Here's a message I sent to a large number of space-related companies and organizations around the world, a few days ago. I thought the folks here interested in such things would like to know about it and possible participate:
Dear Colleagues,
An important event is taking place in Huntsville, Alabama, October 3-6, 2017. Several groups of professionals, engineers and scientists, have formed volunteer organizations to perform serious work on and to promote the goal of interstellar exploration. This symposium, titled the Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop 2017, is a joint meeting of three non-profit organizations: TVIW, Starship Century, and the Tau Zero Foundation. We have been encouraged by the leadership of people like Congressman John Culbertson, R-TX, which has resulted in a request this year to NASA to consider their role.
We are in need of participants who can engage other attendees on the current status and future outlook of space science, technology, and public policy. While we are very aware that Interstellar is not a mission we are likely to launch anytime soon, we assert that it is time to start serious study. The sooner we start, the sooner it can happen. To that end, the theme of this year’s conference is “Step by Step: Building a Ladder to the Stars.” More about the conference can be found at our website:
https://tviw.usPlease consider registering to attend today. The cost is only $200 ($225 after September 15). Because of venue limitations we must cap attendance at 200 people. Already, many of those slots have been taken. In addition to presentations and discussions groups involving leading specialists in fields of propulsion physics, astrodynamics, life science, and space science, other events include:
October 3 Seminars on Laser Propulsion, Humans in Space, and Conflict in Space
October 3 Baen Books Dinner & Reception
October 4 Breakthrough Star Shot - $100M privately funded research program public outreach
October 4 Art Show Reception (local Huntsville artists Chris Wade and Monty Montgomery)
October 5 US Space & Rocket Center Biergarten with Dr. Andrew Siemion on SETI
October 6 Leadership Panel including Dr. Pete Worden (former NASA Ames Director), Congressman John Culbertson R-TX, General Steven Kwast USAF, and Paul McConnaughey, NASA MSFC Deputy Director.
We believe you will find the content and other events associated with the workshop informative and worthwhile. And afterward, it is our further hope you will join this positive groundswell toward reinvigorating the frontier of space exploration.
Sincerely,
Douglas Loss
TVIW 2017 Organizing Committee
registrar@tviw.us
PS: Please pass this along to anyone in your organization you think may be interested and appropriate. Thank you.
