A workshop on interstellar flight, organized by the institute for interstellar studies, the Physics Department and the Center for Theoretical Physics at City Tech
At the start of this new millennium we are faced with one of the greatest challenges of our age — can we cross the vast distances of space to visit other worlds around other stars? At the end of the last century the idea of interstellar travel was considered one of science fiction. In recent times that has changed and interstellar flight has received much interest. This is particularly since the discovery of many planets outside of our Solar System around other stars. Indeed, we now know that an Earth sizes mass planet orbits one of our closest stars, Proxima b. In addition, national space agencies and private commercial industry are beginning to turn their attention to the planets and beyond. It is time to start considering the bold interstellar journey and how we might accomplish it. Yet, this challenge presents many difficult problems to solve and who better to address them than the global physics community.
The Institute For Interstellar Studies (I4IS) and the Center for Theoretical Physics (CTP) at City Tech have partnered to bring together some of the best minds in the fields of physics to address some of the fundamental problems associated with becoming an interstellar capable civilisation.
sponsors
Authors should submit their papers before the workshop (deadline 9th of June), nevertheless they will be given a chance to revise the submission after the event. The paper has to be edited following JBIS style guide, and then sent to elena.ancona@gmail.com, both in word and pdf.
All submitted papers will go through peer-reviewed process and, eventually, will be considered for publication by JBIS, the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, which is the oldest astronautical journal in the world (1934). Kelvin F. Long is one of its former Chief Editors and will be working with the existing editorial team to facilitate the process.
Poster presentation will have a dedicated area and will be displayed during the three days conference. The Poster size should be 40x31 in (1.02x 0.80 m). If necessary, it can be increased - but never exceed 48x48 in (1.20x1.20 m).
Download Abstract Template and Style Guide
For further information you should contact one of the following who head up the organizing committee:
| CUNY Co-Chairman: | Roman Kezerashvili rkezerashvili @citytech.cuny.edu |
| I4IS Co-Chairman: | Kelvin F Long kelvin.long@i4is.org |
| Secretary: | Elena Ancona elena.ancona@gmail.com |
| Local Organizing Committee: | Roman Kezerashvili Lufeng Leng Gregory Matloff Giovanni Ossola |
The program for the three days is outlined below, and although alternative papers will be considered that are related to these fields, it is expected that these themes will make up the main focus of the discussions. The event will be held at the CUNY New York City College of Technology, Atrium Amphitheatre, Namm building, 300 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.
The opening dinner will take place at the Harvard Club of New York City, 35 West 44th Street, on Monday 12th June. Art exhibitions by C Bangs, Carmela Tal Baron and Kari Weatherbee who will all be in attendance. Moreover, art work will be exhibited from the artists Adrian Mann, David Hardy and Alex Storer. Inspiring classical music and a poetry reading will provide entertainment while discussing about the Cosmos and interstellar travel.
| Time | Topic | Speaker | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08.15 | Late registrations | ||
| 08.30 | Opening by Organizing Committee | ||
| 08.40 | Welcome by Session Chairman: Kelvin Long | ||
| 08.50 | 1. The Fusion Fuel Resource Base in our Solar System | Robert G. Kennedy III | Institute for Interstellar Studies US |
| 09.30 | 2. Heat Transfer in Fusion Starship Radiation Shielding Systems | Michel Lamontagne | Icarus Interstellar |
| 10.10 | 3. Plasma Dynamics in a Z-Pinch Fusion Engine | Robert Freeland | Icarus Interstellar |
| 10.50 | Coffee break | ||
| 11.10 | 4. Continuous Grid Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion | Raymond J. Sedwick et al. | University of Maryland |
| 11.50 | Workshop Discussion Session | ||
| 12.30 | Lunch break | ||
| 13.30 | 5. Direct Fusion Drive for Interstellar Exploration | Samuel Cohen et al. | Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory |
| 14.10 | 6. High Beta Cusp Confinement: A Path to Compact Fusion | Regina Sullivan | Lockheed Martin Skunk Works |
| 14.50 | 7. Laser-Powered Electric Propulsion for Interstellar Precursor Missions | Angelo Genovese | Initiative for Interstellar Studies |
| 15.30 | Coffee break | ||
| 15.50 | 8. Positron Propulsion for Interplanetary and Interstellar Travel | Ryan Weed et al. | Positron Dynamics Inc. |
| 16.30 | 9. Combined Thermal Desorption and Electrical Propulsion of Sailcraft using space environmental effect | Elena Ancona and Roman Ya. Kezerashvili | New York City College of Technology |
| 17.10 | Workshop Discussion Session | ||
| 17.50 | Chairman Summary | ||
| 18.00 | End of the Session | ||
Poster Presentations displayed throughout the three days of the workshop in the area of the coffee break.
