Starship Congress 2015

Friday, September 4, 2015

9:00 AM-9:00 PM

What:
Drexel University is hosting Starship Congress 2015, a gathering of scientists, students and enthusiasts of deep-space exploration. The event is organized by Icarus Interstellar, a non-profit science organization dedicated to achieving interstellar flight by the year 2100. Drexel is home to the first student collegiate chapter of Icarus Interstellar. The two-day event will feature workshops, presentations and speakers from representatives of the deep-space exploration community and scientists who study aerospace engineering and physics.

Who:
•    Ajmal Yousuff, associate professor and advisor of Drexel chapter of Icarus Interstellar
•    Damien Turchi, undergraduate student and founder of Drexel chapter of Icarus Interstellar
•    David Evinshteyn, undergraduate student and president of Drexel chapter of Icarus Interstellar

Visuals:
•    More than 100 professionals from the aerospace and physics research communities
•    Poster displays from Drexel students about deep-space exploration
•    Presentations by distinguished scientists and engineers
•    Interstellar hackathon event where attendees collaborate to generate revolutionary ideas

When:
Thursday, Sept. 4 – Friday, Sept. 5
•    Talk Schedule: http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/sc2015-papers/
•    Highlights:
o    9/4 9:15AM: Rachael Armstrong, a TED fellow, presents Prototyping Starships
o    9/4 11:00AM: Damien Turchi/David Evinshteyn present on chapter development
o    9/5 9:15AM: Dr. Ralph McNutt presents on NASA’s New Horizons mission
o    9/5 1:15PM: Antoine Faddoul presents on human aspects in extended space missions

Where:
Bossone Research Center, 3140 Market Street (Market Street between 31st and 32nd)
•    Daytime Events: Presentations on 1st Floor in Mitchell Auditorium
•    Evening Events: Hackathon on 3rd Floor Atrium

Background:
Icarus Interstellar is a non-profit science organization dedicated to the pursuit of the dream of interstellar flight. It was founded in 2009 and held its first Starship Congress in 2013. The group’s research mandate is to train the next generation of interstellar engineers. Drexel University’s became the first collegiate chapter of Icarus Interstellar when it was founded in 2013.  This group has worked on many projects in its 2 year history.  Students collaborated to write a 70+ page design report on a theoretical fusion propelled spacecraft that they call Zeus. They also have made developments on a field emission electric propulsion system intended to propel Cubesats beyond low earth orbit and have had fun traveling to Atlanta, New York, and Dover for field trips.   

For more information about the Starship Congress visit: http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/starship-congress-2015-interstellar-hackathon-drexel-university-philadelphia-sept-4-5-2015//