25th ISU's Space Studies Program lands in Melbourne!

From 4th June to 3rd August, the Florida Space Coast will welcome 140 space professionals from 30 different nationalities with mixed backgrounds, to attend an extensive nine-week program dedicated to space. The 25th ISU’s Space Studies Program will gather graduate students and professionals on the campus coming of the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne partnering with NASA Kennedy Space Center.

During the Opening Ceremony on June 4th, ISU participants will be honored by the presence of prestigious key note speakers: the Honorable Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator , the Honorable Thad Altman, Senator of the State of Florida, as well as Mr Robert Cabana NASA Kennedy Space Center Director, Prof. Anthony J. Catanese, FIT President, Mrs Joy Bryant from the Boeing Company, Dr Chris Sallaberger from MDA Corporation and Dr Bob Richards, ISU Founder.

“Few places on Earth symbolize both the history of space flight and the exciting transition to new missions and methods for its future as well as Central Florida. We are thrilled to partner with the Florida Institute of Technology and Kennedy Space Center to help a new generation of space pioneers prepare for the voyage ahead” says Prof Walter Peeters President of ISU.

Located in Melbourne, on Florida’s central east coast, the Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) is an independent technological university that provides quality education, furthers knowledge through basic and applied research, and serves the diverse needs of our local, state, national and international constituencies.

“The Florida Tech community is looking forward to the 25th annual Space Studies Program,” said T. Dwayne McCay, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Florida Tech. “For more than 50 years, the educational mission of our university have been closely linked to NASA and space-related research. As our world prepares for the next steps in space, Florida Tech is pleased to support the on-going efforts that will lead us all to new frontiers of discovery.”

NASA’s mission is to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research. Since its inception, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has played an integral role in the work performed by NASA. For three decades, NASA’s Space Shuttle fleet safely carried hundreds of astronauts on dozens of successful missions, which resulted in immeasurable scientific gains. Every manned space flight mission, including all of the Space Shuttle missions, was launched from KSC.

KSC Center Director, Bob Cabana, quote: “Kennedy Space Center is looking forward to hosting the 2012 session of the ISU Space Studies Program in partnership with the Florida Institute of Technology. This is an amazing opportunity, not only for the students participating in the Space Studies Program, but for employees of KSC to share their knowledge and experiences with an international network of leading space experts and professionals.”

ISU provides an interdisciplinary education in the context of an intercultural and international environment to support the development of future leaders in the world space community. The SSP offers its participants a unique and comprehensive education covering all aspects of space programs and enterprises including space physical sciences, space systems engineering, policy and law, business and management, space and society, satellite applications, and space life sciences and human spaceflight.

Each summer ISU offers this intense nine-week course designed for post-graduate university students and professionals of all experience levels and disciplines. The site of the SSP changes annually, making it a unique educational concept and building on the fundamental ISU tenant of an international experience.

Angie Bukley, Dean & Vice President for Academic Affairs points out: “The superior academic and research facilities at Florida Tech coupled with those of KSC will provide the perfect learning laboratory for the SSP12 participants. We are profoundly pleased with the level of support that the Florida Tech faculty and KSC scientists have committed to the program. SSP12 will certainly be memorable both for its location and for the quality of the academic experience.”

Members of the press are cordially invited to attend the Opening Ceremony that will be held at the:
Clemente Center
Florida Institute of Technology,
150 W. University Blvd
Melbourne, Florida
starting at 5pm and followed by a cocktail reception. If you are interested in attending this event, please send you confirmation to [email protected]

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Contact:
Caroline Schwob
External Relations Manager
International Space University
1 rue Jean-Dominique Cassini
67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 65 54 55
Fax: +33 (0)3 88 65 54 47
www.isunet.edu