PISCES TEAMS AWARDED GRANTS FOR LUNAR SIMULATION RESEARCH
HONOLULU – Two projects for the Pacific International Space
Center for Exploration System (PISCES) teams have received $640,000 from two
NASA federal grants in the Innovative Partnership Program to conduct lunar
analog simulations in Hawai‘i. The projects support future robotic and
human missions to the moon and Mars.
The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) is a
partner in developing PISCES, which received $400,000 in funding through Act
149, which Governor Linda Lingle signed into law earlier this
year..
“These federal grants will support our Administration’s Hawai‘i Innovation
Initiative and our efforts to develop opportunities in aerospace-related
fields that capitalize on Hawai‘i’s science and technology resources and
capabilities,” said DBEDT Director Theodore E. Liu. “PISCES will be the
entity in Hawai‘i that coordinates and manages the NASA lunar field
demonstrations on the Big Island.”
Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. delivered the keynote address at the
PISCES inaugural conference in Hilo today, which was sponsored in part by
DBEDT. The event featured discussions of upcoming plans and development
opportunities for PISCES.
“The most productive pathway to future robotic and human missions to the
moon and Mars is best forged through multinational partnerships in
government, industry and education,” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “With PISCES,
Hawai‘i is playing a leading role in sharing human, environmental and
technological resources with the international community to help us
strengthen and diversify research and development programs that will advance
the international aerospace industry.”
PISCES is a collaborative project of the Japan-U.S. Science, Technology
& Space Applications Program (JUSTSAP), the University of Hawai‘i at
Hilo and DBEDT.
The volcanic soils and lunar-like terrain found in Hawai‘i make the islands
an ideal location to support international programs for testing and
evaluating innovative technologies to support future robotic and manned
exploration of the Moon and Mars, as well as for training scientists,
engineers and future astronauts for future space missions.
“Hawai‘i’s diverse resources and strategic Pacific location afford
tremendous opportunities for international collaboration in science and
technology throughout the Asia-Pacific region,” said Lt. Governor Aiona.
“These NASA federal grants will support our efforts.”
In March, the State of Hawai‘i signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on a variety of
programs in support of the Vision for Space Exploration, NASA’s plan to
return humans to the moon and later travel to Mars. Under the MOU, the
NASA Ames Research Center and the State of Hawai‘i will explore future
collaborations in commercial space initiatives and innovative programs
supporting research, education and workforce development in aerospace
fields.
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For more information, contact:
Dave Young
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
Phone: (808) 587-1212
