Several Government And Industry Leaders Already Committeed To The Event

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt have announced plans for the 14th annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference, to be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on February 9-10, 2011.

Several top government and industry leaders in commercial space transportation are already lined up to speak at the conference, including:

• Visionary space entrepreneur Robert T. Bigelow, Founder and President, Bigelow Aerospace
• Brewster H. Shaw, Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Space Exploration, Boeing Defense, Space and Security, The Boeing Company
• Joe Engle, former X-15 pilot and space shuttle astronaut
• Michael C. Gass, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Launch Alliance
• Wayne Hale, Director of Human Space Flight Programs, Special Aerospace Services.

There will also be guest panelists from U.S. and international launch companies and U.S. and international government agencies discussing new space technologies, clothing and gear for personal space flight, orbital and suborbital launch vehicles, and international legal issues for commercial space transportation.

This annual conference brings together government officials from DOT, FAA, NASA and DOD, industry leaders, international space partners, current and former astronauts, and space enthusiasts. The FAA will address key issues for the U.S. commercial space transportation industry that will ensure that attendees leave the conference with a better understanding of the FAA's role and the future direction of this exciting transportation sector.

FMI: www.faa.gov