About Space Energy

Ralph Nansen is the founder and president of Solar Space Industries and the former head of the Solar Satellite Division for Boeing. He has been recognized as one of the key leaders in the world to develop, promote, and manage the Solar Power Satellite program since 1973. He is the author of an advocacy book for the public entitled, "SUN POWER: The Global Solution for the Coming Energy Crisis", published by Ocean Press.

Mr. Nansen has been involved in space engineering for over 40 years, primarily with The Boeing Company. He started as a designer on the Bomarc rocket-powered missile, and in 1961 was selected to develop the initial configuration used by Boeing in their successful bid to design and build the giant first stage of the Saturn V moon rocket. In 1962, he became design manager of the Saturn S-1C fuel tanks, the first stage of the rocket that sent the Apollo astronauts to the moon.

Mr. Nansen's final assignment on the Saturn program was as Saturn V Cost- Effectiveness Manager. After the moon landing he moved into the position of Design Manager for the Boeing Space Shuttle definition studies.

Dr. DeLucas is a former shuttle astronaut and the former Chief Scientist for the International Space Station and is currently the Director of the CBSE.

The CBSE consists of 115 scientists and engineers involved in a number of scientific research activities (structural biology and pharmaceutical development) as well as space product development for NASA and the International Space Station.

Dr. DeLucas is a strong advocate of SBSP and recently traveled to India to assist in presenting the concept to many government ministers.

Current Organization: Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering (CBSE), University of Alabama at Birmingham.

James Michael (Mike) Snead is a registered Professional Aerospace Engineer. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and the Air Force Institute of Technology with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Aerospace Engineering, respectively. Mr. Snead retired from the United States Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in early 2007 to enter private consultancy.

During his civilian Air Force career, Mr. Snead was involved in a variety of aircraft and reusable space access programs, including being the Project Engineer for the Air Force Transatmospheric Vehicle project, Chief Flight Systems Engineer and Lead Structures Engineer for the National Aerospace Plane/X-30 Joint Program Office, and Government Technical Consultant for the BMDO Delta Clipper Experimental (DC-X) Single-Stage Rocket program.

To address future Air Force airlift and air power projection needs, Mr. Snead led the development and advocacy for the Configurable Air Transport or CAT concept.

Mr. Snead is a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a past chair of the Space Logistics Technical Committee. He is a graduate of the Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Systems Management College. He has published technical and forward-looking advocacy papers on aircraft and spacefaring logistics infrastructure in Aerospace America, the Air Force: Air and Space Power Journal, the International Society of Logistics' Logistics Spectrum, the Journal of AstroPolitics, and the online Space Review, in addition to multiple technicamagazinel conference papers. In 2007, Mr. Snead led the space logistics assessment of space solar power in support of the National Security Space Office's study "Space-based Solar Power as an Opportunity for Strategic Security."

Dr. Gaubatz, Senior Advisor, X PRIZE Foundation, is a pioneer and leader in program and concept developments that have impacted national programs and policies, leading the way to today's Personal Spaceflight Industry. At McDonnell Douglas, he originated and managed the development of the Delta Clipper reusable Spaceplane concept. His Delta Clipper Experimental programs (DC-X and DC-XA) proved through flight, that aircraft like operations could be routinely achieved for Spaceplanes. He was an originating founder of Universal Space Lines, Inc. where he is President of SpaceClipper International (SCI) with the long-term goals of establishing an international network of spaceports and connecting Spaceway routes. He was active in early development activities leading to New Mexico's Spaceport America.

He is a charter member of the X-Prize Committee, founder of the annual International Symposium for Personal Spaceflight (ISPS), Chairman of the Space Tourism Society, Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), member of the International Institute of Space Law (ISSL), member of the Space Frontier Foundation, Honorary member of the Japanese Rocket Society (JRS) and Chief Judge for the X PRIZE Space Projects Lunar Lander Challenge.

Dr. Gustav R. Grob is an expert on renewable energy and has been a key speaker at a number of high profile environmental conferences including the historic UN Climate Conference in Rio de Janeiro (1992) and the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn (2004). He is the President of the International Clean Energy Consortium ICEC, which he co-founded shorlty after the 2nd World Climate Conference to respond to the urgent need for a clean, sustainable energy economy.

Dr. Grob is also Vice-President of Hymobil AG for the clean vehicles, Board Member of International Energy Foundation (IEF),  Board Chairman of the Investment Fund Inc. Blue Planet and Chief Editor of Blueprint for the Clean, Sustainable Energy Age.

In 2002, as Executive-Secretary and initiator, he founded the International Sustainable Energy Organization (ISEO), which coordinates global efforts towards clean and renewable energies. ISEO combines the work of many UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and is a driving force towards a global energy legislation and standardization.

Dr. Grob is also the author of numerous publications on energy, sustainable development, standardization and business ethics.

Dr. Neville Marzwell was the Manager for Advanced Concepts and Technology Innovation at NASA-Jet propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. Dr. Marzwell has 36 years experience in defense and aerospace systems technologies in which he initiated various technology breakthroughs and paradigm innovations. His work expertise is in the area of power generation, beaming, management, storage, smart grid, automation and robotics, sensors, guidance, navigations and controls. Before joining JPL, he was program manager of Advanced Technology with the High Energy Laser Research Projects at the Rockedyne Division of Rockwell International where he developed innovative wave front sensing and correction systems, optical and sensor protection systems for surveillance satellites, and SSME launch systems. At Honeywell Research Center he was instrumental in advances in infrared detector technology, electro-optical materials, holographic recording media, and fiber optical systems.

Dr. Marzwell was a Josephine de Karman fellow at the California Institute of Technology and holds a Ph.D. in Applied Physics, and Materials Science from Caltech, and a minor in International Economics. He worked at the Industrial Division of the World Bank in Paris, France. Presently, he is a consultant to major Aerospace and government agencies. He is also a Senior Adjunct Professor of Strategic Management at the University of La Verne. He has published 137 papers in refereed and professional journal and served on various national and international panels, workshop, conferences and symposium committees for NASA. DOE, and DOD.