Moon, Mars, and Shuttle Transition Featured Panel at 24th National Space Symposium

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Mar. 13, 2008) — The 24th National Space Symposium will feature a panel entitled “Mind the Gap: Shuttle Retirement and Other Challenges on the Road to the Moon and Mars.” The symposium, the premier annual gathering of the global space community, will take place April 7-10 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. Mr. Lon Rains, vice president, editorial, trade publishing, Imaginova Corp. and editor, Space News, will moderate the panel, which includes former NASA Astronaut and NASA Advisory Council Member Col. Eileen M. Collins, USAF (Retired); NASA Exploration Systems Associate Administrator Richard J. Gilbrech, Ph.D.; Kennedy Space Center Director Mr. William W. Parsons, Jr.; and NASA Associate Administrator Mr. Chris Scolese.

The panel, which will take place at 10:45 a.m. April 8, will focus on the challenges NASA faces in bridging the gap between shuttle retirement in 2010 and the introduction of the new Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle in 2014. Collins, Gilbrech, Parsons, and Scolese will address issues such as access to space after shuttle retirement, bringing the new systems online, and workforce transition.

“The National Space Symposium is noted for its timely discussion of the most critical issues confronting the space community,” said Mr. Steve Eisenhart, senior vice president and general manager for the Space Foundation. “The shuttle transition has implications for policy and space exploration for years to come.”

The symposium brings together all sectors of space – civil, commercial, and national security – to highlight the accomplishments and address the opportunities and issues facing the space industry today. More than 7,500 registrants, guests, speakers, exhibitors, and media from across the United States and many foreign countries are expected to attend.

Highlights of the 24th National Space Symposium include an extensive exhibit center representing more than 140 organizations and companies co-sponsored by Lockheed Martin; a spectacular Opening Ceremony, co-sponsored by United Space Alliance; Opening Night Fireworks and Late-night Reception, co-sponsored by Raytheon; the Corporate Partnership Dinner, co-sponsored by Northrop Grumman; the presentation of the Space Foundation’s highest honor, the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, at a luncheon co-sponsored by Boeing; and the Space Technology Hall of Fame Dinner, co-sponsored by Space Florida.

Additional co-sponsors of the symposium are AMERICOM Government Services, Analytical Graphics, Inc., ATK, BAE Systems, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Cisco Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation, CSP Associates, Harris Corporation, Hitachi Consulting, Honeywell, Infinite Links, Intelsat General, ITT, Perot Systems Government Services, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, SEAKR Engineering, Inc., Stellar Solutions, and United Launch Alliance. Media partners for the 24th National Space Symposium are Aviation Week, Space News, and Via Satellite. Frontier Airlines is the official airline of the conference.

Online registration and more information, including an updated program agenda, confirmed speaker list, and exhibitor list, are available at  www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org.

About the Space Foundation
Founded in 1983 and celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Space Foundation is an international nonprofit organization advancing space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity.  A leader in space awareness activities, major industry events, and educational enterprises that bring space into the classroom, the Space Foundation is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo.  It conducts research and analysis and government affairs activities from its Washington, D.C., office, and has field representatives in Houston and Cape Canaveral, Fla.  Along with partnering organizations, the Space Foundation also conducts Strategic Space and Defense 2008, scheduled 6-8 October in Omaha, Neb.  For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.

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