Parker's Box

BPL Mission 003 : Pre-Launch Operations Test (PLOT)

STEVEN BROWER

June 5- June 21, 2009

Parker's Box is delighted to announce a new collaboration with aerospace company BPL (Brower Propulsion Laboratory). Later this summer, BPL will be embarking on its latest mission, and, in accordance with new government guidelines concerning corporate transparency, the company is working with Parker's Box for the second time in order to reveal to the public the parameters and intentions of its upcoming mission, in a special presentation at the gallery. In the same spirit, BPL has agreed to publish extracts of its mission memo, as part of this media alert:

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This corporate memo issued on February 10, 2009

BPL003 MORANIC MISSION TO MONTANA

MISSION OVERVIEW

The Brower Propulsion Laboratory announces its third full - scale exploration mission, entitled BPL-003 MMM (Moranic Mission to Montana). The project entails retracing the path of an expedition that included the painter Thomas Moran to the Yellowstone region in 1871, only this time using robotic spacecraft. Manufacturing and testing began in the Fall of 2008 and launch is scheduled for late in August, 2009. Operations will take place near Yellowstone National Park at Livingston, Montana, and will involve an unprecedented coordination of three different spacecraft: a lander, a rover, and a high altitude balloon. During the mission, a remote headquarters and mission control will be set up at Livingston, in the upstairs of the 'Visions West' Gallery, where visitors will be invited to participate in the expedition. Operations will be available on the Interweb, with several user-accessible "interactive" features. At the conclusion of the mission, the spacecraft and processed data will be brought to the Esther M. Klein Art Gallery, part of the University Science Center in Philadelphia, for public display. Before the launch date a small public exhibition of plans and documents will be on view at the Pushkin Institute, in Athens, Greece, which sounds very important. As with all our work, the vehicles and equipment used in this mission will be completely hand made by BPL's single employee, to conserve funds and expectations. Operations and updates will be made available on the interweb at: http://www.browerpropulsionlab.com. See the end of this document for further contact information.

MISSION SUPPORT

Cheap memorabilia pertaining to the MMM mission will be made available in an attempt to raise vital funds for the project. Sponsorship opportunities as well as company stock are always available. A bake sale will also be organized, as well as a beauty contest, though we're still figuring out how to turn that into a fundraiser. Of course we should always remember to remind people that the BPL catalogue -which also exists online- is a source for many aerospace devices both useful and otherwise.

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BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana LIMPER (Limited Intelligence Marginally Produced Exploration Rover) breadboard stage prototype. The vehicle is scheduled for overhaul and replacement of nearly every element, due to myriad engineering and general intellectual defects. New systems being developed include power, navigation, suspension, communications, and style, 2009.



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BPL Mission 003
CURRENT EXHIBITION \| PAST EXHIBITIONS
BPL Mission 003 : Pre-Launch Operations Test (PLOT) STEVEN BROWER June 5- June 21, 2009 Parker's Box is delighted to announce a new collaboration with aerospace company BPL (Brower Propulsion Laboratory). Later this summer, BPL will be embarking on its latest mission, and, in accordance with new government guidelines concerning corporate transparency, the company is working with Parker's Box for the second time in order to reveal to the public the parameters and intentions of its upcoming mission, in a special presentation at the gallery. In the same spirit, BPL has agreed to publish extracts of its mission memo, as part of this media alert: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This corporate memo issued on February 10, 2009 BPL003 MORANIC MISSION TO MONTANA MISSION OVERVIEW The Brower Propulsion Laboratory announces its third full - scale exploration mission, entitled BPL-003 MMM (Moranic Mission to Montana). The project entails retracing the path of an expedition that included the painter Thomas Moran to the Yellowstone region in 1871, only this time using robotic spacecraft. Manufacturing and testing began in the Fall of 2008 and launch is scheduled for late in August, 2009. Operations will take place near Yellowstone National Park at Livingston, Montana, and will involve an unprecedented coordination of three different spacecraft: a lander, a rover, and a high altitude balloon. During the mission, a remote headquarters and mission control will be set up at Livingston, in the upstairs of the 'Visions West' Gallery, where visitors will be invited to participate in the expedition. Operations will be available on the Interweb, with several user-accessible "interactive" features. At the conclusion of the mission, the spacecraft and processed data will be brought to the Esther M. Klein Art Gallery, part of the University Science Center in Philadelphia, for public display. Before the launch date a small public exhibition of plans and documents will be on view at the Pushkin Institute, in Athens, Greece, which sounds very important. As with all our work, the vehicles and equipment used in this mission will be completely hand made by BPL's single employee, to conserve funds and expectations. Operations and updates will be made available on the interweb at: http://www.browerpropulsionlab.com. See the end of this document for further contact information. MISSION SUPPORT Cheap memorabilia pertaining to the MMM mission will be made available in an attempt to raise vital funds for the project. Sponsorship opportunities as well as company stock are always available. A bake sale will also be organized, as well as a beauty contest, though we're still figuring out how to turn that into a fundraiser. Of course we should always remember to remind people that the BPL catalogue -which also exists online- is a source for many aerospace devices both useful and otherwise. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Download Press Release
BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana Current Mission Mascot depicting cute pest rodent with trenching and collection device, 2009.	BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana, 2009.	BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana LIMPER (Limited Intelligence Marginally Produced Exploration Rover) breadboard stage prototype. The vehicle is scheduled for overhaul and replacement of nearly every element, due to myriad engineering and general intellectual defects. New systems being developed include power, navigation, suspension, communications, and style, 2009.
BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana Production photo from BPL Welding and Heating-UP facility showing MUNIN landing gear in production, 2009.	BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana ICARUS (Intentionally Cheap Airborne Reusable Utility System) hardware with BPL-001 mission artifacts. The systems will be updated for this application and will include new radio and beacon functionality, as well as an environmental data logger and better crappy cameras, 2009.	BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana BPL testing photo showing MUNIN Collector Head during rejection and redesign phase, 2009.
BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana Early production artwork depicting MUNIN (Module for Unmanned Novel Investigation and Notation) spacecraft and equipment, 2009.	BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana Development of camera mast gimbal for MUNIN spacecraft. Note caffeine MSDS and molecular model in background, 2009.	BPL003, Moranic Mission to Montana Current condition of MUNIN Lander body and vehicle dolly. Welded and riveted aluminum shell will serve as a platform for science experiments and as a garage for LIMPER rover. The ICARUS balloon will be launched from the deck by remote control, 2009.