Peter Diamandis, perhaps the two most renowned of the list.. No reply yet from anyone; i don't really expect any.. ^^ So i must provide public evidence i've tried to contact these people just in case they decide to 'run with the idea' and 'cut me out of the loop' (don't allow me to participate).. i included a brief note to most of the recipients individually but delete that here in interests of brevity..

i know you're prob'ly sick of hearing from me about topics 'you're not really interested in' but.. ^^ he ;)

this project requires some serious attention, collaboration, and hosting..

i suggest a multidisciplinary team with elements:

fusion specialist - physicist or engineer w/ experience working on prototypes

mechanical engineer w/ experience doing reactor design of various/diverse configurations

power systems engineer with experience designing working systems

rf engineer with experience in both rf and magnetic field generation, desirable experience w/ superconductors

i was informed many years ago, that in the design phase of a project, it's best to keep the fewest number of individuals possible ;)

if you have any recommendations about team members, plz write me back :) you'll never know how much i appreciate positive input :)

the same article appears in three places..

for those who don't like to click on links, i'll include the text below ;)

if you have any suggestions about:

overall design modifications

component modifications

hosting university

team members

plz write to me :)

http://www.nowpublic.com/tech-biz/major-components

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76428514/major-components

http://www.examiner.com/science-news-in-fort-lauderdale/major-components

[main text deleted for brevity]

The reasons for this article should be fairly clear.. If not, i'll make them clear now. Rarely do i post an article in three different places.. i do this only on important/relevant topics.. Bob Zubrin's a leader in space advocacy/utilization as Peter Diamandis is.. They're both inspired leaders but i've mentioned this glaring omission before: where's the collaboration? Where's the joint ventures? They both 'desperately' want humanity to follow our destiny 'up there' but.. i don't see any obvious cooperation. :(

i've read several of Bob's books on Mars and space exploration.. i've tried to contact him repeatedly about me getting involved in his Mars Society etc etc bla bla [he] ;) But of course, all i get is rejection / apathy / indifference.. Peter i've tried to contact less (number of times) but he's prob'ly somebody i should be focusing on in terms of 'lobbying my ideas'.. As i've tried to describe to family, Bob and Peter have two different agendas about space exploration/utilization. i'll try to summarize briefly each position..

Bob Zubrin on space:

He's been able to garner moderate support in his Mars Society and his company Pioneer Astronautics but i'd qualify that as limited success. He has a step-wise 'live off the land' approach toward Mars and beyond. His main target is colonizing Mars efficiently and reasonably. So far so good ;) To contrast, i want to present another approach toward space..

Alan Bond on space:

Alan was a recipient of the letter above. He's most notable as director of Reaction Engines Ltd. After surveying their available documents and videos, i'm quite impressed by their motivation, inspiration, robust engine/spacecraft design, and general enthusiasm :) It seems to me: their approach is a good / economical way to get out of our atmosphere :) They deserve to be supported emotionally and financially :) The only thing i question is the purpose of the space-fleet: to launch a system of orbiting solar-satellites ^^ i doubt there's much political/social support for such an idea regardless of its appeal. So i recommend changing the focus to be a general purpose space-lift vehicle :) Why mention this now just after Bob Zubrin? Because Bob can use Alan's technology to get to Mars! :) (At least part of the way.) All of the initial technology required to colonize Mars needs to get from 'here to there'. Part of that journey is to low-earth-orbit. What's the cheapest most reliable technology for that currently in existence? i'd venture to guess Alan's technology :) My point should be obvious: collaboration.

Peter Diamandis on space:

Peter's a space enthusiast/visionary only second to yours truly ;) He's more well connected and so i have very little criticism again – only for lack of obvious collaboration/cooperation. He's created a series of x-prizes not all related to space exploration; the ones not space-related have quite noble purposes.. Again, i can't fault his motivations.. ^^ Part of the purpose of this article is a public appeal for him to seriously consider creating an x-prize relating to the design and prototyping of the fusion engine briefly described in the associated article. Peter, please consider creating such an x-prize.

The main purpose of this article should be very clear by now: we need to publicly, overtly, generously, financially, emotionally,.. support the most feasible/robust lift technologies to LEO regardless of who originated the idea, the ostensible purposes, location, or current level of support. ^^ That deserves repeating: we need to support, as generously as possible, those LEO-lift technologies which have the highest chances of success/feasibility. :) Please.. The alternative is grim: another stall in space-utilization / exploration; we drag our collective feet yet again.. Entire generations will be forced to live a bleak existence bereft of prime-destiny dreams.. All because we could not collaborate at this critical moment in human history.

Is it simple human vanity/pride which keeps us apart? “I have a better idea than that.” or “My company deserves support more than his.” ^^ i pray it's as simple as that.. Why? Because if it is simple human vanity keeping us apart, all we really need is awareness to break it down.. Awareness and willingness to communicate with each other encouragingly.. :) ^^ Let's do this people :) Let's get together :) Let's make it happen :) ..Love, sam :)

a video version can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNDHfJc5Rkc