Press Release - April 16
Download press release as a PDF
Media Contact: Ian Murphy To register for the 28th Annual International Space Development Conference please visit http://www.isdc2009.org To register for the 28th Annual International Space Development Conference please visit http://www.isdc2009.org On Wednesday May 27, 2009 the conference will kick off with an exclusive pre-event, the 6th Space Investment Summit (SIS), bringing together the emerging privately funded space industry with the established world of finance in order to exchange goals, ideas and advice. Investors and established aerospace firms will be presented with business plans from some of the most exciting new companies in space-related business, while expert panels will discuss important issues like exit strategies for aerospace startups, as well as early and mid-stage financing. On Thursday May 28, 2009 entrepreneurial and commercial space enterprises will discuss the current state of efforts to decrease the cost of access to space. The recent successes of privately funded space companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic have signaled the emergence of a new privately funded sector of aerospace. The featured speakers include SpaceX Founder Elon Musk, Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson, Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn, and NASA Manager of Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Alan Lindenmoyer. On Friday May 29, 2009, ISDC will focus on NASA’s plans to explore the Moon, Mars and beyond. At the core of NASA's future space exploration is a return to the moon, where we will build a sustainable long-term human presence. As the space shuttle approaches retirement and the International Space Station nears completion, NASA is building the next fleet of vehicles to bring astronauts back to the moon, and possibly to Mars and beyond. This new generation of space vehicles under Project Constellation includes the Ares launch vehicle family, the Orion crew exploration vehicle, and the Altair lunar lander. Featured content will be a NASA Space Policy panel, and an in-depth look at the status of Orion and Ares I by senior managers from Lockheed, Boeing ATK and Aerojet. The featured event will be the annual NSS awards Gala on Friday evening. Saturday May 31, 2009 will include numerous speakers, panels and discussions on aerospace sciences and education. The United States currently ranks 17th in science amongst the world's 30 richest countries and U.S. students are even further behind in math, ranking 24th. If this gap is not closed we run a serious risk of not providing our next generation with the skills necessary to maintain the United States as a spacefaring nation. Space is widely considered one of the most exciting activities we can share with students to inspire them to pursue an education in math and science. Another critical problem our country faces is dwindling supplies of energy and resources. Some of the answers to these critical problems await us just beyond the atmosphere of our planet. Harnessing the virtually unlimited power of the sun, through the development of an infrastructure of space-based solar power satellites (SSP), for example, would create energy independence for our country. Sunday May 31, 2009 will feature visionaries, scientists and entrepreneurs looking to the future of space settlements, ways to use and inhabit Mars and the methods to protect our planet from near Earth objects such as asteroids. Sunday is the final day of the conference and will also host sessions and meetings focused on space advocacy and space outreach. To register for the 28th Annual International Space Development Conference please visit http://www.isdc2009.org or call (202) 429-1600. All media interested in attending the conference can do so by emailing Ian Murphy at ian.murphy@nss.org or calling (310) 689-6397. About the National Space Society The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, grassroots organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. Founded in 1974, NSS is widely acknowledged as the preeminent citizen's voice on space. NSS counts thousands of members and over 50 chapters in the United States and around the world. The society also produces the annual International Space Development Conference. For more information on the society or the conference, please visit: http://www.nss.org.
(310) 689-6397 / ian.murphy@nss.org
National Space Society’s 2009 International Space Development Conference to be held in Orlando, Florida from May 27-31
Orlando, FL – Thursday April 16, 2009 – The National Space Society (NSS) today announced that the 28th Annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC) will take place from Wednesday May 27 to Sunday May 31 at the Omni Hotel at Champions Gate in Orlando, FL. The conference will engage the public and decision-makers in an open and positive discussion about the role that space exploration, research and development will play in ushering in a new era of hope in a climate of uncertain change.
The space industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. The Space Shuttle will be retired in less than two years, with thousands of jobs at stake. Although job-creation from the emerging privately funded aerospace sector will soften, somewhat, this potential loss of jobs, the temporary suspension of human spaceflight by our civil space program will create a gap that will have a profound effect not only on the space industry itself, but also on complimentary industries such as energy, life sciences, travel, education and telecommunications.
“ISDC has invited key figures from the space industry to Florida, the nation’s gateway to the Moon, for an event that will provide valuable insight into the future of spaceflight research, development and exploration,” said ISDC 2009 Chairman Tim Bailey “The purpose of ISDC is to provide a global forum for anyone with an interest in space to learn, interact and discuss the future with the leaders of space exploration, business and science.”