Entrepreneur Musk to Share Insights about The Next Space Age

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Mar. 2, 2009) — One of the space industry’s most celebrated entrepreneurs is Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and chief architect of a new way of thinking about the vehicles that carry payloads and people to and from space. Musk will be a Featured Speaker at the Space Foundation’s 25th National Space Symposium March 30 – April 2 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Musk is chief executive officer and chief technical officer of SpaceX, the California-based company with the goal of increasing the reliability of space access while significantly reducing the cost. The founder of PayPal and the Zip2 Corporation, Musk established SpaceX in 2002. Since that time, SpaceX has developed two new launch vehicles and spacecraft, established an impressive launch manifest, and been awarded a $1.6 billion NASA contract to deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station. Musk is also chief architect and chairman of Tesla Motors, which manufactures and sells stylish and efficient electric automobiles. Just as he has with spacecraft at SpaceX, Musk has set a goal to forever alter perceptions of electric vehicles and to make them a viable alternative.

Musk will talk about successes, innovations, and challenges to navigate the dynamic space industry.

Themed The Next Space Age, the 25th National Space Symposium brings 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.

This year’s program focuses on major shifts in the economies, philosophies, and mechanics of the global space industry. Among the most notable shifts is the growth of commercial space endeavors.

“The Next Space Age is all about evolutionary growth – fueled by revolutionary thinking,” said Space Foundation CEO Elliot Pulham. “Success will depend upon companies being able to meld creative design with financial savvy, something for which Mr. Musk has repeatedly shown an uncanny ability.”

Pulham also noted that the growth in commercial and private space endeavors is clearly demonstrated by the broad industry representation in Space Foundation membership, on the Symposium program, and among Symposium exhibitors.

The 25th National Space Symposium offers workshops, forums, panels and presentations covering all aspects of space, a number of special dinners and luncheons and presentation of a number of prestigious space-related awards.

The Symposium also includes extensive programs for selected teachers and students, a space technology career fair, and the Boeing Exhibit Center 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.

Co-sponsors of the symposium include The Aerospace Corporation, Aerojet, a.i. solutions, Analytical Graphics, Inc, ATK, ARES Corporation, ASRC Federal, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boeing, Braxton Technologies, Cisco Systems, Inc., Cobham, General Dynamics, Hitachi Consulting, Honeywell, IBM, Infinite Links, Intelsat General Corporation, International Space University, ITT, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, The Mitre Corporation, Northrop Grumman, Pikes Peak Workforce Center, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Raytheon, Regis University, SAIC, SEAKR Engineering, Inc., SERCO, SpaceX, Stellar Solutions, United Launch Alliance, United Space Alliance, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Webster University. Media partners are Aviation Week, Space News, and Via Satellite.

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, 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.