The role of space information technology has progressively grown in importance from the earliest days of space exploration to today, with the result that it often dominates the costs and schedules of space mission projects. The International Conference on Space Mission Challenges for Information Technology (SMC-IT) is the first forum to gather system designers, engineers, scientists, practitioners, and space explorers for the objective of advancing information technology for space missions. The forum will provide an excellent opportunity for fostering technical interchange on all hardware and software aspects of IT applications in space missions.

The conference, held in the beautiful city of Pasadena, California, will focus on current IT practice and challenges as well as emerging information technologies with applicability for future space missions. IT in all aspects of the space mission will be explored, including flight systems, relevant ground systems, science data processing, engineering and development tools, operations, and telecommunications. The entire IT lifecycle of the mission development will also be covered, such as conceptual design, engineering tools development, integration and test, operations, science analysis, and quality control.

Novel space IT papers are solicited from all sectors of the space community, including earth orbiting systems, deep space missions, ground support systems, instruments, science, landers, rovers, and probes. The conference will address all space end application areas, including civilian, military, and commercial.

• Reliable software and innovative fault tolerance methods
• Autonomy - rovers to operations
• Autonomy - system validation
• Engineering design and modeling tools
• IT tools for risk management
• Real-time information systems
• Automated planners and schedulers
• Embedded IT systems (for control or onboard processing)
• Real-time software and IT hardware in the loop
• Novel applications - spacecraft, ground systems, telecom
• IT for low cost operations
• OOD methods that enhances reuse
• Middleware services
• On-board vehicle health diagnosis and repair
• Lowing software development costs and risk through CMM
• Science and user software applications
• New software architectures, languages, compilers, tools, for space missions
• Revolutionary new information technologies
  • Quantum computing
  • Neural networks
  • Evolvable computing
  • Breaking away from COTS: New hardware and software architectures
  • Constellation autonomy
  • Sensor webs - low power IT and ultra-lite software

All manuscripts will be reviewed in a two-step process. One-page abstracts must be received by November 1, 2005. Notification will be mailed by December 1, 2005.

In addition to orally presented papers, the conference will include panel and poster sessions, tutorials, and an exhibition of the latest commercial products and technologies (industry, research labs, and universities). For further information on participating in these areas, please refer to the conference web site.

To be placed on the SMC-IT informational mailing list, please click here

The conference venue is the Pasadena Conference Center, within a short distance of the California Institute of Technology, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the location of the Tournament of Roses Parade. This cultural center is conveniently located near all popular attractions within the greater Los Angeles area, including Universal Studios, Hollywood, Disneyland, Beverly Hills, and many beaches.

We look forward to seeing you in Pasadena in July of 2006.