Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference   Feb. 18-20, 2010   Boulder, CO

 


FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT  —  OCTOBER 2009

 

 

SPONSORED BY
Lunar and Planetary Institute
Universities Space Research
   Association
Commercial Spaceflight Federation
Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation
NASA Ames Research Center
Southwest Research Institute
Space Exploration Technologies
   (SpaceX)
Special Aerospace Services
The National AeroSpace
   Training and Research Center
   (NASTAR Center)
United Launch Alliance
Virgin Galactic
SpaceRef.com

CONVENERS
S. Alan Stern,
   Southwest Research Institute,
   Boulder
Daniel Durda,
   Southwest Research Institute,
   Boulder
John Gedmark,
   Commercial Spaceflight Federation
Stephen Mackwell,
    Lunar and Planetary Institute
Mark Sirangelo,
   Commercial Spaceflight Federation
Fred Tarantino,
   Universities Space Research
   Association

SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
S. Alan Stern (Chair),
   Southwest Research Institute,
   Boulder
Steven Collicott,
   Purdue University
Joshua Colwell,
   University of Central Florida
Daniel Durda,
   Southwest Research Institute,    
   Boulder
Christoph Englert,
   Naval Research Laboratory
David Grinspoon,
   Denver Museum of Nature
   and Science
Richard Miles,
   Princeton University
John Pojman,
   Louisiana State University
Mark Shelhamer,
   Johns Hopkins University
Michael Summers,
   George Mason University
Erika Wagner,
   Massachusetts Institute
   of Technology



 

       
 
   
  MEETING LOCATION AND DATE    
 
   
   

The Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC) will be held February 18–20, 2010, at The Millennium Harvest House Boulder, 1345 28th Street, Boulder, Colorado, 80302.

 

KEY POINTS:
  When:  February 18–20, 2010
  Where:  Boulder, Colorado

 
   
  PURPOSE AND SCOPE    
 
   
   

A new generation of space vehicles capable of economically delivering payloads and researchers is coming on line beginning in 2010. These vehicles will revolutionize space access by providing frequent, low-cost access to space and the capability to carry research and education crew members.  They will also carry experiments for technology demonstrations, for scientist in-the-loop research, and for educational/public outreach demonstrations.

Fields including atmospheric science, solar physics, microgravity science, planetary science, space life science, space physics, and education and public outreach (EPO) stand to benefit from these vehicles.

NSRC2010 will provide a forum to learn about the research and EPO capabilities of these new systems, their experiments, and EPO integration processes.  NSRC2010 will also provide input on vehicle design requirements for science and education. 

The conference aims to bring together researchers from government, industry, and academia.  The objectives of the NSRC2010, therefore, are

  • to educate a broad array of research communities to the opportunities that the new wave of human suborbital vehicles offer for research and education missions (REM);
  • to hear from this broad array of researchers what their questions, feedback, and ideas are for REM applications and REM user requirements;
  • to demonstrate strong interest by working researchers and education/public outreach representatives to NASA, the National Institute of Health (NIH), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), industry, and other potential funding entities for REM applications.

   
 
   
  CONFERENCE FORMAT    
 
   
   

The 2.5-day conference will include invited and contributed talks scheduled into three parallel sessions for different fields.  The meeting will also include keynote addresses, a press conference, and public talks to the local community in Boulder.

Invited speakers will be given 25 minutes, including questions and answers, for their presentations.  Contributed authors will have 12 minutes, including questions and answers, for their talks.

Click here for a preliminary agenda.

Special Events —
A welcome reception with registration check-in will be held Wednesday evening, February 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Public talks will be held Thursday evening, February 18, at the Fiske Planetarium on the University of Colorado campus.

  • Suborbital Space for Fun and Research — The Test Pilot Astronaut's Perspective by Colonel (USAF retired) Rick Searfoss, former space shuttle commander and chief test pilot for XCOR Aerospace
  • Citizen Spaceflight:  A Dream Come True by Andrew Chaikin, author, journalist, and inspirational speaker. 

