By 
August 8th, 2015
Credit: Icarus Interstellar
While interstellar targets of opportunity are distant, close at hand is the Starship Congress 2015 to be held at Drexel University in Philadelphia this September.
Starship Congress 2015 is being subtitled “Interstellar Hackathon” featuring talks and presentations centered on hacking the paradigm of interstellar space exploration.
Starship Congress 2015: Interstellar Hackathon – to be held September 4-5 — will be built around workshops and punctuated by speakers from the deep space science community.
Drexel University is home to the first collegiate chapter of Icarus Interstellar. Founded as an organization in 2009, Icarus Interstellar became a 501c3 not-for-profit group in 2011.
The organization grew out of Project Icarus — a five year design study for a fusion powered starship that began in September 2009 – initiated jointly by the British Interplanetary Society and the Tau Zero Foundation.
Credit: British Interplanetary Society/Tau Zero Foundation
Cutting edge research
Icarus Interstellar welcomes paper presentation by representatives of aerospace, aeronautics, advanced materials, fission and fusion research fields.
This year’s space career fair aims to match student attendees potential for innovation with companies in the fields of aerospace, materials science, space exploration component and systems R&D, Earth observation, imaging and related services.
“Two personal reasons for being involved in interstellar studies… It’s the most fun and the most significant achievement humanity has undertaken,” notes Andreas Tziolas, president of Icarus Interstellar.
“Icarus’ role is to keep up the pressure by coordinating cutting edge research in a way which is approachable and understandable to everyone seeking to participate,” says Tziolas. “This first ever, Interstellar Hackathon will be as fun as it will be productive, as we challenge participants to think fast and hard about exploring our place in the universe.”
Icarus Interstellar is affiliated with The British Interplanetary Society, Institute for Interstellar Studies, Tau Zero Foundation, Global Starship Alliance and Star Voyager.
Credit: Icarus Interstellar
Taking flight before 2100
The mission of Icarus Interstellar is to realize interstellar flight before the year 2100. To help accomplish this objective a number of projects are in research mode, created to develop the science and the technologies that will make interstellar flight a reality:
Project Icarus: A design study for an unmanned fusion-powered interstellar probe.
Project Astrolabe: Navigating the Future of Civilization.
Project Voyager: Mapping a path to the stars.
Project Helius: A practical investigation of laser-initiated pulse propulsion.
Project Tin Tin: Interstellar nanosat mission to Alpha Centauri.
Project Forward: A study of beamed energy and sails for interstellar propulsion.
Project XP4: Explores deep future propulsion and energy generation concepts.
Project Bifrost: A study to advance the use of nuclear space technologies.
Project Hyperion: A far-looking design study for a manned interstellar vessel.
Project Persephone: A study of adaptable architecture for both starships and cities.
Credit: Icarus Interstellar
Resources:
To register for Starship Congress, go to:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starship-congress-2015-interstellar-hackathon-tickets-16813758404
For additional information, contact Icarus Interstellar at:
starshipcongress@icarusinterstellar.org
Credit: Icarus Interstellar
Posted in Space News
