Silicon Beach Report March 6: Mars Rock Puts JPL in Hard Place

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Vertebrae expands to Texas; Opaque Studios rebrands; InSight lander dig mission paused

Opaque Studios Rebrands to Glassbox Technologies

Mid-Wilshire-based virtual reality production house Opaque Studios has launched a rebrand, and is now calling itself Glassbox Technologies. Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder Mariana Acuna Acosta announced the news on LinkedIn and in trade publication Animation World Network March 5, and added that Glassbox is developing two production softwares with expectations to begin beta testing later this year.

InSight Lander Experiencing Digging Difficulties

The InSight Mars exploration mission run by NASA’s Pasadena-based Jet Propulsion Laboratory has hit rocky ground. The Lander was hammering itself under Mars’ surface in an attempt to dig the biggest hole ever dug on another planet and take temperature readings when it struck an unknown obstacle. Scientists told the LA Times Tuesday they would pause the dig until the problem was resolved. According to the JPL scientists, a “large rock” is likely to blame for the probe only striking about a foot below Mars’ surface.

Vertebrae Expands to Texas

Virtual reality and 3D software developer Vertebrae Inc. announced March 6 it will expand operations from its headquarters in Santa Monica to Austin, Texas, where it will open a new office. Socaltech reports Vertebrae also hired two new executives to assist with the transition, Chief Data Officer Garrett Eastham and Rob Weaver, who will serve as as chief revenue officer.

Tech reporter Samson Amore can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8335. Follow him on Twitter @samsonamore.

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