Press Release

“New Space” Entrepreneurs Panel at 23rd National Space Symposium

By SpaceRef Editor
March 20, 2007
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The 23rd National Space Symposium will feature a groundbreaking panel entitled “Why People Who Could Invest in Anything are Investing in Space.” Whether you call them entrepreneurs, private investors or space cowboys, as Time Magazine recently referred to them, there is an increasing amount of focus on and interest in private investment in space. This significant panel, filled with some of the top modern-day pioneers in the “new space” industry, will highlight the growing role of private space investment in shaping the space industry today. The Symposium is the premier annual space industry conference, and is scheduled April 9-12, 2007, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

Scheduled to take place at 2:15 pm on April 12, 2007, three of the most well-known and cutting-edge space entrepreneurs will appear on the panel. They include Mr. Robert T. Bigelow, president and founder, Bigelow Aerospace; Mr. Elon Musk, chief executive officer and chief technology officer, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX); and Mr. Alex Tai, vice president, Operations, Virgin Galactic. This noteworthy panel will also feature a special introduction by XM Radio Co-Founder Mr. Lon C. Levin. Mr. Hoyt Davidson, chief executive officer and partner, Near Earth LLC, will serve as the moderator.

More than 7,000 registrants, guests, speakers, exhibitors, and media are expected to attend the 23rd National Space Symposium. Participants include senior executive leadership from NASA, NOAA, and other civil space and government agencies; the commercial space and satellite broadcasting industry; the Department of Defense and military space commands; space entrepreneurs; universities and academia; and senior representatives from the global space industry. Individuals and organizations come to Colorado Springs to attend this four day conference that brings together all sectors of space – civil, commercial, and national security – to discuss the most pressing issues facing the space industry today.

Highlights of the 23rd National Space Symposium include an extensive exhibit center showcasing more than 140 companies and organizations, co-sponsored by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.; a spectacular opening ceremony, co-sponsored by Northrop Grumman; opening reception, co-sponsored by the Colorado Space Coalition; opening night fireworks and dessert reception, co-sponsored by United Space Alliance; the Corporate Partnership dinner, co-sponsored by Raytheon Company; the presentation of the Space Foundation’s highest honor, the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, at a luncheon co-sponsored by The Boeing Company; and the Space Technology Hall of Fame dinner, co-sponsored by Lockheed Martin.

Additional co-sponsors of the symposium are Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI), Ares Corporation, ATK, Axiom Worldwide, BAE Systems, BearingPoint, Cisco Systems, CSP Associates, General Dynamics, Honeywell, IAC 2008 Ltd., Infinite Links, ITT, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), SPACEHAB, Space Florida, Stellar Solutions, Swales Aerospace, and United Launch Alliance. Media partners for the 23rd National Space Symposium are Aviation Week, The New York Times and Space News. Frontier Airlines is the official airline of the conference.

Visit www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org for secure online registration, an updated program agenda, confirmed speaker list, and exhibitor list.

About the Space Foundation

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and inspires, enables, and propels tomorrow’s explorers. The Space Foundation also has an office in Washington, D.C., and field representatives in Houston, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Space Foundation is a leader in space awareness activities, trade association services, research and analysis for the global space industry, and educational enterprises that bring space into the classroom. Along with partnering organizations, the Space Foundation also conducts Strategic Space and Defense (Oct. 9-11, 2007), in Omaha, Neb. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.

SpaceRef staff editor.