Purpose
Over the next decade the gravitational physics community will benefit from dramatic improvements in many technologies critical to the tests of gravity. The highly accurate deep space navigation, interplanetary laser communication, interferometry and metrology, high precision frequency standards, precise pointing and attitude control, together with the drag-free technologies will revolutionize the field of the experimental gravitational physics. The Centennial of general theory of relativity in 2015 will motivate significant number of experiments designed to test this theory to unprecedented accuracy.

The purpose of this conference is to explore possibilities for the next 20 years for conducting gravitational experiments in space that would utilize the new and also much improved existing capabilities.

Focus
We aim to bring together researchers from diverse subfields of physics and astrophysics, having in common an interest in cosmology, gravitation, and fundamental physics. Theoretical as well as experimental aspects will be explored. The primary focus of the conference will be on the technology rather than on science; however several sessions will be devoted to innovative ideas for space-based experiments. The goal of this international conference is to review the current state in the key technologies and to discuss possible application of the improved capabilities for the near-future gravitational experiments in space.

We will focus on the laser ranging techniques, interferometry, highly accurate frequency standards, and drag-free attitude control technologies - the key enablers of the unprecedented accuracy in the tests of the Einstein's general theory of relativity. The missions that will benefit from the improvements in these technologies are, among others, LISA, BBO, LAGEOS, LATOR, ASTROD, Pioneer Anomaly Explorer, OPTIS, etc.

Topics
The main topis of this conference are

• Laser Technologies (ranging, communication, interferometry)
• Frequency Standards
• Drag-free Technologies
• Specific missions
• Policy & Missions for the Next 20 Years (Cosmic Vision missions)
  

Leading experts in the field will give an overview of the whole subject.