   
 
   
  CALL FOR ABSTRACTS    
 
   
   

Researchers in the fields appropriate to the purpose and scope of this conference are invited to submit abstracts for oral presentation only.  Poster and print-only presentations are not options.

To appear in the program, all invited or contributed abstracts must be submitted electronically to the Lunar and Planetary Institute via the electronic submission form by 5:00 p.m. U.S. Central Time on Thursday, November 12, 2009 (see timezone map). A preliminary program will be announced by December 28.  Abstracts should be limited to one page, including graphics, tables, and references, and MUST be submitted in PDF format. Templates and detailed instructions for formatting and submitting your abstract are provided.

Note:  Please submit early to allow for possible technical problems or delays in transmission; access to the web form will terminate at 5:00 p.m. CST.

The program and abstracts will be available in electronic format and accessible via the meeting website by December 28, 2009. These files will be in PDF format. Authors should check the online program to find out when their abstract has been scheduled.

  KEY POINTS:
Abstract Deadline:
  
Thursday, November 12, 2009
  5:00 p.m. CST
  (see timezone map)
 
   
  STUDENT PROPOSAL COMPETITION    
 
   
   

The NSRC 2010 Student Suborbital Experiment Contest invites University of Colorado students (all campuses) and Space Grant Consortium students from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas to propose their ideas for possible experiments in the next generation of suborbital space flight. Students may submit proposals as individuals or in teams. Cash prizes will be awarded to competition finalists presenting at the conference. For more detailed information, please read the Student Proposal Competition Guidelines.

   
 
   
  REGISTRATION    
 
   
   
Through January 15, 2010 $250.00 Professional / $90.00 Student
January 16–February 10, 2010 $275.00 Professional / $100.00 Student
After February 10, 2010 Onsite Registration Only
$300.00 Professional / $110.00 Student
   
   

* A one-day fee will be made available on site at the conference.

The registration fees will cover meeting expenses including a welcome reception on Wednesday evening, February 17; daily continental breakfasts; morning and afternoon refreshments; audio-visual equipment; and a conference program.

Credit card registrations:  Participants registering by credit card must use the secure electronic registration form.

Other methods of payment:  Those registering using any other method of payment (check, money order, or traveler’s check) must use the downloadable registration form.

Cancellations:  A $25.00 cancellation fee will be charged on any cancellations received before January 28, 2010. No refunds will be given after January 28, 2010.

   
 
   
  ACCOMMODATIONS    
 
   
   

The Millennium Harvest House Boulder is holding a block of guest rooms at the government rate of $103.00 per night plus 10.25% tax, single and double occupancy.  The guest room rate includes complimentary Internet access.

Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the hotel is adjacent to the University of Colorado, the 29th Street retail district, downtown Boulder, and the historic Pearl Street area.  See area map.

For participants who wish to bring family members to enjoy the local ambience and winter activities such as skiing, the group rate will be honored for three days before and three days after the meeting dates.

Reservations
Guests have several options for making reservations.

Hotel website:  Enter group code 0210USRAMT

Telephone:  Call (800) 545-6285 or (303) 443-3850 and ask for the Reservations Department.
(Be sure to identify yourself with NSRC 2010 group.)

E-mail:  [email protected]

Fax:  Download the reservation form and fax it to (303) 442-3821.

To ensure a room at the special rate, reservations MUST be made by 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time), January 18, 2010. Reservation requests received after the cut-off date will be accepted on a space-available basis at the best available rate. 

Room type preferences may be requested but are not guaranteed.  The hotel will do its best to honor guest requests, based upon availability at time of check-in.

Check-in time is 3:00 p.m.; checkout time is 12:00 noon. Guests arriving prior to check-in will be accommodated as rooms become available. Late check-outs will be accommodated subject to space availability. Guests staying in an occupied room after the check-out time will be assessed a late departure charge if prior arrangements have not been made with the hotel.

