Kicking off its second decade as the top scientific conference in the specialized fields of optics, imaging and space surveillance, the 11th annual AMOS Conference expanded its own horizons with an educational program supported by the Space Foundation. The program included a session for students with astronaut Robert Curbeam Jr. and a workshop for teachers supported by the Space Foundation, Analytical Graphics, Inc., Air Force Research Laboratory, Lockheed Martin and Orbital Sciences Corp.
Still, the focus remained on developments in science and technology for tracking objects in space, and increasingly on objects that are becoming hazards to the satellites that have become essential to global communications and space research.
Much of the 2010 AMOS Conference involved presentations on identifying, tracking and characterization of space debris and distant objects, with related presentations providing updates on developments in optics and imaging — technologies essential to the science of space situational awareness.
More than 600 researchers and specialists in the technological fields attended the conference held Sept. 14-18 at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort. Sponsored by the Maui Economic Development Board, the conference developed out of a need for scientists and imaging researchers with the AFRL’s Maui Space Surveillance Site and the Maui High Performance Computing Center to network with colleagues around the globe in efforts to upgrade technology and techniques for tracking hazardous space objects.
“Space has become increasingly congested with more satellites,” said AMOS Co-Chairman Wes Freiwald, president/CEO of Pacific Defense Solutions LLC. “With the amount of space debris continuing to increase, technologies that contribute to the cataloging of debris as well as the removal of debris will continue to be of national importance, not only to our military, but commercial satellite operators as well.”
Developments in the fields of optics and imaging tend to be incremental rather than seismic, but the conference speeds the sharing of incremental advances.
Freiwald, whose Pacific Defense Solution is a co-sponsor of the conference, said there is a benefit for a technology company like PDS — started up on Maui because its research focus is on imaging challenges posed by the mission of the Maui Space Surveillance Site.
“For a small business based in Hawaii the AMOS Conference is an unparalleled opportunity to have colleagues, customers and potential customers come to our offices on Maui,” he said. “The amount of interfacing we accomplish through the AMOS Conference during the week on Maui would take us three months of travel on the Mainland.”
Papers presented during AMOS 2010 are being prepared for posting on the AMOS Conference site, www.amostech.com.
“AMOS 2010 was a huge success, compounded by the new educational component in support of science teachers in the Maui District,” said MEDB President Jeanne Unemori Skog. “We are grateful for the interest and support of the Space Foundation, Captain Curbeam and the technology businesses that provided materials and information to inspire and encourage Maui students to view science and technology as personal opportunities.
“The 2010 conference demonstrated the synergistic possibilities for education offered by technology industries on Maui associated with the space research and development programs of the Air Force Research Lab, the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy and the Maui High Performance Computing Center.”