Catalog

Technical programme

IAC-10 — 61st International Astronautical Congress

E5. 21st SYMPOSIUM ON SPACE ACTIVITY AND SOCIETY

This 21st symposium organized by the International Academy of Astronautics will review the impact and benefits of space activities on the various segments and aspects of society, including arts and culture, society’s expectations from space, human life in space, space exploration and tourism, as well as knowledge transfer.

Coordinator

Peter Swan
Space Elevator Development Corporation — United States

Geoffrey Languedoc
Canadian Aeronautics & Space Institute (CASI) — Canada

E5.1. Future and current space missions: including and expanding all aspects of human life on-board and in other worlds

This session will address present day intentions and tendencies in sustainability and survivability in design based on minimizing and optimizing all resources. That will include but will not be limited to: • new approaches to understanding mission goals as they evolve and change as new technologies and developments become available, and how this affects design and humans on-board • humans vs. robotic missions – working together or against • reality of achieving sustainability in space design (Moon, Mars…etc.) • reflecting all qualities of life in space design Papers are invited from professionals and students in areas of technology, structures, human factors, medicine, psychology, philosophy, the arts, system engineering and other fields that can support broad aspects of space research, design and development

Chairman

Nikolai Tolyarenko
— France

Olga Bannova
University of Houston — United States

Rapporteur: Ondrej Doule
Florida Institute of Technology — United States

E5.2. Space Expectations: Involving the Public in Space Activities

Space activities have historically been based upon technological successes with science and exploration leading space activities toward major projects throughout the solar system. However, periodic disconnects have occurred as the public used to seeing major successes suddenly sees failures and begins to question the value and cost of space initiatives. An IAA-sponsored study to determine the depth of understanding and backing of space activities by the general public (in particularly young people) was recently completed. Following on from sessions at previous IACs, papers are invited which review and describe society’s expectations from space programmes, ascertain how society – particularly youth - could become more involved in space exploration, and indicate how space activities could maintain the interest and excitement of tomorrow’s youth and thus be supported (both financially and intellectually) by the public.

Chairman

Peter Swan
Space Elevator Development Corporation — United States

Cathy Swan
SouthWest Analytic Network — United States

Rapporteur: David Raitt
— The Netherlands

E5.3. Space Architecture: Exploration and Tourism

Space exploration, as we know it, used to be the forte of government space agencies. But that is set to change forever, in part because of the changing economic reality and in part due to the entry of new private players vying to provide both private tourists and a paying government customer, rides on their spaceships. Take Bigelow, or Space-X, or Virgin Galactic, or any of those new companies out there that have injected new life, even enthusiasm into the words EXPLORATION and TOURISM. These companies are developing a whole new generation of rockets, habitable modules, cargo ferries and suborbital space planes. As the Shuttle gets ready to retire, it will see a new genre of human and cargo crafts that will take over and steer the world into a new era in space exploration. It is in this context that the role of Space Architecture and Design assumes greater meaning and significance. More than anybody else, it will be the private space tourists that will force the tourism companies to hire the brightest and the best in the business of architecture and design. Unlike the astronauts, they have every right to be fussy and can and will complain if the ride is a bad one. This will put habitability and human factors, even style, on top of the design agenda, on par with safety and survivability. Even human planetary exploration will be changed forever by this transition. Many of the products and services required by government missions and crews on the surface of the Moon - and for testing activities in Earth orbit - need not be developed by traditional government aerospace contracts. Re-supply of fuel, food, and other consumables, equipment maintenance, and other services could well be provided by companies or other nations whose offerings cross over to commercial customers as well. This session aims to provide a platform to present designs that will shape the look of future spacecraft that will lead us into a new age in exploration and tourism.

Chairman

Susmita Mohanty
Earth2Orbit, LLC — India

Anna Barbara Imhof
Liquifer Systems Group (LSG) — Austria

Rapporteur: Brent Sherwood
— United States

E5.4.-E1.6. Water from Space: Societal, Educational and Cultural Aspects

This is a joint session between the IAF Space Education and Outreach Committee and the IAA Commission VI. Inter-disciplinary in nature, it will explore the societal and cultural contexts of water as they are related to space. Possible topics include: political and economic issues; how the crises affecting oceans impact on society; the way the arts, popular culture and entertainment engage with cultural issues related to water, remote sensing co-ordination and public access; educational programmes relating to water from space, etc.

Chairman

Annick Bureaud
— France

Bee Thakore
Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) — United Kingdom

Lyn Wigbels
American Astronautical Society (AAS) — United States

Rapporteur: Adrian Meyer
Space School Africa — South Africa