The Final Frontier: Renewing America’s Space Program

Exploring space firsthand seems more elusive now than ever before.

In the last twenty five years, more than twenty NASA human space exploration programs have been terminated and two presidential strategic initiatives have been vacated, resulting in wasted opportunities, resources, and time.

Despite these setbacks, efforts are underway to build a more sustainable space exploration program as stated by the recently released US National Research Council study assessing the goals, capabilities, and future trajectory of NASA’s endeavor. In addition, the advent of cheaper, advanced technologies and private sector innovation are leading to more globalized approaches to space exploration. Now is the time to catalyze international cooperation and reclaim our aspirations to discover the far reaches of space, our final frontier.

Please join a forum of international thought leaders from business, academia, and government, discussing opportunities for international and commercial collaboration to build a more sustainable space exploration program.

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Agenda
 

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.     Registration and Breakfast

9:00 – 9:10 a.m.     Welcome

Jon Huntsman, Chairman, Atlantic Council @JonHuntsman

Nazzic S. Keene, Sector President, Global Markets and Missions Sector, SAIC

9:15 – 9:25 a.m.     Presentation
Damon Wilson, Executive Vice President, Atlantic Council @DamonMacWilson
 
9:25 – 9:40 a.m.     Keynote Address
Jill Tarter, Bernard M. Oliver Chair for SETI Research and Former Director, Center for SETI Research, SETI Institute @jilltarter
 
9:45 – 11:00 a.m.     Sustaining Human Space Exploration
Jeff Bingham, Former Senior Adviser on Space and Aeronautics, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, US Senate

Mary Lynne Dittmar, Former President and CEO, Dittmar Associates; Member, Committee on Human Spaceflight, US National Research Council @DittmarML

Hannah Kerner, Board Chair, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space @heyyhannahrae

Valerie Olson, Professor of Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine
 

Scott Pace, Professor of the Practice of International Affairs; Director, International Science & Technology Policy Program; Director, Center for International Science and Technology Policy; Director, Space Policy Institute, The George Washington University

Asif Siddiqi, Professor of History, Fordham University; Member, Committee on Human Spaceflight, US National Research Council

Ann Zulkosky, Senior Professional Staff, Subcommittee on Science and Space, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, US Senate

11:00 – 11:15 a.m.     Coffee Break 

11:15 – 12:30 p.m.     Pathways to Collaboration

Jeff Feige, Chairman of the Board, Space Frontier Foundation

John Olson, Vice President, Space Systems, Sierra Nevada Corporation

William J. Pomerantz, Vice President, Special Projects, Virgin Galactic @Pomerantz

Dale Skran, Deputy Chair, Policy Committee, National Space Society

Moderator:
Damon Wilson@DamonMacWilson
 

12:30 – 12:45 p.m.         Daretaker, Caretaker, Undertaker… Which Are You?

Bob Rogers, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, BRC Imagination Arts; Academy Award Nominee; Board of Governors, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

DATE:          Tuesday, September 16, 2014

TIME:            8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.        

LOCATION:   Knight Studio Newseum
                        555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
                        Washington, DC 20001

PLEASE USE THE C STREET ENTRANCE

Join the conversation on Twitter with @AtlanticCouncil and @ACforesight using #RenewingSpace.

This event is open to press and on-the-record. For press inquiries, please contact press@AtlanticCouncil.org.

VISITING THE NEWSEUM:Metro and parking info