MarsCon 2025 - Virginia Beach: Full Schedule

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1:00pm EST

GPS: Global Positioning System and How It Really Works

Friday January 17, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

The physics and engineering behind the Global Positioning System and what it can and can't do (and who do you blame when it does go bad).

Speakers

Jim Beall

Author, Scientist

Jim Beall (BS-Math, MBA, PE) has been a nuclear engineer for over 50 years, beginning as a nuclear engineering officer in the US Navy. Civilian experience includes design, construction, inspection, enforcement, and assessment with a nuclear utility, an architect engineering firm... Read More →

Brad Goodman

Scientist

Brad has been a guest at local science fiction conventions for more than thirty years. Now retired, he worked for NASA Langley Research Center, at their Visitor Center, and in support of traveling exhibits. Later he worked for the Science Museum of Virginia. These assignments came... Read More →

Michael Morton

Author, USSF

Michael Morton is a retired USAF space operations officer and wishes the Space Force happened earlier. Still, he gets to work for them as a civilian, so life isn't all bad. He writes award-winning military sci-fi and fantasy and lives in Colorado Springs with his family. When he's... Read More →

Charles Blue

Featured Science Guest

Charles Blue (aka Blue the Science Dude) has more than 35 years of science communications experience. Charles has worked as the director of media services at the American Institute of Physics. He also served as the Writer/Editor for the National Science Foundation’s Directorate... Read More →

Friday January 17, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Salon L

Science, Physical & Space Sciences

1:00pm EST

How Societies Shape Military Forces and Vice Versa

Friday January 17, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Shenandoah Room

How does a society shape their military forces man, machine, philosophy, and how does the military shape the society they serve?

Moderator

Phillip Pournelle

Author, Gamer

Commander Pournelle retired from the Navy after 26 years of service as a surface warfare officer, operations analyst, and joint operations planner. He served on cruisers, destroyers, amphibious ships, and an experimental high-speed vessel. He served on the Navy staff conducting modeling... Read More →

Speakers

Christopher Ruocchio

Author Co- Guest of Honor

Christopher Ruocchio is the internationally award-winning author of the Sun Eater, a series blending elements of both science fiction and fantasy, as well as more than twenty works of short fiction. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Christopher received a degree in English... Read More →

Kacey Ezell

Featured Space Opera Guest

Kacey Ezell writes emotionally charged adventure fantasy and science fiction. She is a two-time Dragon Award Finalist for Best Alternate History and won the 2018 Year's Best Military and Adventure Science Fiction Readers' Choice Award. She has written multiple bestselling novels published... Read More →

Daniel Kemp

Author

Finishing at Ole Miss in 1998, Dan spent the next decade in infantry assignments in South Korea and the 101st Airborne. That lasted as long as his knees and his back held out. A master's in military history (Norwich University '12) and a somewhat turbulent personal life after the... Read More →

David Shadoin

Author

David "Shady" Shadoin is a trouble-making, corn-fed Nebraska boy the United States Air Force managed to turn into a somewhat decent pilot of whirly birds. An avid reader from a young age, he has always found inspiration listening to rock music while reading Fantasy and Sci Fi novels... Read More →

Friday January 17, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Shenandoah Room

Science, Social & Political Sciences

7:00pm EST

The Garbage Belt: What Should We Do About It?

Friday January 17, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EST

Salon L

There is A LOT of trash in space, so much so that there are professionals whose sole duty is to track that garbage and make sure it doesn't damage functioning satellites in orbit. But, it's not like there are Coke cans and banana peels up there. What is in the Garbage Belt and how should we deal with it?

Speakers

Michael Morton

Author, USSF

Friday January 17, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EST
Salon L

Science, Physical & Space Sciences