Symposium Has Strong International Participation

Each year, the National Space Symposium  becomes more International. The 27th is no exception. Several major agenda items address global space issues and programs and, for the second year in a row, the Symposium will include a reception to welcome attendees from outside the United States. The  27th National Space Symposium is April 11-14, at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. is Front and Center
Lei Fanpei, vice president, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), will provide insight into the Chinese space industry, marking the first time CASC has been represented on the agenda of a U.S. conference. Lei is also leading a CASC delegation attending the Symposium. The main contractor for the Chinese space program, CASC was officially established in July 1999 in Beijing as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. The program, in various forms, dates back to 1956.

CASC is a large state-owned enterprise group with its own well-known brands, such as Shenzhou and Long March. Along with space and defense, CASC also produces a number of high-end civilian products such as machinery, chemicals, communications equipment, transportation equipment, computers, medical care products and environmental protection equipment. CASC provides commercial launch services to the international market and is one of the world's most advanced organizations in the development and deployment of high energy propellant technology, strap-on boosters and launching multiple satellites atop a single rocket. The corporation has registered capital of $1.1 billion USD and employs 110,000 people.

In addition to the officials from CASC, delegations representing China Great Wall Industry Corp. (CGWIC), China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. (CASIC) and Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA) are expected to participate in the Symposium.

Global Leaders Panel Addresses Cooperation
A panel scheduled for Tuesday morning, April 12, will discuss how various nations can - and should - cooperate to advance space exploration and utilization. NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver will moderate the discussion, which will feature panelists:

• Chummer Farina, vice president, Canadian Space Agency
• Dr. Johann-Dietrich Wörner, chairman, Executive Board , German Aerospace Center (DLR)

CEO Panel has a Global Focus
The following morning, the CEOs on the Issues panel will take a global look at the issues facing the commercial space industry. Speakers include Moderator Pacome Revillon, chief executive officer of Euroconsult, and panelists:

• Matthew J. Desch, chief executive officer, Iridium Communications, Inc.
• Jean-Yves Le Gall, chairman and chief executive office, Arianespace, Inc.
• David McGlade, chief executive officer, Intelsat
• Andrew Sukawaty, chairman and chief executive office, Inmarsat

Katase to Discuss Japan's Space Program
Hirofumi Katase, deputy secretary-general for the Cabinet Secretariat of Japan's Secretariat Headquarters for Space Policy will speak on April 13, providing an overview of Japan's aggressive space program. See article in February Space Watch.

Need for Global SSA Underscored
The Space Situational Awareness panel expands upon discussion from the 26th National Space Symposium with a global view of an increasingly crowded space environment. Moderated by former NRO Director Martin C. Faga, the panel includes:

• AF BG Yves Arnaud, commander, Joint Space Command,French Ministry of Defense
• Colonel (GS) Carsten Breuer, branch chief, Strategy & Policy Branch, Armed Forces Staff, German Ministry of Defence (Breuer is also speaking at Cyber 1.1)
• Lt. Gen. Susan J. Helms, USAF, commander,14th Air Force & JFCC - Space
• Chirag R. Parikh, director, space policy, National Security Council
• Frank A. Rose, deputy assistant secretary of state for space & defense policy, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, U.S. Department of State

Speakers Give Global Flavor to Multiple Panels
Speakers from multiple nations also appear elsewhere throughout the agenda, including

• George Whitesides, chief executive officer & president of Virgin Galactic, speaking on the Emerging Markets & Applications panel
• Michael K. Simpson, president, International Space University, giving an international perspective to NASA's Direction - Right Plan for the Future?
• Wednesday's Master Moderator Iulia-Elena Jivanescu, research assistant, Romanian Space Agency  

Pictured: Lei Fanpei