14th Space Studies Institute Conference on Space Manufacturing
and Space Settlement Set for Oct. 29-31 in Silicon Valley
SUNNYVALE, Calif. (Oct 7, 2010) — Space scientists and entrepreneurs will meet in Silicon Valley from Oct. 29-31 to help plan humanity’s future on the high frontier at the Space Studies Institute’s Space Manufacturing 14: Critical Technologies for Space Settlement conference.
During the gathering at the NASA Ames Conference Center and the Sheraton Sunnyvale Hotel, speakers will present a wide range of research topics, including affordable space transportation, extraterrestrial prospecting, lunar and asteroidal manufacturing processes, robotics and tele-operations, closed environment life support systems, space solar power and energy, and off-planet property rights. On Saturday, famed biologist and entrepreneur Craig Venter will give a special talk on synthetic genomics.
“This conference is the only one solely concerned with the science and engineering of humanity’s expansion into the solar system,” said SSI Executive Vice President Lee Valentine. “Its most important function is to bring together the engineers, entrepreneurs and researchers who do the real work.”
Highlights of the conference include:
“Moon, Mars, Asteroids: Where to Go First for Resources?” NASA Ames Center Director Pete Worden will moderate a panel of six other experts to debate our first moves in expanding beyond Earth orbit. The round table will be followed by a reception. Friday, Oct. 29 from 7-10 p.m., Sheraton Sunnyvale Hotel.
Dr. Paul Spudis, Lunar and Planetary Institute: Saturday luncheon talk titled, “Luna Nova: New Discoveries About the Poles of the Moon.”
Dr. Craig Venter, J. Craig Venter Institute: His talk, “Synthetic Genomics,” will focus on the role that synthetic organisms can play in future space settlement. This is a joint session with the Synthetic Biology Workshop. Saturday, Oct. 30 from 5-6:30 p.m.
Dr. John Lewis, Space Studies Institute: Dinner talk titled, “Asia’s Road To the Moon.” Saturday, Oct. 30 from 7:30-9:30 p.m., Sheraton Sunnyvale Hotel.
Dr. Greg Baiden, Penguin Automated Systems: Sunday luncheon talk titled, “Terrestrial Telerobotic Mining Technology: An Enabler for Extraterrestrial Habitation, Mining and Construction.”
The gathering is a revival of a series of biennial conferences held in Princeton, N.J., through 2001. The conferences were led by the late Princeton physics professor Gerard K. O’Neill, author of “The High Frontier,” a seminal book on space settlements.
“This conference continues in the spirit of the SSI Princeton conferences,” Valentine said. “We’re especially pleased to be holding the event at NASA Ames. Thirty five years ago, the Ames Research Center was the site of the first large technical study of space settlement. We have made significant progress since then, but with the prospect of low cost space transportation in the near future, now is the time to reinvigorate research and collaboration on the critical path technologies needed for space industrialization and settlement.”
About the Space Studies Institute
Professor Gerard K. O’Neill founded the Space Studies Institute (SSI) in 1977 with the hope of opening the vast wealth of space to humanity. The Institute’s mission, continuing under the direction of President Freeman Dyson, is to open the energy and material resources of space for human benefit within our lifetime. SSI’s first commitment is to complete the missing technological links to make possible the productive use of the abundant resources in space.
Conference Information:
To register, please visit the SSI website at https://ssi.org/2010-conference-space-manufacturing-14/2010-register/
The full agenda is published at https://ssi.org/2010-conference-space-manufacturing-14/sm14-agenda/
Special room rates for SSI are available at the Sheraton Sunnyvale Hotel until October 15.
http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/SpaceStudiesInstitute
For additional information, please contact:
Space Studies Institute
Mojave, CA
Contact: Robin Snelson
robin@ssi.org
(661) 750-2774
For media registration, please contact:
Douglas Messier
21stcenturycomm@gmail.com