Annual Report: 27th National Space Symposium

The premier gathering of space professionals in the world, the 27th National Space Symposium was held April 11-14 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

Touted by many as the best ever held, it featured 100 speakers, inspiring awards, the expansive Boeing Exhibit Center complete with an outdoor Showroom, programs for young space professionals, the Cyber 1.1 workshop and special programs and events for teachers and students.

Almost 9,000 people from 19 nations, including speakers, attendees, exhibitors, volunteers, educators, students and the Space Foundation team were involved. More than 140 companies participated in the Boeing Exhibit Center's four display areas and more than 40 companies - leaders in aerospace industry, education and related businesses - served as National Space Symposium co-sponsors.

Among the agenda topics were: the globalization and commercialization of space, the end of the Space Shuttle program and the resulting U.S. human spaceflight gap, budget challenges, procurement and acquisition strategies, cyber threats and strategies and the need for better, more effective STEM education.

Education was a recurring theme at the 27th National Space Symposium. Nearly 1,800 Colorado students and 95 Space Foundation Teacher Liaisons from 18 states attended, participating in programs as diverse as educator professional development workshops, presentation of the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award, student tours, a presentation that gave a group of 140 students studying the Mandarin language insight into the Chinese space program and Audience with an Astronaut sessions. Education advocate and retired Intel Chief Executive Officer/Chairman Dr. Craig Barrett spoke at the Corporate Partnership Dinner on April 12, offering potential solutions to the STEM education crisis.

28th National Space Symposium Coming in April
Click here to find out about - and register for the 28th National Space Symposium, which will be held April 16-19 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

Quantum Leap: 2011 Annual Report to be Released Later this Month
Watch for information about the upcoming Space Foundation annual report, Quantum Leap: 2011 Annual Report, which will be posted on our website.

Pictured, top to bottom: 27th National Space Symposium Opening Ceremony, former Space Shuttle Commander Maj. Gen. Joe H. Engle, USAF, Ret., retired Intel Chief Executive Officer/Chairman Craig Barrett and Air Force Space Command Commander Gen. William L. Shelton, USAF

This article is part of Space Watch: January 2012 (Volume: 11, Issue: 1).