The Foundry 2011

Do you want to help put the human race into space? Are you tired of watching from the sidelines but aren't sure how to get involved? Have project concepts you would like to pursue? New companies you'd like to start? Come to the Foundry at the 2011 ISDC in Huntsville, Alabama starting on the 19th of May.

The Foundry is a project incubator workshop. The Foundry helps participants turn good ideas into doable projects. The Foundry brings together those who are willing to work for a project of their choice and (or those who want to help), the necessary expertise, and the resources all in one place. The Foundry is open to anyone who wants to participate and pays the registration fee.

Registration will be available during ISDC 2011 Secondary and Final registration or by contacting us directly.

The Foundry process will also enable participates to identify potential funding sources. The Foundry leadership has experience in project fund raising such as contributor programs and NASA grants for non-profit organizations, and venture capital along with NASA and commercial contracts for profit seeking space development ventures.

Do you want to put on a space day for kids, or build an experiment to fly in space? Are you interested in performing space-related studies or laying the groundwork for even bigger endeavors? Interested in starting a space-related business? These are only examples of ideas that people are bringing to the Foundry to further develop, plan, line up resources for, and execute. The Foundry organizers understand, as many in the space community do, that there are some things that the government can't or won't do. It is therefore the goal of the Foundry to further space-based private initiatives, whether they are for profit or non-profit.

Suppose you want to come to the Foundry but you don't have any project ideas in mind? If you do not have a scheme in mind (not everybody does) but want to help, you are needed and welcome. Those with projects in mind will need your help, your contribution. In a project of any size, a number of individual's efforts are required at some point to complete the endeavor. Initially we will go over all the proposed project ideas. You can then see which projects you want to work on.

A potential source of project concepts may be found at the following website: http://www.nsschapters.org/hub/projects.htm

We must help ourselves get into space. Our goals are ambitious and will not happen overnight. Our goals will be accomplished incrementally, with contributions from many different disciplines, over several years. The Foundry is structured to accommodate this bite-size-at-a-time approach to space.

How does the Foundry work? Most projects have common up front planning activities. They include thinking through and answering common questions such as what major tasks are involved, manpower and other resources required, potential pitfalls to avoid, etc. How these questions are answered is dependent on project size and type, complexity and duration. Putting on a space fair at a school involves different resources and problems from, say, building an experiment for space. The Foundry, however, can accommodate the up front planning of both activities as well as many others, and has available resources useful to each of them.

How can you become involved? We are currently signing up participants (those who have projects in mind or want to help with one) and consultants (those who can provide the benefit of their experience and expertise at the conference).

ISDC conference attendees are a select group. They are doers, dreamers, and thinkers. They can and do actively work towards the goals of living and working and exploring space. The Foundry can help.

If you are interested in this activity; either as a Foundry Participant, or as a Foundry Consultant, please check the appropriate Foundry choice, then complete and return the enclosed form.
Last but not least, the Foundry effort does not end with the 2011 ISDC. Foundry services are available to participants over the ensuing months. There will also be an online clearing-house. So if you run into problems three months after the conference, you aren't all alone. Help is available.

The Foundry is happening NOW. To get more information call or write: 

Greg Allison
PMB 168
1019 Old Monrovia Road
Huntsville, AL 35805
(256) 971-2020

Register

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