The Space Engineering and Science Institute

presents

The 2009 Space Elevator Conference

Pioneer the next frontier 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 spacecraft 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 Overview Presentation - a free presentation on the conceptual design Wednesday night, August 12th - 7:00pm to 8:30pm at the Microsoft Conference Center.
  • Space Elevator 101 - A separate track on Saturday, August 15th at the Microsoft Conference Center for families, groups of friends, and anyone new to the space elevator concept to get a more in-depth look at the SE concepts and enabling technologies.  This session will have more details than the free presentation on Thursday night, but will not be deeply technical as the main conference sessions.  The Pacific Science Center and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame will also have exhibits and fun activities.  The registration fee is only $40 to attend one of the two sessions (morning or afternoon).  You can have up to four family and 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.  Tether competition team members get free admission to the conference the day of the competition (Friday, August 14th).
  • 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.