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41st Space Congress convenes as an industry forum for progress and planning
Topics include the future of space exploration, China's human space program and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence

by Kathy Hagood
Brevard Technical Journal

With the human space program in the middle of a major overhaul, the 41st Space Congress will offer an opportunity to get an insider's view of how the program is progressing.

Among the hot topics to be discussed will be the Space Shuttle's return to flight, plans for a new orbital vehicle, the President's space exploration mandate and China's developing human space program.

But that's not all. The congress, which will be held April 27 through 30 at the Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral, will also give participants the chance to hear from aerospace pioneer Chuck Yeager and space visionary Dr. Seth Shostak, chief astronomer for the SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) Institute.

A number of other nationally recognized speakers will take part in the congress, which is designed to provide an educational forum for space program workers and an opportunity for idea exchange.

"We've tried to assemble as diverse a group of nationally recognized speakers as possible so that we'd be able to offer the complete spectrum on what's happening in the space program and what's envisioned for the future," said NASA's Jack Fox, program chair for the event.

Fox serves as the chief of technology planning at Kennedy Space Center.

The theme of this year's Space Congress is "Determination: Meeting today's challenges, enabling tomorrow's vision."

The congress will begin Tuesday, April 27, with Brig. Gen. Gregory Pavlovich, commander of the 45th Space Wing, and James Kennedy, director of Kennedy Space Center, welcoming participants to the event.

Then NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe will deliver the keynote address. Fox expects O'Keefe's speech to directly address the top concerns and interests of space program workers.

"He'll likely give us an up-to-the-minute update on where we are now, where we're going and what that means to the local workforce," he said.

National space policymakers will among the featured speakers for the first panel discussion on the future of space exploration. CNN correspondent John Zarrella will lead the panel, which will include Doug Cooke, NASA deputy associate administrator, Office of Exploration Systems; Gary Martin, NASA space architect; Craig Steidle, NASA administrator, Office of Exploration Systems; Bruce McCandless, chief scientist, Lockheed-Martin; Chuck Allen, vice president program manager, Orbital Space Plane Program, The Boeing Co.; and Harley Thronson, NASA director of Technology.

"We've got some heavy hitters, so it should make for a lively discussion," Fox said.

The luncheon address will explore China's human space program. Internationally recognized Chinese space initiative expert Joan Johnson-Freese will give the presentation. Then Bill Readdy, NASA associate administrator, Office of Space Flight, will chair panel II, which will feature leaders from NASA and industry discussing return to flight. Panel III, led by Thronson, will update participants on planetary exploration programs including Spirit/Opportunity, Stardust, Gravity Probe-B, Spitzer Space Telescope, Webb Space Telescope, Phoenix Lander and Lunar Robotics.

Then SETI's Shostak will be the honored speaker during the reception.

Wednesday will kick off with a panel discussion on Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles, including their use in human spaceflight.

Dr. Peter Diamandis of the X-Prize will lead a discussion of the commercial use of the Spaceport during panel session V. Military space policy will be addressed during lunch, then a parallel series of paper sessions will begin.

Paper sessions will include spaceport and range technologies, technologies for future spaceports and ranges, technology solutions delivered to operational space programs, and commercial use of spaceport technologies.

Yeager, the first aviator to fly faster than the speed of sound, will be featured at the reception.

"Yeager is definitely the jewel of the event because of his popularity with the public and we're expecting standing room only," Fox said.

Thursday will begin with a panel session discussion of nuclear propulsion systems including the planned Prometheus/JIMO (Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter) project.

The VII panel session will delve into destinations for robotic and human space exploration. After lunch, paper sessions will be held. Topics include spaceport research and development and future missions; spaceport materials, strategies, concepts and technical challenges of human exploration beyond low Earth orbit; and university research for future spaceport applications.

Technician paper sessions will also be held and will be followed by technician recognition night.

An evening with the astronauts is slated for Thursday night as well. The event, which is open to the public, will be held at the Debus Conference Facility at the Visitor Complex.

Friday, the final day of the congress, will begin with the tee-off for the Space Coast Golf Tournament. In addition, high school panel and paper sessions will be held at the Debus Conference Facility.

The congress will be capped off with the Missile, Space and Range Pioneers Annual Banquet that evening.

The Space Congress Youth Science Fair featuring the top 80 science fair entries of Brevard County Middle School students will be held at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex during the congress.

"We think we've got an exciting line up that will draw a lot of interest in Space Congress this year," Fox said.

For more information or to register, visit www.spacecongress.org or call 452-3068.