Preamble: In view of the developments in new launcher initiatives and the recent SpaceX success, the theme for the sixth RAST Conference (RAST2013) was decided as NEW WAYS OF ACCESSING SPACE FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOCIETY. RAST2013 will be held on 12-14 June 2013 again in Istanbul. RAST Conferences are open to all areas of space although each conference tries to focus on its specific theme as well. Objectives: For a long time since the launch of the first satellite in 1957, access to space was provided by launchers, which were either developed by or contracted by government organizations. Although new launcher technologies were at times under consideration at the bureaucratic government monopoly structure, it has been the American deregulation acts of 1986 and 1990, and the Russian privatization laws in the early 1990’s, that opened the way to private sector to bring its creative forces into the picture. One notable exception is the OTRAG initiative of a private German company in the 1970s, which had to be cancelled for political reasons. Today there are more than a dozen commercial launcher development programs in USA, Russia, Europe and Japan, each emphasizing an innovative approach and providing a host of launch options for satellite owners. RAST2013 has the main objective of providing a forum for the presentation and review of recent developments in the new ways of accessing space. It is the wish and the goal of the organizers to make RAST 2013 a premier event in space technology developments especially those on the way to near future deployment. Participants: The conference should be attractive for participants interested in new launcher developments, who may come from both technical and management/policy backgrounds. Those with plans to put a satellite into orbit in the near future are especially encouraged to attend. Furthermore everyone working in the space field should find it wworthwhile to attend, including engineers, academicians, government officials, space company managers, businessmen, educators, and students.