| Time | Topic | Speaker | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08.40 | Welcome by Session Chairman: Roman Kezerashvili | ||
| 08.50 | 1. Solar Sail Propulsion: A Roadmap from Today's Technology to Interstellar Sailships | Les Johnson and Edward E. Montgomery | Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop and MontTech LLC |
| 09.30 | 2. Enabling the First Generation of Interstellar Missions | Philip M. Lubin | UC Santa Barbara |
| 10.10 | 3. The Andromeda Study: Some Design Solutions for Project Starshot | Andreas M. Hein et al. | Initiative for Interstellar Studies |
| 10.50 | Coffee break | ||
| 11.10 | 4. Solar System Escape Mission with Solar Sail Spacecraft in the Framework of Post-Newtonian Gravitational Theory | Olga L. Starinova and Irina V. Gorbunova | Samara National Research University |
| 11.50 | Workshop Discussion Session | ||
| 12.30 | Lunch break | ||
| 13.30 | 5. Effects of Enhanced Graphene Reflection on Performance of Sun-Launched Interstellar Arks | Gregory L. Matloff | New York City College of Technology |
| 14.10 | 6. Gram-Scale Nano-Spacecraft Entry into Star Systems | A. A. Jackson | Lunar and Planetary Institute |
| 14.50 | 7. Rigid Light Sail Dynamics and Control for Launch and Acceleration Using Controlled Optical Metamaterials | Eric T. Malroy | NASA Johnson Space Center |
| 15.30 | Coffee break | ||
| 15.50 | 8. The Prediction of Particle Bombardment Interaction Physics due to Ions, Electrons and Dust in the Interstellar medium on a Gram-Scale Interstellar Probe | Kelvin F. Long | Institute for Interstellar Studies |
| 16.30 | 9. Accelerator Technologies for Simulation of Dust Impacts at Starflight Velocities | Andrew J. Higgins | McGill University |
| 17.10 | Workshop Discussion Session | ||
| 17.50 | Chairman Summary | ||
| 18.00 | End of the Session | ||
| 20.00 | Workshop Dinner at Sheraton Brooklyn | ||
Poster Presentations displayed throughout the three days of the workshop in the area of the coffee break.
| Time | Topic | Speaker | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08.40 | Welcome by Session Chairman: Harold White | ||
| 08.50 | 1. Pilot Wave Model for Impulsive Thrust from RF Test Device Measured in Vacuum | Harold G. White | NASA JSC Eagleworks |
| 09.30 | 2. Mach Effect Gravitational Assist Drive | Heidi Fearn et al. | California State University Fullerton |
| 10.10 | 3. Entanglement and Chameleon Acceleration | Glen A. Robertson | GAResearch LLC |
| 10.50 | Coffee break | ||
| 11.10 | 4. Tests of Fundamental Laws of Physics in Interstellar Flight | Roman Ya. Kezerashvili | New York City College of Technology |
| 11.50 | Workshop Discussion Session | ||
| 12.30 | Lunch break | ||
| 13.30 | 5. An Epitaxial Device for Dynamic Interaction with the Vacuum State | David C. Hyland | Texas A&M University |
| 14.10 | 6. Pressing Hydrogen to Exotic Quantum States | Ranga Dias | Harvard University |
| 14.50 | 7. Self-Sustained Traversable Wormholes and Casimir Energy | Remo Garattini | Initiative for Interstellar Studies UK and University of Bergamo |
| 15.30 | Coffee break | ||
| 15.50 | 8. Human Exploration of The Solar System as a Precursor to Interstellar Travel: Outlook and Realities | Ralph L. McNutt Jr. | Johns Hopkins University |
| 16.30 | 9. First Stop on the Interstellar Journey: The Solar Gravity Lens Focus | Louis Friedman and Slava G. Turyshev | The Planetary Society and California Institute of Technology |
| 17.10 | Workshop Discussion Session | ||
| 17.50 | Chairman Summary | ||
| 18.00 | End of the Session | ||
Poster Presentations displayed throughout the three days of the workshop in the area of the coffee break.
