posted 01-18-2011 10:05 AM               

SpaceUp Houston release

SpaceUp Houston Opens Registration and Invites the Public to Play With Moon Rocks and Telescopes, and Mingle with Fellow Science and Science Fiction Fans

SpaceUp Houston has announced availability of tickets for its February 12-13 "unconference" to be held at The Lunar & Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, TX. Tickets are now available.

The third conference of its kind, SpaceUp Houston will include spontaneous sessions created by attendees as well as telescope viewing of the night sky, costumed Star Wars characters courtesy of the 501st Legion, and a Saturday evening presentation by Astronaut Clay Anderson.

Other sessions at the two-day event will include a commercial spaceflight panel and a space show-and-tell. Lunch will be provided with every ticket to the event.

Attendees have previously arrived from across the country with ages ranging from seven to seventy years old. SpaceUp Houston, as described on the unconference's website, "will nurture new and radical concepts, will help develop partnerships, and is meant for you to create a future worth living in." Previous attendees had this to say about SpaceUp events:

"Awesome."

"Inspiring."

"SpaceUp was about the people."

"The conversations people care about by the people who care about them."

Space unconferences have been held in San Diego, CA as well as Washington, DC to promote discussions on cutting edge technologies, space outreach, and the future of the space industry in the United States. This will be the first SpaceUp event in Houston; it has been planned and promoted by members of the Houston tech industry as well as space enthusiasts from across the country. Major sponsors for SpaceUp Houston include The Boeing Company, United Launch Alliance, and Telestream's Wirecast software. The event will be livestreamed on February 12-13 at SpaceUpHouston.org.

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A SpaceUp is a space unconference, also known as a user-generated conference or a BarCamp. Participants will decide the topics, schedule, and structure of the event.

SpaceUp, founded in 2010, has successfully been held in San Diego and Washington D.C. SpaceUp Houston will build upon their success by involving the Houston-Clear Lake community in sharing and discussing the possibilities for space exploration covering NASA programs, hobbyist projects, start-up companies, research, and the arts. SpaceUp strives to include children, university students, and anyone who has a passion for space exploration. There are no spectators at SpaceUp Houston, only participants. All attendees are expected to give a demo, present a talk, or participate in a panel or roundtable. Above all, SpaceUp events are designed as catalysts for future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics development.

SpaceUp Houston has partnered with the Clear Lake Area National Space Society (CLANSS) which has 501(c)(3) status.

posted 02-10-2011 01:12 PM               

SpaceUp Hosts Public, NASA, and Commercial Spaceflight Companies Under One Roof:
 Houston Event Promises to Promote Discourse on Future Direction of Spaceflight

SpaceUp Houston Invites Public to Be Part of a Rare Weekend-long Conversation That Will Include Representatives from NASA and Companies Developing the Future of Spaceflight

SpaceUp Houston has announced the agenda for their February 12-13 event and it will include the rare opportunity to interact with the companies and people creating the future of spaceflight. The event will be held at The Lunar & Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, TX. Commercial spaceflight companies in attendance will include Boeing, United Launch Alliance, ATK, SpaceX, Sierra Nevada, and Orbital Sciences. NASA representatives will also be on hand to demonstrate moon rocks, a NASA Space Exploration Vehicle and astronaut Clay Anderson will discuss using social media to communicate his spaceflight experiences to the world.

Attendees will have all weekend to interact with scientists, engineers, developers, designers, musicians, and students interested in guiding the future of spaceflight. Children are free with the purchase of an adult ticket and are encouraged to attend. Breakfast and lunch will be free on both days and snacks will also be provided.

Saturday will consist of sessions chosen by attendees, a space show and tell, a presentation by astronaut Clay Anderson, and a commercial spaceflight panel. Weather permitting, a star party with telescopes and music will also be held on Saturday evening. Sunday also promises to be a great day with more sessions, a space show and tell opportunity that will include a NASA Exploration Vehicle, and an opportunity to interact with Star Wars characters courtesy of the 501st legion. Tickets to the $25 event can be obtained online. $10 tickets are also available for the Saturday evening presentations and the event will be livestreamed on February 12-13.