Space Science Track DragonCon 2000 Space/Science Program, REV. e: Updates, 5/24/2000. d: See 17: A/V; 20: panelists. Corrections Requested. e: Swap 18 & 19 to resolve conflict. Remove Hogan from 3 (not attending) f: Add Julie Pollock to 20; Add Markus De Shon to 11 and 18; Swap 10 and 12. 3 Thursday, June 29, 2000 04:00 PM Sliding into the Singularity Kevin J. Anderson, Michael Stackpole Moderator Dani Eder Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: none Vernor Vinge wrote an article in 1993 about how the acceleration of technology would culminate in a burst of progress, when machine intelligence starts getting smarter than humans and improves itself in an accelerating positive feedback loop. No one knows what life will be like after that, because everything will change at once. The date was projected to be 2035. He was too conservative... 8 Friday, June 30, 2000 10:00 AM Propellantless Propulsion: Space Propulsion that "Lives Off The Land" Les Johnson Moderator none Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector In the absence of high-energy propulsion systems (such as those enabled by space nuclear power), rapid, low-cost space travel (Earth orbital, interplanetary and deep space) will be slow and limited to small payloads. A new class of space propulsion systems that use the resources readily available in space (sunlight, magnetic fields, solar wind, planetary atmospheres, etc.) and that take advantage of the space environment for structural considerations (zero gravity, no atmosphere) may enable rapid transfer by 'living off the land." Technologies that will be discussed include solar sails, electrodynamic and momentum transfer tethers and aero-assist. 9 Friday, June 30, 2000 11:30 AM Living on the Moon for $4M a day. Dr. Steven D. Howe Moderator none Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: VCR/monitor, Overhead projector, 35mm slide proj. Forget Apollo and government driven missions to the Moon. Personal wealth is reaching a level where one person, very wealthy, and with a vision could establish a base on the Moon. The technologies to live there, though, and to make a profit are very different than those which NASA has promoted. 10 Friday, June 30, 2000 01:00 PM Making Antimatter Matter-- Isotopes to Interstellar Dr. Steven D. Howe Moderator none Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector Synergistic Technologies, Inc. (STI) is a new small company formed to develop applications of antimatter. The company is pursuing two strategic tracks- medical applications using currently available quantities of antiprotons and advanced propulsion concepts which will require advances in production and storage. 11 Friday, June 30, 2000 02:30 PM Our Anthropic Universe Bill Gardiner, Markus De Shon Moderator Les Johnson Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector Recent scientific discoveries are leading many to conclude that if our universe were only slightly different, life would be impossible. The inevitable question therefore arises, "Is our universe designed for life?" No answer will be provided, but the science behind the question will be discussed in an open forum. 12 Friday, June 30, 2000 04:00 PM The Earth at Night from Space Avery Davis Moderator none Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector The night side of Earth is beautiful to see from orbit. So what's the problem? This slide show Illustrates the magnitude of the light pollution problem, and presents solutions that improve the quality of outdoor lighting for everybody. 13 Friday, June 30, 2000 05:30 PM Go Autonomous or Go Home - Robotic Research at the MIL Scott Jantz, Julie Pollock, Signe Redfield, Steven Tobias Moderator Megan Grimm Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: VCR/monitor, Overhead projector Graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Florida's Machine Intelligence Lab will discuss their current research and future endeavors with regard to the view of robotics presented in popular media, and demonstrate a variety of small autonomous robots constructed in the lab. If you would like more information about the MIL, please visit the website at 14 Friday, June 30, 2000 07:00 PM The Year In Science Game Mitzi Adams, Mozelle Funderburk, Jerry Samples Moderator Earl Babbitt Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector A trivia quiz with prizes! The question pool will be limited to the time between July 1, 1999 and July 1, 2000. 15 Saturday, July 01, 2000 10:00 AM Introducing Science Through Science Fiction Phyllis Boros, Mozelle Funderburk, Dr. Jim Peterson Moderator Mitzi Adams Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector Educators and scientists discuss the positive aspects of teaching through the use of science as applied in fiction. Audience participation is encouraged. 16 Saturday, July 01, 2000 11:30 AM A Miracle occurs here: going to the stars in the next 50 years Les Johnson, Dani Eder Moderator none Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector The nearest star is a very, very long way away. Several concepts have been proposed that might carry a probe to Alpha Centauri. At this time, all concepts require a miracle to occur in order to be viable. 17 Saturday, July 01, 2000 01:00 PM Fast Missions to Mars: Buck Rogers must have used a nuclear rocket Dr. Steven D. Howe Moderator none Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: VCR/monitor, 35mm slide proj., Overhead proj. Nuclear rockets were built and tested in the 1960s. The only way to send humans to Mars on a fast mission is using nuclear energy. The gas core nuclear rocket holds the promise of getting there in a month. 18 Saturday, July 01, 2000 02:30 PM Faster than Light Communications! For Real! William Gardiner, Markus De Shon Moderator none Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm proj., VCR/monitor, Overhead projector Prof. Guenter Nimtz at the University of Cologne recently performed a laboratory experiment demonstrating FTL transfer of information. NSS Atlanta's Far Out Physics (FOP) committee reports on this and other breakthrough developments in the past year. 19 Saturday, July 01, 2000 04:00 PM Its Almost 2001, Where's HAL? And "I Want My Moonbase!" Brad Linaweaver, Dani Eder Moderator Les Johnson Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector Panelists will discuss the state of technology as we approach 2001 and how it compares with the vision of the future portrayed by the film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. 20 Saturday, July 01, 2000 05:30 PM Robot Battles: Machine Intelligence or Machine Stupidity? Mark Fingerman, Scott Jantz, Kelly Lockhart, Dr. Jim Peterson, Julie Pollock, Signe Redfield, Steven Tobias Moderator Megan Grimm Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector Are robot battles a useful stimulation of valuable new machine capabilities, or just mechanical "Smack Down" entertainment? 23 Sunday, July 02, 2000 11:30 AM Space Solar Power Dani Eder, Darrell Preble Moderator none Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj., Overhead projector Solar power satellites were once thought to be the final solution to Earth's energy needs. What happened to them, and will they ever become reality? Find out in this presentation on the issues and progress towards the development of space energy resources. 24 Sunday, July 02, 2000 01:00 PM National Space Society Open Meeting Avery Davis, Earl Babbitt Moderator Jerry Samples Hyatt-Greenbriar A/V: 35mm slide proj. Find out how you can be a part of creating a spacefaring civilization.