Congressional Leaders to Participate in 24th National Space Symposium

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Mar. 26, 2008) — The 24th National Space Symposium will see participation by several members of Congress, including Senator Wayne Allard, Congressman Mark Udall, and Congresswoman Heather Wilson.  Allard and Udall will both give featured speeches. Wilson will make remarks at a luncheon in honor of Congressional Members and Staff Delegations. All will be taking part in various symposium events. The 24th National Space Symposium, the premier annual gathering of the global space community, will take place April 7-10 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

Through their participation, the members will gain insight about the opportunities and challenges affecting all sectors of space while providing a congressional perspective about the most critical issues facing the space industry today. Each represents a state where space industry is significant, and all serve on committees with jurisdiction over a variety of space-related programs.  Allard, who serves Colorado in the U.S. Senate, sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Udall, who represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, serves as the chairman of the House Science, Space, and Aeronautics Subcommittee. Wilson, representing the 1st District of New Mexico, is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In addition, professional, personal, district, and state congressional staff are expected to participate in the symposium.

More than 7,500 registrants, guests, speakers, exhibitors, and media from across the United States and many foreign countries are expected to attend the 24th National Space Symposium.  Participants, who represent both the history and future of this $220 billion industry, include senior executive leadership from NASA, NOAA, and other civil space and government agencies; the commercial space and satellite broadcasting industry; the Department of Defense and military space commands; space entrepreneurs; universities and academia; and senior representatives from the global space industry.

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 Reception, co-sponsored by ATK; 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; the Space Technology Hall of Fame Cocktail Reception, co-sponsored by Axiom Worldwide, 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., 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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