Europe Moon-Mars Architecture Examined At Two Meetings This Week

Two conferences in Europe this week will examine the Earth-Moon-Mars architecture, including international plans to establish a base on the Moon to support further exploration of Mars and beyond. First up on Oct 13 is the 'International Workshop on Lunar Surface Wireless Communications and Navigation' in Berlin, Germany. The workshop will focus on human activities on the surface of the Moon, specifically planetary communication domains as inherently networked segments that will potentially make use of commercially driven wireless technologies. The second event is the '8th European Mars Conference' at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. Themed, 'Columbus: Quest for a New World,' the conference will look at the upcoming new era of space exploration, as well as the physiological considerations of how we get there from where we are today. Beginning with astrobiology research currently conducted on the ISS, sessions will cover using the Moon to establish the first off-Earth settlement and extending out to Mars and beyond with robotic, then human, expeditions. The meeting will discuss European and international contributions to this architecture with participation from ESA, NASA, and other institutes. Nancy Vermeulen (T) of the University of Antwerp will Chair the conference. Notable speakers include NASA planetary scientist Chris McKay (C), Phoenix Mars Lander principal investigator Peter Smith (B), Werner Verschueren of the Space Department / Belgium Federal Science Policy Office, and many others. (Credit: ESA, NASA, UA)

With space startup businesses like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic continuing to advance towards commercial operation, space will soon be open territory for free market enterprise. In this exciting time, 'Space Investment Summit 5' (SIS-5) seeks to continue the series of forums that bring together entrepreneurs and investors seeking to take advantage of the opportunities in NewSpace-related ventures. The summit will take place at the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles CA on Oct 15. Eleven prescreened companies have been selected to present their business plans to seed and early stage investors, space-related entrepreneurs, established companies, government, academia, and non-profit organizations. Featured companies include: Astrobotic Technology, which plans to provide commercial robotic missions to the Moon, asteroids and beyond; Celestis, which transports human cremated remains to space; and XCOR Aerospace, a company pursuing private space flights and low-cost space access. A panel session, 'Strategies for Moving the Industry Forward: A Discussion with NewSpace Industry Watchers,' will focus on the current opportunities and pitfalls in the commercialization of space. Steve Jurvetson (R), a high-tech visionary and alpha venture capitalist in the Silicon Valley, will be the keynote speaker; and Paul Eckert (L) of the Boeing Company will give the welcome address as Space Investment Summit Coalition Coordinator. (Credit: Boeing, DFJ, SIS, XCOR, Celestis)