Florida Space 2005 to position Florida for the future

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 20, 2005) — Leaders from throughout the global and local space industry will meet at Florida Space 2005 to address the opportunities and challenges facing Florida’s space industry and the resulting impact on its economy. Florida Space 2005 is scheduled for Nov. 15-17 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. One of many dynamic panels during the two-day conference, a mega-session panel Thursday, Nov. 17 will focus on Positioning Florida for the Future. Mr. Francis A. DiBello, president and chief executive officer, Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation; Mr. John B. Higginbotham, chairman, SpaceVest; and Mr. Joseph Wiendl, vice president, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., will be the featured speakers on “Financing the Future” at 1:45 p.m. Mr. Brian Chase, assistant administrator for Legislative Affairs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Mr. Dale R. Ketcham, director, Spaceport Research & Technology Institute; Mr. Adrian Lafitte, director, Florida Government Relations, Lockheed Martin Corporation; and Ms. Patricia Grace Smith, associate administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, will be the featured speakers for “Policies of the Future” at 3:00 p.m. Additional previously confirmed speakers include Dr. Michael Griffin, administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Gen Lance W. Lord, USAF, commander, Air Force Space Command; The Honorable Toni Jennings, lieutenant governor of Florida; Mr. Lon Rains, vice president, Editorial, Imaginova Corp. and editor, Space News; and The Honorable Dr. Ronald M. Sega, under secretary of the Air Force. Key sponsors of Florida Space 2005 are Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, co-sponsor of the Opening Ceremony and Reception; United Space Alliance, co-sponsor of the Opening Night Fireworks; Space Gateway Support, co-sponsor of the Wednesday Opening Luncheon; the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast and Space Coast Office of Tourism, co-sponsors of the Wednesday Happy Hour; The Boeing Co., co-sponsor of the Thursday Keynote Luncheon; L-3 Communications, co-sponsor of the Thursday Cocktail Reception; and Lockheed Martin, co-sponsor of the Florida Space Gala Dinner. Other sponsors include Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI), Delaware North Parks Services, and Perot Systems. Florida Space 2005 is conducted by the Space Foundation in association with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing, Florida Space Authority, and The Canaveral Council of Technical Societies. It builds 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.

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, the National Space Symposium, April 3-6, 2006, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and Strategic Space, 10-12 Oct. 2006 in Omaha, Neb. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.