The Space Engineering and Science Institute

presents

2009 Space Elevator Conference

Explore the frontiers of space exploration this summer with a four-day conference on the Space Elevator in Redmond, Washington at the Microsoft Conference Center.

Thursday, August 13 through Sunday, August 16, 2009

Register Today!

The Space Elevator is a radical new way to access space less expensively than possible with chemical rocket technology. The technology offers solutions to many of the problems facing communities today, including but not limited to the need for clean, renewable energy.

The Space Elevator uses a carbon nanotube ribbon that stretches from the surface of the earth to a counterweight in space. Climbers ascend the ribbon, lifting cargo and passengers to earth orbits and launching space ships to distant planets.  

The 2009 Space Elevator Conference focuses on all aspects of Space Elevator development, engaging an international audience of scientists, engineers, educators, managers, entrepreneurs, enthusiasts and students. This conference will feature topical discussions in all of the four pillars of Space Elevator development: science/technical, political/social, legal, and economic. Other topics include the space missions and the style of life on Earth that Space Elevator technology will enable. 

Conference to Include

• Public Presentations 
  • Space Elevator (SE) Overview Presentation - a free presentation on the conceptual design Wednesday night before the conference - open to the public
  • Family Day - A separate track on Saturday, August 15th specifically for families and those new to the space elevator concept to get a more in depth look at the SE concepts and enabling technologies.  This will have more details than the free presentaiton Thursday night, but will not be deeply technical as the main conference sessions.  There will be a small registration fee for attending one of the two sessions (morning or afternoon).  You can have up to four family and/or friends on one registration!
• Technical Conference Sessions
  • SE Impact on the Future - transformations enabled by the SE, including exploration, using space resources to solve problems here on Earth, solar power platforms, extra-terran bases, and colonization
  • Tether Strength Competition - this year's conference will host the Elevator:2010 Challenge Tether Strength Competition 
  • Carbon Nanotube Research – presentations on the progress of high strength carbon nanotube (CNT) research
  • Roadmap Workshops - focusing on the four pillars of development, get engaged!
  • Shotgun Science Session - science ideas not ready for prime time: rapid sequence, 5 min 

The conference is sponsored by Microsoft Corporation.

Upcoming Conference Planning Meetings

Contact David Horn (david.horn@microsoft.com or 206-229-1856) or attend one of our upcoming meetings if you would like to get involved with organizing this year's conference. 

• Wednesday, July 8, 7pm-9pm, Bellevue Regional Library - Room 4
• Wednesday, July 22, 7pm-9pm, Bellevue Regional Library - Room 4
• Monday, August 03, 7pm-9pm, Bellevue Regional Library - Room 6
• Monday, August 10, 7pm-9pm, Bellevue Regional Library - Room 4 (Final meeting before the conference)