In 2012, Planetary Resources was announced as the first asteroid mining company, followed shortly thereafter by the announcement of Deep Space Industries. Both companies had high profile investors and big plans to mine asteroids for water, metals and other minerals and spark a new gold rush in space. Six years later, both companies were struggling and wound up being sold to acquirers having nothing to do with space resources. What is the reality of extracting and utilizing space resources? Was the space resources boom overhyped? Does extracting resources from space even make sense? Today, a second generation of space resources companies are rapidly building technologies that could revolutionize how we do space. In this presentation, David Hurst will explore the current state of the space resources industry, the promise and the opportunities.
David Hurst is a technology entrepreneur, having founded multiple successful technology companies. He also has over 30 years of experience in software engineering, developing complex systems, managing software development teams, and delivering products. He has performed technical due diligence and business strategy assessments for venture capital firms and advanced technology start-ups. In 2013, he left the IT industry to follow his passion for space exploration. Mr. Hurst founded Orbital Transports to develop the space logistics and orbital infrastructure technologies needed for the emerging economy of space resources—and ultimately support human settlement of the Solar System. Mr. Hurst performs systems engineering and project management for small satellite space missions. He is a contributor to the INCOSE Space Systems Working Group CubeSat System Reference Model and develops MBSE practices for small satellite missions. As an advocate of space-related and space-scalable business, he founded the NewSpace Chicago community of space entrepreneurs and others engaged in building commercial space ventures in Chicago. Mr. Hurst graduated from Northwestern University with a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and has received four patents.
This is part of a continuing series of space entrepreneurship discussion and networking forums presented by NewSpace Chicago and hosted at mHUB Chicago.
Date: Thursday, October 10, 2019
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Venue: mHUB Chicago event space
Location: 965 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL (Get Directions)
RSVP: Sign up through EventBrite.com
Free parking available in the mHUB parking lot after 5:30pm.
Requested donation for this event is $5. NewSpace Chicago is a registered Illinois 501(c)(3) organization. Your tax-deductible donation helps support the entrepreneurial space industry in Chicago.