From: higgins@fnalb.fnal.gov (Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Info on World Space Congress and related events
Summary: Space circus in Washington, 28 Aug to 5 Sep
Keywords: world space congress IAF WSC COSPAR SEDS Planetary Society ASE
Date: 14 Aug 92 18:44:04 GMT
Expires: 7 Sep 92 18:45:57 GMT
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

I've received requests from people for more information 
on the World Space Congress and thought it might be worth posting.

The International Astronautical Federation is a collection of
spaceflight professional groups from most of the countries of the
world.  It holds the biggest space conference of the year (this is the
43rd), at least on *this* planet.  It moves around from city to city
and it's in DC this year, at the Washington Convention Center downtown
(as well as teh Ramada Renaissance Hotel and the Grand Hyatt
Washington.  It's a joint meeting with COSPAR, the Committee on Space
Research, about which I know less, but apparently it's the great space
science confab.  The dual meeting is known as the World Space
Congress.

Of course there are oodles of presentations on all aspects of space
science, astronautical engineering, space law, space education, remote
sensing, etc.

It's being administered by the AIAA.  The hotline for registration
info is (202)646-7569.   Fees are now $300, unless you can prove
you're a full-time undergrad or graduate student, in which case it's
$30.

The congress runs from 28 August to 5 September, with most action
happening on the weekdays.  Everybody in the space biz will be there,
including lots of bigshots from all countries.  I just met a couple of
Mir cosmonauts who are touring the country before they attend WSC.

I'm reading a paper on the morning of Friday the 4th, in the
"Communicating to the Public" session, on creating the Usenet FAQs for
sci.space.  (Jon Leech, my coauthor, won't be able to make it.)

Because the WSC is so big, other groups are having meetings clustered
around it.  

Students for Exploration and Development of Space are meeting at the
Quality Hotel the weekend of the 28th.   I bet Lisa Weigel would tell
you about it if you sent a request to alweigel@athena.mit.edu; also,
stuff has been posted to the SEDS-L list-- look in the archives.

The Association of Space Explorers (astronauts and cosmonauts) is
meeting for a few days ending the 28th.  

The Congress includes various receptions held almost every night at
museums, embassies, etc.

The Planetary Society is sponsoring a bunch of stuff:

     A "road rally" for Mars rover vehicles on the Mall the 1st and
     2nd (free admission, 10 AM to 6 PM, near the National Air and 
     Space Museum).  They're looking for volunteers to help create a
     Martian landscape on the 29th, and to dismantle it on the 3rd.  Sounds
     like fun, or as much fun as moving rocks and sand can get anyway. 
   
     A "To Mars Together" lecture with Carl Sagan, Alexei Leonov, and Igor 
     Volk at NAS on the 28th ($20, less for PlanSoc members, call 
     (818)793-5100)

      A release party and SETI fundraiser for the Voyager record, $50/ticket,
      $80/pair, at the Hard Rock Cafe on the 29th from 7PM to 9PM.  Call the
      number above.

PlanSoc also makes the following claim about the WSC's "International
Exhibit" at the Washington Convention Center: "ADMITTANCE IS FREE to
members carrying either a business card or a Planetary Society
membership card.  (Sorry, children will not be admitted to the Exhibit
Hall.)"  Will contain... dazzling innovation and state-of-the-art
technology from 13 countries, blah blah blah...

I attended last year's IAF conference in Montreal, learned a lot, and
had a really good time.  This year will be even bigger and fancier.  I
doubt they can beat Montreal's opening ceremonies, though:  The Royal
Canadian Mounted Police Jazz Orchestra, in full uniform, playing a Glenn
Miller medeley at 8:30 on a Monday Morning.  Really wakes you up...

The conference fee is a huge bargain if you are a student and you have
even a small interest in space... GO!  You won't see anything like
this on this continent for years to come.

Hint:  Bring a LARGE mailing tube.  The exhibitions have some great
giveaway posters, but it's awkward to carry them around.

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Newsgroups: sci.space