RAST 2013 - 6th International Conference on Recent Advances in Space Technologies-RAST2013

In view of the developments in new launcher initiatives and the recent SpaceX success, the theme for the sixth RAST Conference (RAST2013) was decided as NEW WAYS OF ACCESSING SPACE FOR BENEFIT OF SOCIETY. RAST2013 will be held on 12-14 June 2013 again in Istanbul. RAST Conferences are open to all areas of space although each conference tries to focus on its specific theme as well.
Objectives: For a long time since the launch of the first satellite in 1957, access to space was provided by launchers, which were either developed by or contracted by government organizations. Although new launcher technologies were at times under consideration at the bureaucratic government monopoly structure, it has been the American deregulation acts of 1986 and 1990, and the Russian privatization laws in the early 1990’s, that opened the way to private sector to bring its creative forces into the picture. One notable exception is the OTRAG initiative of a private German company in the 1970s, which had to be cancelled for political reasons. Today there are more than a dozen commercial launcher development programs in USA, Russia, Europe and Japan, each emphasizing an innovative approach and providing a host of launch options for satellite owners.
RAST2013 has the main objective of providing a forum for the presentation and review of recent developments in the new ways of accessing space. It is the wish and the goal of the organizers to make RAST 2013 a premier event in space technology developments especially those on the way to near future deployment.
Participants: The conference should be attractive for participants interested in new launcher developments, who may come from both technical and management/policy backgrounds. Those with plans to put a satellite into orbit in the near future are especially encouraged to attend. Furthermore everyone working in the space field should find it wworthwhile to attend, including engineers, academicians, government officials, space company managers, businessmen, educators, and students.
Topics: In general, contributions regarding all aspects of recent developments in space technologies are welcome. Presentations addressing the specific theme of RAST 2013 are especially encouraged. Papers may fall under, but not be limited to the following topics:
New and innovative launch systems
New human habitable space craft, space capsules
Space tourism; space travel for short and long durations
Space technologies that contribute to security, including all aspects and threats, natural, man-made, humanitarian efforts, etc.
Earth observation projects and programs geared especially toward prediction, mitigation and monitoring of natural disasters
Computational modeling for design, development and control of aerospace vehicles, during launch, space travel and reentry
Developments in GNSSs, interoperability, new applications
Small satellites, micro, nano and pico satellites, cubesats
Satellite time and frequency transfer systems
New and novel instrumentation for various spacecraft functions, including ADCS, power, vehicle control, space robotics etc.
Space law, space medicine, and benefits of information available from space (social, educational and others)
Visions into future of space science, multiverses, black holes, etc.
Design and construction of space structures, space systems, materials, simulation and testing
Computational modeling of material processing and other flow physics associated processes under microgravity conditions in space
New remote sensing technologies and applications, i.e. hyperspectral sensing, SAR, applications in environment, agriculture, etc.
Regional positioning systems
New space communication techniques, higher frequencies, new apps
Communication satellites, flexible payloads, Ka band, EHF band, rain attenuation
Scientific applications, deep space, near-earth space, space weather, microgravity
International cooperation, especially among space-faring and developing countries.
Energy from space