The Vellore Institute of Technology chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) will host the 2007 SEDS International Conference (SEDSIC) on 22-23 September at Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. SEDSIC is the annual meeting of student space organization leaders throughout the world. The program and an email list to receive future announcements is posted on the conference web site. Online registration will open in May.

The conference program will feature lectures, workshops, and demonstrations aimed specifically at ambitious students. On the night of 22 September, a dinner, star party, and HAM radio demonstration will be conducted from the top of Tech Tower. Eminent professionals from various Indian programs — Chandrayaan-I lunar mission, GSLV Mk-III heavy launch vehicle program, and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research — will speak about their experiences. Professional scientists and engineers will give guidance in a special career session for students.

A design competition is scheduled in conjunction with SEDSIC, with the winner to receive a half-tuition scholarship to the International Space University. The design topic is to develop a series of small lunar rovers that may be carried aboard a proposed human mission to the Moon. Students may begin participating in the design competition by visiting the conference web site. The deadline for Letters of Intent is 13 July and the deadline for proposal submissions is 3 August. A summary of all submissions will be presented in a technical session at the International Astronautical Congress in Hyderabad as well as in Space Times, the journal of the American Astronautical Society.

The conference will also feature the Preliminary Design Review of SEDSAT-2, a remote sensing CubeSat project undertaken by SEDS-Earth. This will mark the first face-to-face meeting of the design team, which works remotely from universities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. SEDSIC is sponsored by the International Space University and endorsed by the American Astronautical Society. Travel funds for representatives of each of the fourteen national branches to attend SEDSIC have been provided by SEDS and ISU alumni.

To learn more, please visit http://earth.seds.org.

For more information, please contact:

Pranav Aggarwal, Conference Director, SEDS VIT
international@seds.org

To contact by phone, please contact:

Kirk Kittell, Adviser (USA)
+1 703-475-9212

SEDS is an independent, student-based organization which promotes the exploration and development of space. SEDS pursues this mission by educating people about the benefits of space, by supporting a network of interested students, by providing an opportunity for members to develop their leadership skills, and inspiring people through our involvement in space-related projects. SEDS believes in a space-faring civilization and that focusing the enthusiasm of young people is the key to our future in space. To join or support SEDS, please visit www.seds.org.

Vellore Institute of Technology, a Deemed University known for its international standard of technical education and research facilities, comprises seven schools offering 17 undergraduate programmes and 28 post graduate programmes. VIT offers research programmes leading to M.Phil and Ph.D degrees. Nearly 400 fulltime faculty members and about 600 administrative and supporting staff facilitates 10,000 students to become not only professional but also employable thereby contributing wealth to the nation. The international linkages established by the institute helps the students to get global education and training locally and if needed globally also.

SEDS-Earth is the international chapter of SEDS. SEDS-Earth sponsors technical student projects that span boundaries and is the forum where leaders of the various national branches of SEDS communicate.