Room Deposit:  A deposit equal to one night’s stay ($103.00 plus 10.25% tax) is required to hold each individual’s reservation. Upon guest check-in, the deposit will be applied to the first night of the reserved stay. All deposits will be charged at the time the reservation is made.

Cancellations:  The deposit is refundable if the hotel receives notice of cancellation no later than 24 hours prior to the day of arrival. To avoid forfeiture of deposit, cancellations must be made by 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to arrival.

Early Departure Fee:  Guests will be required to advise the hotel at or before check-in of any change in the reserved length of stay. Changes made after check-in will be subject to an early departure fee of $75.00 to be charged to the guest’s individual account.

 

 

 
   
  TRANSPORTATION    
 
   
   

Boulder is located approximately 44 miles northwest of the Denver International Airport (DIA). Air travelers should book to DIA.

Once in Boulder, it is easy to get around by foot, bicycle (loaner bikes are available at the hotel), or bus, so it is not strictly necessary to rent a car.

Super Shuttle (303-227-0000) has hourly departures from DIA to Boulder from 7:10 a.m. to 11:10 p.m.  Return trips to DIA depart the hotel hourly between 4:45 a.m. and 10:45 p.m. The current cost is $50.00 per person round trip, or $27.00 one way. No reservation is necessary at DIA. You can walk directly to the Super Shuttle counter, which is near the fountain at the center of the DIA terminal, next to the exits from the DIA terminal tram. The return trip requires a reservation, which you can make at the desk or by asking the concierge at the Millennium.

Cab fare from the Denver airport to the Millennium hotel is about $75.00 one-way. This is actually cheaper than the Super Shuttle if you have at least three people in the cab.

Driving Directions
There are several ways to drive from DIA to Boulder. If you don't mind paying $8.00 in tolls, the fastest way is via E470, about 55 minutes.

1. Exit the airport on Pena Blvd.
3. Take the E470 toll road exit.
4. Merge onto State Hwy E 470 N.
5. E470 eventually turns into the Northwest Parkway.  Continue on to US Hwy. 36.
6. Take the ramp onto US-36W, then go about 8 miles to Boulder.
    (View Larger Map)

If you prefer to avoid the tolls at the expense of a slightly longer trip and more traffic (one hour and 15 minutes), you may want to take US-36W all the way to Boulder.

1. Exit the airport on Pena Blvd.
2. Take Exit 5 for Tower Rd., after the E470 exit.
3. Keep right at the fork to continue toward Tower Rd. and merge onto Tower Rd.
4. Turn left at E 104th Ave.
5. Head west on E 104th Ave/CO-44.
6. Take the ramp onto US-36 W, then go about 13 miles to Boulder.
    (View Larger Map)

Highway 36 turns into 28th Street in Boulder, and the Millennium is on the left just after the intersection with Colorado Blvd.

   
 
   
  CONTACTS    
 
   
   

For further information regarding the format and scientific objectives of the meeting, contact:

Cindy Conrad
Southwest Research Institute
Phone:  720-240-0126
E-mail:  [email protected]

For further information regarding meeting logistics and announcements, please contact

MARY CLOUD
Lunar and Planetary Institute
phone:  281-486-2143
e-mail:  [email protected]

For further information regarding abstract submission or registration, please contact

Linda Tanner
Lunar and Planetary Institute
Phone: 281-486-2142
E-mail:  [email protected]

   
 
   
 
SCHEDULE
   
 
   
   
Thursday, November 12, 2009
5:00 p.m. CST
Deadline for abstract submission
December 5, 2009
Deadline for submission to the
Student Proposal Competition
December 28, 2009
Final announcement with program and
abstracts available on this website
January 15, 2010

Deadline for registration at reduced rate

February 18, 2010
Public Talks — Fiske Planetarium, University of Colorado
February 18–20, 2010
Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference,
in Boulder, Colorado
   
   
   
           


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