Spaced Out

This weekend, the Huntsville Alabama L5 chapter of the National Space Society is hosting a conference on "Exploring and Privateering Space" here in Huntsville.

Here's the official conference web site.

Here's today's Huntsville Times article.

Here's another article from the Valley Planet.

Conference Topics — Friday, Nov. 12: Space Propulsion, Launch Vehicles; Saturday, Nov. 13: Going for X-Prize, Lunar Exploration, Space Tourism, Moon, Mars and Beyond; Sunday, Nov. 14: NSS in Action, Space Stations and Settlement, Huntsville Projects, Space Science and Education.

Speakers will include Konrad Dannenberg, the propulsion engineer of Wernher von Braun's rocket team, and George Whitesides, executive director for the National Space Society. Dannenberg will speak on the history of the Saturn V rocket. Whitesides will speak on "Next Steps for Ensuring Human Space Exploration."

The convention is Friday through Sunday at the Airport Sheraton Hotel. Cost is $30 at the door for all three days or $15 per day. (Advance tickets are also available.)

For real geeks, the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library is hosting a "Star Trek" night Friday from 6 to 9 PM. It will feature "Star Trek: The Next Generation" speechwriter Lee Shackleford and a "Star Trek" trivia game. There will also be "Space Jeopardy" or "Family Feud" Friday night from 10 PM to midnight. (Huntsville Times)