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community | Southeast Redmond residents to discuss their neighborhood [2] crime alert | Redmond Police Blotter [3] NEWS | City Council is scheduled to vote to approve a settlement agreement regarding the Redmond Bike Park. [2]
FRIDAY, april 12, 2013
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Mayor discusses downtown progress and more at annual State of the City lunch
LAUNCHING EYE-OPENING EXPERIMENTS
Samantha Pak spak@redmond-reporter.com
In Redmond, scientists are focused on creating fusion. Someday, their work may help send humans to Mars on a nuclear-fusion-driven rocket. Andy Nystrom anystrom@redmond-reporter.com
It’s not rocket science for a boss to pursue employees who are intelligent, dedicated and stimulated about whatever important project is on the table. In the case of MSNW President John Slough and his research team, rocket science is exactly what’s transpiring within the walls of their Redmond office and a few blocks away at the University of Washington Plasma Dynamics Lab. When he arrives, Slough unleashes a hearty laugh and notes that the lab is situated next door to an outdoor adventure center business that specializes in kayaks. Some of those kayaks and their rowers cruise along the water at a leisurely pace or aggressively hit the rapids. Slough is focused on a journey of another kind: space travel at a blistering speed. If all goes according to his plan, humans could someday embark on an epic trek — bolting toward Mars at about 112,000 mph thanks to the components his team is building for a nuclear-fusiondriven rocket. “When John won this project for the fusion-driven rocket, I was not hired on yet on the team,” begins mission analyst Anthony Pancotti, 33. “So I went into ng Session! John’s office and sat down with him and said, ‘You have to put me on the fusiondriven rocket. I want to be doing this
Top, A concept image of a spacecraft powered by a fusion-driven rocket. In this image, the crew would be in the forward-most chamber. Solar panels on the sides would collect energy to initiate the process that creates fusion. (Courtesy of MSNW/University of Washington) Bottom, Lead scientist John Slough, 60, stands in the University of Washington Plasma Dynamics Lab in Redmond where he and his crew are conducting fusion experiments. Pictured are blue high-voltage capacitors and a massive magnet. (ANDY NYSTROM, Redmond Reporter) project. This is extremely exciting, this can change the way humanity goes about on space travel.’” As Pancotti finishes, his eyes are ablaze with bliss and his body emanates a slight
energetic shake. Nearby, propulsion lead scientist David Kirtley grins, laughs and is in full agreement with his research partner’s reaction to the rocket project. [ more rocket page 7 ]
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The City of Redmond currently has a population of about 55,000 but it stands to add about 24,000 more residents as the region continues to grow and develop. Redmond Mayor John Marchione discussed how the city plans to address this growth and other topics during his annual State of the City address on Thursday at OneRedmond’s monthly investors’ luncheon. He said the city will be focusing this growth in Redmond’s two urban centers: downtown and Overlake. “This is an answer to stopping sprawl,” Marchione said about maintaining the density to these two neighborhoods. “Two urban centers is how we’re going to manage our growth.” To do this, most new development in the two neighborhoods will be multi-use buildings, usually with commercial space on the ground floor and residential space above. To prepare for this growth, the mayor said the city has or is installing the infrastructure — such as centralized stormwater collection systems — to support it. In areas where development is still in the planning stages, the city has created plans that make room for various services and amenities such as light rail in Overlake. Marchione said by having plans to accommodate for these things, the city will be ready for it instead of having to catch up when the time comes. “We’re building from underground, up,” he said. Marchione said in addition to having the infrastructure to prepare for the growth, the city is also working to offer a variety of housing in order to bring in a variety of residents. “We want Redmond to be a place you can live all your life,” he said. Marchione also touched on the city’s progress on converting Redmond Way and Cleveland Street in downtown into twoway streets. He said the conversion from
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