The focus of this conference will be the presentation of papers dealing with emerging and advanced optical and photonic technologies appropriate for use in space environments, including applications such as planetary defense missions and systems for solar system exploration.

In the space environment, the effects of ionizing radiation, temperature ranging, and environmental effects such as atomic oxygen (AO), vacuum, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation can degrade space sensors, systems, and related components. 

Papers are sought dealing with satellite architectures, especially payloads which require micro-component optical or photonic systems such as Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices, Interferometric Fiber-Optic Gyroscopes (I-FOG), ring laser gyros, integrated monolithic photonics and new, innovative, miniaturized, cost-effective, reliable and radiation-resistant sensor and communications technologies. 

This conference will be extended to incorporate papers dealing with specific missions that rely on optical and photonic technologies, such as directed-energy planetary defense, directed-energy spacecraft propulsion, active target illumination, orbital debris mitigation, spectrometry and other missions. 

Missions that seek to explore the surfaces of solar system bodies, by remote sensing or landing missions are relevant for this conference, as these missions occur in unique and challenging environments requiring specialized hardware to explore. For example, one might consider the range of unusual considerations that arise if trying to explore Venus. Conditions at most altitudes are inhospitable to present technology, especially on the surface. Similarly intriguing and challenging environments are present like Titan/Enceladus/Europa. Papers describing innovative approaches to space environment missions are encouraged. 

Emerging and improved photonics technology can facilitate implementation of future small sat systems, as well as significantly improve related dual-use commercial and military terrestrial system applications where reduced size, reliability, and resistance to temperature and ionizing radiations are major issues. Topics dealing with research and development in these areas, and especially technologies expected to operate in adverse UV and AO environments such as near-Earth orbits or locations such as interplanetary space that are exposed to galactic cosmic rays, are solicited. Recent innovations in photonic crystals, photonic bandgap devices, quantum-well, quantum-dot and nanoparticle semiconductor components, molecularly engineered organic, biological and polymer-based photonics both linear and nonlinear are sought. Papers that highlight and explore the latest innovations in hybrid-inorganic-organic/polymer technologies are strongly encouraged.