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.
818-354-5011