{"id":26814,"date":"2012-01-23T22:53:25","date_gmt":"2012-01-24T03:53:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/countingpips.com\/fx\/2012\/01\/23\/100-billion-reasons-to-invest-in-space-technology-and-robotics\/"},"modified":"2012-01-23T22:53:25","modified_gmt":"2012-01-24T03:53:25","slug":"100-billion-reasons-to-invest-in-space-technology-and-robotics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/fx\/2012\/01\/23\/100-billion-reasons-to-invest-in-space-technology-and-robotics\/","title":{"rendered":"100 Billion Reasons To Invest In Space Technology and Robotics"},"content":{"rendered":"

By MoneyMorning.com.au<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s a 100 billion reasons why space technology<\/strong> should be on your radar screen -especially if you’re interested in robotics<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

According to the journal Nature<\/em>, the Milky Way Galaxy alone<\/em> contains at least 100 billion planets.<\/p>\n

Now forgive me if I sound excited…but that is huge.<\/p>\n

After all, just 20 years ago, astronomers still widely believed that our own tiny solar system contained all of the major planets.<\/p>\n

So when I talk about how we are entering an Era of Radical Change, this is exactly what I’m talking about. <\/p>\n

It’s not about tiny incremental changes but gigantic shifts in thought. <\/p>\n

<\/span>
\nAnd here is something else to ponder… <\/p>\n

With all of this new data, scientists now believe the universe may contain more than 150 billion galaxies. The math is enough to make your head spin. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How Nuclear-Powered Robots Are Winning the New Space Race<\/div>\n

<\/strong>
\n All this brings to mind one key point: The odds that we are alone in the universe grow smaller and smaller every day.<\/p>\n

That puts us on the cusp of a New Space Race – one that will undoubtedly favour robots.<\/p>\n

That’s why I think NASA’s new Spidernaut<\/a> is such an important piece of technology. It’s an eight-legged robot that looks like it crawled right out of a sci-fi movie. <\/p>\n

NASA plans to use these robots to help construct a new generation of space-science platforms that are so large and fragile they’ll have to be built in orbit.<\/p>\n

As it turns out, spiders are really nimble creatures. NASA designed the prototype arachnid robot to have the grace and weight distribution of real spiders. <\/p>\n

If the technology works as planned, these giant spider robots would crawl across a “web” of space tethers so as not to damage delicate equipment.<\/p>\n

Now how cool is that? <\/p>\n

It all goes to show you that despite the soft global economy and budget cuts, we’ve actually never had more interest in space exploration.<\/p>\n

But this time it’s not just the United States and Russia. Indeed, China, India and Japan are also funding major programs.<\/p>\n

For its part, the United States plans to land on asteroids as early as 2016 using a robotic arm to scoop up samples that the spacecraft will bring home to earth. <\/p>\n

We also will send a manned mission to Mars, where the plan is to build at least some type of base. It’s why NASA launched a new robotic vehicle last November expected to land on Mars in August. Roughly the size of an SUV, the robot has 10 “eyes,” a six-foot robotic arm, and is nuclear powered.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Riding Robots In The New Space Race<\/div>\n

<\/strong>
\n At the same time, we have a new generation of space entrepreneurs. That’s why I keep track of Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT)<\/strong> co-founder Paul Allen and Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic and their space tourism companies. <\/p>\n

Don’t get me wrong. While I find the prospects for commercial space travel exciting, my experience tells me investors<\/a> will have a much better chance to make money on robotics.<\/p>\n

First of all…here on earth, airlines<\/a> struggle to break even. Several have gone bankrupt.<\/p>\n

So if an airline can’t cope with the high costs of jet fuel, how can a company launching rockets for a limited number of tourists be any more profitable?<\/p>\n

It just doesn’t make sense.<\/p>\n

As for robots, these businesses manage to touch the entire technology supply chain. From software to artificial intelligence to sensors to chips, robots employ all of these things.<\/p>\n

So, even if we can’t find a robot company that justifies a direct investment, we will find numerous opportunities with key suppliers. That’s why I think the future of space travel is actually going to ride on robotics. <\/p>\n

But don’t take my word for it… <\/p>\n

Just ask the senior execs at Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG)<\/strong>. They obviously believe in the future of spacebots. <\/p>\n

In fact, Google will award $30 million to the first team that can land a robotic vehicle on the moon. <\/p>\n

To take home the prize, the bot must travel more than 1,600 feet on the surface, then send hi-def images and video back to earth.<\/p>\n

It’s called the Lunar X Prize<\/u>, and twenty-six privately funded teams are now vying for the reward. And don’t think for a minute this is some kind of gimmick.<\/p>\n

After all, it was the Ansari X Prize that provided a huge amount of support for the New Space Race and upcoming commercial travel. And that prize was worth only $10 million!<\/p>\n

And remember, when it comes to actually working in hazardous environments like other planets, nothing beats a bot. It doesn’t need oxygen, food, or coffee breaks. It doesn’t get homesick for its loved ones.<\/p>\n

Also consider that new technology promises to keep robots steeped in the latest tech changes, greatly expanding their life spans.<\/p>\n

For instance, reprogrammable chips will provide instant upgrades so the robotic hardware lasts longer. We’ll beam software patches via satellite so robot “brains” remain rich in new knowledge. <\/p>\n

And robots will give us incredible economies of scale…<\/p>\n

In the near future, we’ll have automated factories in space or on other planets building the robots needed for exploration, experiments, mining, and helping humans.<\/p>\n

An arm of the Pentagon known as DARPA wants to recycle dead satellites worth some $300 billion. To do so, it also is pushing advanced robotics.<\/p>\n

Thus, the federal government and private industry agree on one key fact about the future – to conquer outer space, they need to invest heavily in robotics.<\/p>\n

So, keep your eye on space technology. Eventually, it will earn robotics investors rich returns.<\/p>\n

Michael Robinson
\nDefence and Technology Specialist, Money Morning (USA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Publisher’s Note<\/em>: This article originally appeared in Money Morning USA<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

From the Archives…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Are ASX Energy Index Stocks Worth The Risk?<\/a>
\n2012-01-20 – Aaron Tyrrell<\/p>\n

Why the World Bank Wants Your Money<\/a>
\n2012-01-19 – Kris Sayce<\/p>\n

Could $50 Billion In Unpaid Credit Card Debt Drag Aussie Bank Stocks To A Record Low?<\/a>
\n2012-01-18 – Aaron Tyrrell<\/p>\n

The US-China Power Struggle… and What it Could Mean For Oil and Australian Energy Stocks<\/a>
\n2012-01-17 – Dr. Alex Cowie<\/p>\n

How Global Oil Supplies Could Fall 40% Overnight<\/a>
\n2012-01-16 – Dr. Alex Cowie<\/p>\n

\n<\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a>\n<\/div>\n


\n100 Billion Reasons To Invest In Space Technology and Robotics <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By MoneyMorning.com.au Here’s a 100 billion reasons why space technology should be on your radar screen -especially if you’re interested in robotics. According to the journal Nature, the Milky Way Galaxy alone contains at least 100 billion planets. Now forgive me if I sound excited…but that is huge. After all, just 20 years ago, astronomers … <\/p>\n

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