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4Frontiers Corporation, founded in 2005 and incorporated in the state of Florida, is an emerging space commerce company focused on the settlement of Mars. It recognizes the economic potential resulting from convergence of four current and upcoming space frontiers- Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and Asteroids. The companys development activities include technologies required for orbital tourism, long-duration human habitation in space and extra-terrestrial resource recovery. Its earth-based informative entertainment segment engages and educates the public while communicating the companys progress.
We Make Space HomeTM
Mission
4Frontiers intends to become the premier Mars technology company and ultimately establish the first permanent, economically viable, and self-sustaining settlement on Mars. This settlement would be derived primarily from local materials. The company is striving to develop key technologies, establish business relationships, and to change the public’s perception of space settlements. The company’s plans are based on discrete, achievable steps. Its five-year business plan concentrates on establishing a firm foundation in both core technology and early revenue from which it will enter into space during the next decade.
The companys business plan includes three business segments; Research and Product Development, Consultancy, and Informative Entertainment. This structure reduces revenue risk from individual market segment fluctuation and allows synergy between sectors. Long term development of the Mars settlement and economic base, and its integration into the emerging four-frontier economy is part of our strategy. Ultimately, 4Frontiers envisions commercial and residential facilities on Mars, commercial activities on asteroids, and export of raw materials from both, which will serve to energize development in Earth orbit and on the Moon. 4Frontiers is dedicated to establishing long term strategic relationships with customers and businesses wishing to enter this new economy from the commercial and public sectors.
Technology Development
4Frontiers has attracted a distinguished staff ideally suited to the technological challenges of the new space frontier. This team comes from around the world and includes experts from MIT, Colorado School of Mines, University of Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Stanford, NASA, and others. Our management team is also well-versed in large-scale commercialization projects.
In March of 2005, an original Mars settlement technical team completed an 8-month technical pre-design study. The global team of 21 experts involved in this effort developed concepts for planet-based food, water, oxygen, housing, mining, refining and manufacturing systems. In addition to a list of innovative applications, the study generated an initial technology roadmap, which serves to focus and direct the course of 4Frontiers Mars settlement technology development. A paper detailing architectural concepts for 4Frontiers’ first Mars settlement passed American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) peer review and was published in July 2005.
In October of 2006, a Generation II program study team met in Atlanta, GA to kickoff the next formal round of Mars settlement design. The exciting Generation II effort engaged 45 individuals from a broad range of technical disciplines. This eight month project further refined and expanded upon concepts established in the initial study. This brought the level of detail and understanding for an initial home for a dozen settlers to equipment layout design level. The Gen II study also examined the broader issues related to a branch of human civilization on the red planet growing to more than 1000 people. This effort expanded the corporate technology roadmap and has generated a host of new technology innovations and other materials. 4Frontiers is using this influx of energy to stimulate related development in its other business segments.
4Frontiers has endeavored to establish and expand its Mars technology leadership position during its first years of operations. The intention is to develop, patent, and selectively license technologies having the best near-term profit potential and synergy with current Lunar and Earth orbital development.
Future activities may include robotic space surveys, sample return missions, and human missions that support settlement technology development, design, and construction. This research and development program will later expand into mining and export technologies related to Mars and its moons.
Informative Entertainment
A key aspect of 4Frontiers business strategy is to engage the public, sharing much of the vision, the new technologies, and innovations which it develops. In so doing, the company will translate public fascination into revenue-based support of the companys space development research and business operations. To further this goal, the company is conducting a number of business activities in the informative entertainment business segment.
The 4Frontiers plan includes construction of a Mars settlement replica. It will serve as a center for both informative entertainment and research and development activities.
The informative entertainment center serves several essential functions:
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Provides an early, sustainable, high confidence revenue stream.
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Grows the marketing base in all business segments by changing the public and commercial mindset regarding space settlements, while explaining the four-frontier economy.
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Showcases 4Frontiers latest technical accomplishments and capability.
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Provides a focus point for interactions between 4Frontiers and interested parties.
The research center will serve as 4Frontiers technical headquarters and include labs and assembly and test areas for core technology roadmap related components.
Consultancy
4Frontiers expert staff, global perspective, and expanding strategic business relationships form the foundation of a consultancy business serving key manufacturers and government agencies. Initially, the company will pursue technology that overlaps with the US Vision for Space Exploration. This will constitute one of the company’s initial revenue-generating endeavors.
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