Primary Topic Is ISS Role In Sending Humans Beyond Low Earth
Orbit
In partnership with the International Space University (ISU),
Explore Mars, Inc. is presenting the International Space Station
and Mars Conference at the Boeing Auditorium at the ISU Central
Campus in Strasbourg, France on April 12-13, 2012. This conference
will discuss how ISS can be utilized to advance the goal of sending
humans beyond Low Earth Orbit - specifically to Mars. "A lot of
great concepts were discussed during our 2011 ISS and Mars
programming," stated Explore Mars Executive Director, Chris
Carberry. "The Strasbourg conference will be a perfect venue to
move these discussions forward and start developing a more
comprehensive plan on how these concepts can be achieved."
This conference will feature experts from the ISS international
partnership, industry, planetary exploration, and other key players
in the space community. Confirmed and tentative speakers include,
Reinhold Ewald (ESA; astronaut), James Garvin (NASA), Berndt
Feuerbacher (International Astronautical Federation), Walter
Peeters (ISU), Franklin Chang Diaz (Ad Astra Rocket; former NASA
astronaut), Michael Raftery (Boeing), Sam Scimemi (NASA),
Michael Menking (Astrium), and many others.
In addition, Strasbourg was also chosen because it is the seat
of the European Parliament and the conference will highlight the
importance of space for advancing science and technology.
"Space has the potential to attract students to Science and
Technology", according to Explore Mars president, Artemis
Westenberg, "and to encourage them to pick science and engineering
for their work careers, something Europe as a whole can use very
well to stay innovative and competitive in our ever more
technological world."
Topics will include,
- What are the challenges to human exploration of Mars?
- ISS as a test bed Missions beyond LEO and on to Mars.
- Transitioning from ISS to Exploration
- What projects can be launched in the next 2-8 years in
Cis-Lunar Space
- Moving Beyond LEO: What missions can be accomplished in the
next 10-20 years?
- The ISS Partnership as a governance model for international
human missions beyond LEO and eventually to Mars.
According to Dr. Chris Welch, ISU Masters Programs Director:
"The ISS and Mars project is exactly the sort of innovative and
forward-thinking activity that ISU exists to support and promote.
ISU is, therefore, extremely pleased to be partnering with Explore
Mars to bring the ISS and Mars conference to Europe and looks
forward to welcoming participants to Strasbourg in April 2012."
On the evening of 12 April, ISS and Mars Conference delegates
will join with other guests at an International Space University
gala reception to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its founding.
The reception will also be part of the "Yuri's Night," the annual
international celebration marking the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's
historic flight into space in 1961.