My Schedule for Capricon 35
Capricon is once again at the Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, Illinois this weekend, 12 through 15 February. And it will keep me pretty busy, conversing with some delightful people.
Re-starting the Manned Space Program
- Thursday, 02-12-2015 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia A
The shuttle program is gone, so what are we going to do next to get back into space? Will NASA be leading the charge, or private companies? Explore the state of re-starting the manned space program.
Chris Gerrib
Bill Higgins
James Plaxco (M)
Rise Up!
- Friday, 02-13-2015 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Aerospace - balloons, zeppelins, airplanes, rocket ships. Fans remain fascinated with flight so let's get together and geek out about it!
Bill Higgins (M)
Emmy Jackson
James Plaxco
Henry Spencer
Rosetta and Ramifications: The Future of Robotic Space Missions
- Friday, 02-13-2015 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
November 2014 saw new milestones in robotic space exploration with the Rosetta mission to comet 67P and the dramatic landing of the Philae probe on its surface. Observational science of Pluto has already commenced with the New Horizons probe that was sent to investigate the Kuiper Belt and will fly-by of the dwarf planet this July. Where do we fly to next, and what should the primary science objectives be for future missions? What new technology do we need to get there?
Bill Higgins (M)
Henry Spencer
Where in the Universe are We?
- Saturday, 02-14-2015 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm (Kids Programming)
Bill Higgins talks to us about outer space and where we, as Earth dwellers, fit into the universe.
Bill Higgins
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Random Panel Topic
- Sunday, 02-15-2015 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
What happens to the panel ideas that get rejected? They are reborn here as random panel topics! Our panelists will choose a topic (at random, of course) and speak expertly on them for 5 minutes each. You'll be rolling on the floor with laughter!
Sondra de Jong (M)
Peter Heltzer
Bill Higgins
Mary Mascari
Mark Oshiro
Rocks & Rockets: Dawn of the Asteroid Belt
- Sunday, 02-15-2015 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Asteroids are relics of the ancient solar system. NASA's Dawn spacecraft orbited Vesta for a year. Now its ion thruster is propelling it across the Asteroid Belt to Ceres, the largest asteroid, where this spring it will again enter orbit. Join Bill Higgins on an exploration of Dawn's findings at Vesta and its plans for Ceres.
Bill Higgins (M)
Capricon encompasses four holidays this year: Lincoln's Birthday, Friday the Thirteenth, Valentine's Day, and (according to Bob Trembley) Chelyabinsk Day. Reason to celebrate.
Re-starting the Manned Space Program
- Thursday, 02-12-2015 - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Ravinia A
The shuttle program is gone, so what are we going to do next to get back into space? Will NASA be leading the charge, or private companies? Explore the state of re-starting the manned space program.
Chris Gerrib
Bill Higgins
James Plaxco (M)
Rise Up!
- Friday, 02-13-2015 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Aerospace - balloons, zeppelins, airplanes, rocket ships. Fans remain fascinated with flight so let's get together and geek out about it!
Bill Higgins (M)
Emmy Jackson
James Plaxco
Henry Spencer
Rosetta and Ramifications: The Future of Robotic Space Missions
- Friday, 02-13-2015 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
November 2014 saw new milestones in robotic space exploration with the Rosetta mission to comet 67P and the dramatic landing of the Philae probe on its surface. Observational science of Pluto has already commenced with the New Horizons probe that was sent to investigate the Kuiper Belt and will fly-by of the dwarf planet this July. Where do we fly to next, and what should the primary science objectives be for future missions? What new technology do we need to get there?
Bill Higgins (M)
Henry Spencer
Where in the Universe are We?
- Saturday, 02-14-2015 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Elm (Kids Programming)
Bill Higgins talks to us about outer space and where we, as Earth dwellers, fit into the universe.
Bill Higgins
Lisa Garrison-Ragsdale
Random Panel Topic
- Sunday, 02-15-2015 - 10:00 am to 11:30 am - Botanic Garden A (Special Events - Programming)
What happens to the panel ideas that get rejected? They are reborn here as random panel topics! Our panelists will choose a topic (at random, of course) and speak expertly on them for 5 minutes each. You'll be rolling on the floor with laughter!
Sondra de Jong (M)
Peter Heltzer
Bill Higgins
Mary Mascari
Mark Oshiro
Rocks & Rockets: Dawn of the Asteroid Belt
- Sunday, 02-15-2015 - 11:30 am to 1:00 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
Asteroids are relics of the ancient solar system. NASA's Dawn spacecraft orbited Vesta for a year. Now its ion thruster is propelling it across the Asteroid Belt to Ceres, the largest asteroid, where this spring it will again enter orbit. Join Bill Higgins on an exploration of Dawn's findings at Vesta and its plans for Ceres.
Bill Higgins (M)
Capricon encompasses four holidays this year: Lincoln's Birthday, Friday the Thirteenth, Valentine's Day, and (according to Bob Trembley) Chelyabinsk Day. Reason to celebrate.