Powerful, Diverse Slate of Space Leaders Confirmed for the 25th National Space Symposium

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 12, 2009) — A powerful and diverse slate of senior space industry leaders have already confirmed their participation as speakers for the 25th National Space Symposium, the premier annual gathering of the global space community. Scheduled for March 30 – April 2, 2009, at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo., the symposium will bring together all sectors of space – civil, commercial, national security, new space entrepreneurship, and finance – to highlight accomplishments and address opportunities and issues facing the global space community today.

With its theme The Next Space Age, this year’s program focuses on major shifts in the economies, philosophies, and mechanics of the global space industry. Attendees who register by Jan. 16 will receive a $425 Super Early Bird discount and a guaranteed spot to hear from, and interact with, many of the industry’s most distinguished leaders. Secure on-line registration is immediately available at www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org/register.

Early confirmed speakers and panelists include:

• “Space Ambassador” Anousheh Ansari, the world’s first female space tourist and co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems.
• Futurist and author Alvin Toffler, Ph.D.
• Commercial space entrepreneur Elon Musk, chairman and CEO of SpaceX.

 National security space leaders:

• Gen. C. Robert Kehler, USAF, commander of the Air Force Space Command;
• Lt. Gen. John T. “Tom” Sheridan, USAF, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center of the Air Force Space Command;
• Vice Adm. Carl V. Mauney, USN, deputy commander of the United States Strategic Command; and
• Scott Large, director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

U.S. and international space industry leaders:

• Francois Auque, CEO of EADS-Astrium;
• Joanne M. Maguire, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company;
• Jon C. Jones, vice president of Raytheon Company and president of Space and Airborne Systems;
• Roger Krone, president of Boeing’s IDS Network & Space Systems;
• Alexis C. Livanos, Ph.D., corporate vice president and chief technology officer, Northrup Grumman;
• Jean-Jacques Dordain, director of the European Space Agency; and
• Paul L. Weissenberg, Ph.D., director, coordinator for aerospace, security and defense for the European Commission.

A highlight of this year’s symposium is a panel comprising more than two decades of commanders-in-chief of U.S. Space Command and U.S. Strategic Command. The Space Commanders Forum, which will be moderated by Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr., USAF (Retired), has already confirmed participation from:

• Adm. James O. Ellis, Jr., USN (Retired);
• Gen. Ed Eberhart, USAF (Retired);
• Gen. Howell M. Estes, III, USAF (Retired);
• Gen. Donald J. Kutyna, USAF (Retired); and
• Gen. John L. “Pete” Piotrowski, USAF (Retired)

These distinguished speakers are representative of the nearly 60 industry experts who will appear on the four-day agenda. As additional speakers are confirmed, the most-up-to-date agenda and speaker list is available on www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org.

In addition to workshops, forums, panels and presentations covering all aspects of space, the 25th National Space Symposium features a spectacular Opening Ceremony; Congressional Luncheon; Corporate Partnership Dinner; presentation of the Space Foundation’s highest honor at the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award Luncheon; and the Space Technology Hall of Fame Dinner, which honors technologies, organizations, and individuals for transforming space technology into commercial products that improve life on Earth. The symposium also includes extensive programs for selected teachers and students, a space technology career fair, and 45,000 square feet of exhibits representing more than 140 organizations and companies.

More than 7,500 registrants, guests, speakers, exhibitors, and media representatives from around the world are expected to attend the 25th National Space Symposium. Participants come from civil space and government agencies, including NASA and NOAA; the aerospace, commercial space and satellite broadcasting industries; the Department of Defense and military space commands; entrepreneurial space ventures; and universities and academia. Together, they represent the future and history of the $251 billion space industry.

Co-sponsors of the symposium include ATK, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boeing, Cisco Systems, Inc., General Dynamics, Infinite Links, International Space University, ITT, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Raytheon, SEAKR Engineering, Inc., SAIC, Stellar Solutions, and United Space Alliance. Media partners are Aviation Week and Space News.
 

About the Space Foundation
Founded in 1983, 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, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Fla. In addition to the 25th National Space Symposium, the Space Foundation, along with partnering organizations, will also conduct Space Business Forum: New York on June 4, 2009, in New York, N.Y., and Strategic Space and Defense 2009 from Oct. 6 – 8, 2009, in Omaha, Neb. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.

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