Space Foundation declares 22nd National Space Symposium a huge success

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Apr. 8, 2006) — The 22nd National Space Symposium concluded Thursday, April 6 by recognizing extraordinary achievements in bringing the advancements gained from the space program to Earth at the Space Technology Hall of Fame dinner. Space Foundation officials said the symposium, held April 3-6 at The Broadmoor, was the most successful to date, with more than 7,000 participants, more than 135 exhibiting companies and organizations, and the most integrated program addressing civil, commercial, and national security space issues.

“There was an excitement and sense of industry unity in the air that I’ve not seen in the many years that I’ve been associated with the National Space Symposium,” said Elliot G. Pulham, president and chief executive officer of the Space Foundation. “With the civil, commercial, national security and entrepreneurial space community all converging from across the nation and around the world, there was a feeling that humanity is poised to take the next bold steps in the greatest adventure of all. The symposium truly lived up to its theme of ‘One Industry – Go For Launch!'”

Throughout the symposium, the Space Foundation presented several awards. Dr. Buzz Aldrin was awarded the Space Foundation’s highest honor, the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award. Other recipients included Ms. Kathy R. Brandon, Mr. Tom Hanks, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the U.S. Titan Launch Vehicle Team of Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and The Aerospace Corporation.

Featured speakers and panels covered a broad spectrum of issues relevant to all aspects of the global space industry – civil, commercial, and national security. Attendees heard from leaders of the American, Chinese, and Japanese space programs The Honorable Dr. Michael D. Griffin, administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Mr. LUO Ge, vice administrator, China National Space Administration (CNSA); and Mr. Kaoru Mamiya, vice president, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Additional featured speakers included The Honorable Maria Cino, deputy secretary, United States Department of Transportation; The Honorable Dr. Ronald M. Sega, under secretary of the Air Force; The Honorable Shana L. Dale, deputy administrator, NASA; Lt Gen Frank G. Klotz, USAF, commander, Air Force Space Command; Ms. Patti Grace Smith, associate administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration; U.S. Representative The Honorable Ken Calvert; U.S. Representative The Honorable Mark Udall; Lt Gen C. Robert Kehler, USAF, deputy commander, United States Strategic Command; Mr. Elon Musk, chairman and chief executive officer, Space Exploration Technologies; and Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, chairman and chief executive officer, Zero-Gravity Corporation, and chairman and chief executive officer, X PRIZE Foundation.

In keeping with its mission to inspire, enable, and propel the leaders of tomorrow, the National Space Symposium hosted more than 400 college students at the Space Career Fair and more than 500 K-12 students and educators for special tours of the Lockheed Martin Exhibit Center. The Space Foundation’s third flight of Teacher Liaisons began their year of working with the Foundation to promote excellence in space science education.

Daily summaries and photographs from the 22nd National Space Symposium, as well as the complete agenda, and lists of speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors can be viewed online at www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org.

Other highlights of the 22nd National Space Symposium included the opening ceremony, co-sponsored by Northrop Grumman; the opening night reception, co-sponsored by ITT; the opening night fireworks and dessert reception, co-sponsored by General Dynamics; the Corporate Partnership reception, co-sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce; the Corporate Partnership dinner, co-sponsored by Raytheon Company; the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award luncheon, co-sponsored by the Colorado Space Coalition; the Space Technology Hall of Fame reception, co-sponsored by United Space Alliance; the Space Technology Hall of Fame dinner, co-sponsored by The Boeing Company; and the largest ever Lockheed Martin Exhibit Center.

Additional co-sponsors included Analytical Graphics, Inc., ASRC Federal, ATK, BAE Systems, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Cisco Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation, CSP Associates, Inc., Florida Space Authority, Harris Corporation, Honeywell, Inmarsat, Integral Systems, MTC Technologies, The New York Times, Nortel Government Solutions, Space News, Space Systems/Loral, SpaceVest, Spherical Magic, Stellar Solutions, Sterling Computers, and Swales Aerospace.

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 the National Space Symposium, the Space Foundation annually conducts, along with its partnering organizations, Inside Aerospace, April 24-25, 2006; Strategic Space and Defense, 10-12 Oct. 2006, in Omaha, Neb.; and Florida Space, Dec. 5-7, 2006, in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.