Today we heard the exciting news that that the UK company Reaction Engines Ltd has recently ran a series of tests on the key elements of the SABRE propulsion system. These tests were observed by the European Space Agency and they have confirmed that all the test objectives were met. This now means that a major engineering obstacle to the Skylon spaceplane becoming a reality has just been overcome.
Blog
Initiative inaugurates interstellar MSC space studies projects with the International Space University
We are pleased to announce that the Initiative for Interstellar Studies has just launched four MSc projects in collaboration with the International Space University with the students dealing specifically with interstellar-themed topics.
Space Colony Earth
Space Colony Earth launches a new $75,000 fund raising campaign to complete the development of their family ARKhives. This is their plan for a back-up to Earth. Space Colony Earth has a team of people working around the world working on this campaign including team members in the U.S, Europe, Asia and South America. Their intentions are that the family of ARKhives will be something valuable to people everywhere.
The Starship Travellers (part 2)
In the earlier blog article, we discussed the meaning of the term “Starship”; itself a joining of the two separate words “star” and “ship”. There are many types of Starships depending on whether they are robotic or crewed, slow or relativistic, precursor missions or full interstellar, small payloads or entire world ships. In this article we continue the examination of this term to help us to understand its meaning. This series of articles, “The Starship Travellers” is really a philosophical exploration of the meaning of the term “Starship”.
Virtual rooms
Initiative researcher Austin Tate begins the construction of a virtual meeting room for members of the Initiative to hold technical discussions. With a global network of members, these sorts of tools will be important for the future to ensuring everyone feels involved.
First planning and progress meeting
On the 29th September, several invited members of the Initiative for Interstellar Studies took part in a special planning and progress workshop in London. Exciting times ahead.
Official public launch
We are pleased to announce the formation of a new research organisation dedicated to interstellar research. The Initiative for Interstellar Studies (I4IS) will set out to catalyse research and entrepreneurial programs that accelerate our knowledge of science, our application of the technologies, and harmonise our cultures, so that an interstellar capable society can be created this century. Technical credibility, reliability of information and scientific excellence will be essential principles of the Initiative.
Kelvin Long discusses Initiative at British Interplanetary Society
This lecture was given by Initiative Executive Director Kelvin F. Long on 29th August at the Head Quarters of the British Interplanetary Society in London. The BIS is the oldest space organisation still in its original form, first founded in 1933.