Remember back in the days, when there was no internet and libraries were a common source of information? Most communities operated a so called library bus which would go to areas without a library so that these people also could lend and return books. This is basically the same concept.

Apollo-NG is a mobile, self-sustainable, independent, minimalist and highly-experimental Hackbase using, developing and testing next-generation. open-source technology, visiting places without a resident, local Hackerspace and offering other Hackers the opportunity, to work together on exciting projects, share resources, knowledge, experience, fun and food combined with an always ready-to-deploy infrastructure and inspire all Nerdkind and who ever else is interested to collaborate and inspire to create more new resident Hackerspaces.

A hackerspace or hackspace (also referred to as a hacklab, fablab, makerspace or creative space) is a location where people with common interests, usually in computers, technology and/or digital/electronic art can meet, socialize and collaborate. A hackerspace can be viewed as an open-community lab, incorporating elements of machine shops, workshops and/or studios where hackers can share resources and interdisciplinary knowledge, to build and make innovative things together.

Growing number of hackerspaces all over the world

Although the number of hackerspaces grows constantly all over the globe, there are still many white spots on the map. The Apollo-NG Project aims to fill this gap, by deploying a semi-temporary Hackbase/Hacker-Camp in areas, where no resident Hackerspace is established yet, giving local hackers & nerds the opportunity to socialize, collaborate and tools to work on projects.

Since Apollo-NG itself can only offer a limited amount of space and basic requirements of a Hacklab (tools/machines), its primary purpose is to offer inspiration, encouragement and guidance on how to establish and operate a new resident local Hackerspace.

When hackers come together to meet and do something they mostly need at least a basic level of infrastructure (power/network access) and tools to become really productive. What ever else we may require, we can simply hack together ghetto-style in order to get what we need.

Unfortunately this isn't yet true for the needs of mobile research & development and fabrication facilities. In order to really do more than just software, we need infrastructure, a good basic set of tools and fabrication systems, bootstrapped to a level which allows independent operation and further open-source development. The process of finding solutions for these challenges is an ongoing research and testing run, to help ourselves and others in the bootstrapping process. Because we all can save a lot of time, if we don't have to redo the mistakes others already did. Now we can just use the Internet to share our results (success- and unsuccessful) and rapidly increase the speed of further development.

Combining the mobility of the Odyssey with independent power, tools and space of the Aquarius offers all that in a nice package:

• High mobility
• Quick deployment anywhere
• Independent power
• Network access
• Network services
• Electro/Mechanic/Optical tools/workshop/fabrication

What ever else may be needed at a particular location can be hacked, fabricated (3D printed) and maintained with already available tools and local resources.

There is no Flight Plan. Once Apollo-NG is launched onto the road, it will be operating 24x7x365 all over the road-connected world until the pilot dies or chooses to do something else. Deployment locations will be selected depending on local conditions (mainly predicted solar output for that location and timeframe). Each deployment will be given a considerable time frame in order to give locals a better chance to connect and also to be able to have time to focus on lab.