Officials said Morehead State University is the first and only university with an affiliated node on NASA’s deep space network. Now, an annual conference at MSU will give people across the region an opportunity to learn about and celebrate aerospace research in Kentucky and beyond.
The Appalachian Space and Technology Research Advancements Conference, or ASTRA-CON, will be held in Morehead State University’s Space Science Center on Thursday, September 19 through Saturday, September 21. Research posters will be hosted in the center’s main rotunda, and various guest speakers will present in the Star Theatre.
Christopher Smith is an organizer of ASTRA-CON and an aerospace engineer at MSU. He said Morehead is a prime location for the conference not just because of its aerospace advancements, but also, its ability to reach a vital Appalachian demographic.
“We get to show students that might think that aerospace in Appalachia is not an attainable goal the opportunities that can be presented to them,” said Smith. “So, we get to show the students the world that’s out there, and we get to show the world out there what’s at Morehead State.”
Chloe Hart, fellow organizer of ASTRA-CON and aerospace engineer at MSU, said the conference aims to promote and share research from various disciplines, not just aerospace or astrophysics.
“It doesn’t have to only be aerospace students. If it has a space-based application- if it is a biology thing, but is related to space. If it’s mathematics or coding- automation could be used in a space-based application. We just want to keep it on the space side,” said Hart.
Registration to participate in the conference, which includes parking, refreshments and luncheons, and access to networking and research events, closes on September 12. Attendee registration, pricing, and a full schedule of events are available online at moreheadstate.edu.