NASA Administrator Michael Griffin to speak at Florida Space 2005

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sep. 14, 2005) — The Space Foundation announced today that Dr. Michael Griffin, administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will speak at the opening luncheon of Florida Space 2005. Space professionals and those with interests in Florida will gather at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex November 15-17 for the conference. The opening luncheon, co-sponsored by Space Gateway Support, is Wednesday, Nov. 16. “There couldn’t be a better time for the business and political leadership of Florida to hear from the NASA administrator,” said Elliot G. Pulham, president and chief executive officer of the Space Foundation. “NASA’s plans for engineering the exploration of the solar system will shape the future of NASA in Florida, which in turn will shape the future of the state’s entire space economy.” Dr. Griffin joins previously confirmed Florida Space 2005 speakers Gen Lance W. Lord, USAF, commander, Air Force Space Command, Mr. Lon Rains, vice president, Editorial, Imaginova Corp. and editor, Space News, The Honorable Dr. Ronald M. Sega, under secretary of the Air Force, and Patricia Grace Smith, associate administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration. The event intends to draw attendees from throughout Florida’s diverse space community and from the space sector nationwide. Florida Space 2005 will build on the best features of Space Congress and the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Symposium, both long-time community space events now retired, and whose heritage will be honored at this inaugural event conducted by the Space Foundation. Early bird registration rates are available until Oct. 14.

About the Space Foundation Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and educational excellence. The Space Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., and Cape Canaveral, Fla. In addition to Florida Space 2005, the Space Foundation annually conducts, along with its partnering organizations, Strategic Space 2005, Oct. 4-6, in Omaha, Neb., and the National Space Symposium, April 3-6, 2006, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.