Open Letter to Team Prodesse

Dear Fellow Prodesse Teammates,

It has been around a week now since I joined the Prodesse team, and I would like to share some of my observations and thoughts, relate them to what we are doing, and then formally (you have heard some of this before informally) propose a way forward -- all for your consideration.

In the big picture, it has been my observation that in order to truly thrive, the human spirit requires a sense of accomplishment. Both collectively and individually, it seems people are happiest, and at their best when they are faced with a challenge. It also seems that real satisfaction and fulfillment comes not from the triumph, but from the struggle that precedes it; because this is when we seem to accomplish the most. Accomplishment then is what we all seek. Throughout human history there have been two main sources of challenge that have provoked great accomplishments, war and frontier. War through fear and frontier through wonder, have always evoked a feeling of adventure and served to marshal and organize our efforts like nothing else. But now we seem to find ourselves in an era devoid of challenge and adventure. As a result, on a deeper philosophical level, we all are looking for something to do. Where will we find our next big challenge? What will it be? Between war and frontier, I know what I choose.

Just when it seems like there is no frontier left; at least none that anyone can practically reach, we are offered an opportunity to show everyone otherwise. Miami University, this class, and the Google X-Prize provide a way. I proposed we, Team Prodesse, accept this challenge and go to the Moon -- but not because we want to win the X-Prize, or even because we want others to see us and recognize our triumph. I proposed we accept this challenge because it needs to be done, and done in a way that will make it easier for others to follow afterward. I propose we go to the Moon and help open that important new frontier, and in doing so help fill people’s hearts with wonder again and rekindle their sense of adventure (Prodesse Quam Conspici). To accomplish this however, I do not propose we send one mission to the Moon, or even two. To meet this challenge correctly, to really help open up the frontier for others to follow, I propose we send twelve missions to the Moon. That’s right, twelve.

Each Prodesse mission would include a lunar lander with a rover, and a lunar orbiter equipped with wide band communications and GPS style signaling capability. Some landers and their rovers would be targeted for the historic Apollo landing sites. Others would be targeted for scientifically meaningful areas like the lunar polar regions in the hope of discovering water. Our primary objective however would be to establish a preliminary orbital constellation around the Moon to provide initial wideband internet connectivity between the Earth and the Moon and initial part-time GPS navigating capability on and near the surface of the Moon. We would follow up afterwards with more missions to provide a complete orbital constellation for more robust full time service. A wideband internet trunk-line connecting the Earth with the Moon, and the availability of GPS style navigation signals on and near the Moon will make a real and tangible contribution towards opening that frontier; making it easier for other missions to follow. Leasing access to those services will also form the sound basis for a reasonable business venture -- something informed investors would probably want a part of.

Now I realize all this must sound very ambitious, and it is. But that’s the way I see it. There is no un-ambitious way to approach it. So I do not propose we do this alone. In plain fact, I don’t think that would work. Recognizing what we have to offer and what we might hope to gain, I propose that we cast ourselves in the role of Mission Integrator, and seek out professional strategic partners to actually design and build the hardware, and to then fly the missions. Each student, according to his or her area of interest would work with and shadow a particular partner. Quite reasonably there would be internship and co-op opportunities along the way, and hopefully employment opportunities for students who seek them. But the real work of designing and building the flight hardware would be left to professionals who have done it all before. Even the mission of flying the orbiter/landers to the moon should be left to the professionals. Remember now, students would be working side-by-side with our professional strategic partners, gaining all the possible valuable experiences available. Those students who wish to learn the art and craft of Mission Integration would have that opportunity too. We faculty members would serve in the role of facilitators of the organizational framework around which and upon which all of this would take place. There would also be nice opportunities for faculty members to pursue areas of research interest related to this enterprise. I believe this approach offers the best chance for the mission to succeed and the best opportunity for Miami University to be on the winning team.

Sincerely,

Bob