PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov
Contact: John G. Watson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 6, 1997
JPL TO HOST ADVANCED PROPULSION CONFERENCE, MARCH 11-13, 1998
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will host the Ninth Annual
Advanced Propulsion Research Workshop and Conference Mar. 11-13,
1998, bringing together experts from around the world to discuss
leading technologies related to space flight propulsion systems
of the next century.
The workshop is organized by the Advanced Propulsion
Technology Group within JPL's Technology Applications Program
directorate for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and will take
place at JPL's von Karman Auditorium, 4800 Oak Grove Dr.,
Pasadena, California, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Advance
registration is advised, as seating is limited.
"This is the only conference of its type in the world, as no
other propulsion conference specializes in advanced concepts,"
said JPL's Tim O'Donnell, manager of the Advanced Propulsion
Technology Group. "The unique nature of this event stems from
the breadth of technologies discussed, ranging from materials
science and metallurgy to high-energy physics, from novel in-situ
propellant utilization schemes to propellant-free propulsion
techniques."
A key workshop goal is providing a forum for information
exchange and program coordination between advanced space
propulsion researchers at various international institutions. In
previous years, workshop presenters and participants have
represented NASA, the Deptartment of Defense, the Department of
Energy, industry and university researchers in advanced
propulsion.
Topics to be discussed include new studies analyzing the
feasibility of an interstellar precursor mission, which JPL began
conducting this summer on behalf of NASA. Other subjects are
propulsion for the Human Exploration and Development of Space
(HEDS) initiative, advanced micropropulsion, advanced chemical
propulsion, fusion/fission propulsion systems, and advanced
materials for propulsion, along with solar sails and tethers.
The conference final agenda will be made available in late
February. Those who wish to respond to the call for papers
should submit abstracts by February 1 to: Dr. Stephanie Leifer,
JPL, MS 125-224, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, California 91109.
For further information, including registration details, call
(818) 354-3637.
JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology,
Pasadena, CA.
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