NASA Conference to Commemorate 40 Years of Human Space Flight

Forty years ago Alan Shepard’s 15-minute flight ushered
in a new era for Americans, one in which they came to view
themselves, the Earth and the Universe in fresh, new ways. On
Tuesday, May 8, 2001, NASA, in collaboration with the Space
Policy Institute at The George Washington University,
Washington, DC, will sponsor a one-day symposium to
commemorate the 40th anniversary of human space flight.

The conference, “Looking Backward, Looking Forward,” will
reflect on the significance of human space flight to American
society over the past forty years and its likely role over the
next four decades and beyond. Daniel S. Goldin, NASA
Administrator, will provide opening remarks. Speakers will
include current and former astronauts, authors, historians and
academics studying various aspects of human space flight. The
program is available at:

http://history.nasa.gov/40hsconf.pdf

The symposium will be held in the university’s Dorothy Betts
Marvin Theater at 800 21ST St., NW, Washington, DC. The
theater is between H and I (“Eye”) Streets near the Foggy
Bottom-GWU Metro station and is handicapped accessible. The
proceedings will be broadcast on NASA Television, available on
satellite GE-2, transponder 9C, at 85 degrees West longitude,
vertical polarization, with a frequency of 3880 MHz and audio
of 6.8 MHz.

Attendance is free of charge, but seating is limited. Members
of the public should contact the Space Policy Institute at
spi@gwu.edu to reserve a place. Media representatives should
contact Eric Solomon in the university’s Media Relations
Office on 202/994-3087 to confirm attendance.

The American Astronautical Society and the National Space
Society also provided support for the conference.