| 15 February 2017 — | Go Live on announcement and invitations |
| 15 March 2017 — | Submission of “extended abstracts” |
| 25 March 2017 — | Extension of submission deadline if not sufficient |
| 31 March 2017 — | Papers selected and authors informed |
| 01-16 April 2017 — | Early bird registration open |
| 17 April - 26 May 2017 — | Regular registration open |
| 9 June 2017 — | Deadline for paper submission |
| 12 June 2017 — | Opening Event at Harvard Club |
| 13, 14, 15 June 2017 — | Workshop in New York |
Please fill out the form below and click “Submit”. The “Submit” button will redirect you to City Tech Foundation’s Donation page where you must select “Foundation of Interstellar Flight” conference fee, indicate one-time donation, and select either credit/debit or PayPal. Then click “Donate Now” to continue to a secure server where your payment information can be entered.
Declared Consensus by participants of the Foundations of Interstellar Studies Workshop on interstellar flight, 13-15 June 2017 in the City of New York.
The firmest foundation for interstellar studies is a community united by a common goal, to travel to and explore space beyond the Solar System, but committed to the mastery of their individual fields and interests. We have assembled here in the great city of New York to advance the state of interstellar studies, especially in regard to the type of engines to propel our future vessels across the stars. We educated ourselves, shared knowledge and wisdom with one another, and learned new things — some of which were profound. We observe that many great questions remain unanswered, and we suspect that others are yet unasked. We know that our field is young, and therefore it is premature to close off any avenue of scientific inquiry, or settle on just one approach. Whilst we embrace a spirit of friendly competition to advance all conceptual methods and advance the capabilities critical to achieving interstellar flight, we also observe the need for constructive collaboration that enhances our shared aim. Realizing these things, we must foster the closest co-operation among practitioners, because no one effort will be able to solve all of the problems necessary to conquer one of the most awesome challenges in human history by itself. The interstellar community will succeed in claiming humankind’s place in the stars. Together our open exchange of ideas has also revealed the vital relationship between the sciences and the arts, and we will continue to promote the key visual projects that benefit our aspirational goals. Examining the developments in popular culture within just the last seven years, we have observed that the public mind has changed noticeably in regards to the feasibility and potential for interstellar travel. Our consciousness has been raised thanks to organizations and individuals that anticipated the future and worked towards its fulfillment, as we will continue to work towards the astounding possibilities of existence that await our promising future.
The Foundations of Interstellar Studies Workshop on interstellar flight was organized by City University of New York and the Institute for Interstellar Studies. The declaration was made at CUNY City Tech New York, USA on Thursday June 15 2017.
New York City College of Technology is located in Downtown Brooklyn, next to the Brooklyn Bridge.
You can reach us from any of the train lines below.
Select one for more information:
Nu Hotel
A modern boutique hotel on the European model. Breakfast and wireless internet access included. Ten-minute walk from the College.
Sheraton Brooklyn
Full service hotel in the heart of downtown Brooklyn, ten minute walk from the College. For special discounted rate for attendees, click here.
Hampton Inn Brooklyn/Downtown
Ten minute walk to the College, ten minute walk to Barclays Center. Free breakfast buffet and free wireless internet. Least expensive of the four. Book early!
Marriott Brooklyn Bridge
Full service luxury hotel steps from the College. The quality you would expect from a flagship hotel. Newly remodeled.
