The 20th National Space Symposium, held here March 29-April 1 at the Broadmoor Hotel, broke records and exceeded all expectations as the “best ever” gathering of the global space community. Already widely recognized as the premier gathering of the civil, commercial and national security space community anywhere in the world, the 20th Anniversary event broke all records for individual and corporate participation. In addition, conference “content” – the panel discussions and speakers at the heart of the program — has been rated the best ever by Symposium attendees.

More than 6,000 people participated in the 20th National Space Symposium, a new record. More than 1,000 of these represent the future of the space industry – some 400 college students from across the country who participated in the symposium’s Space Career Fair for College Students, and more than 600 local middle school students participating in a special educational program.

Nearly 900 companies, agencies, government organizations and military commands from around the world were represented, including more than 125 exhibitors in the twice expanded and twice “sold out” Northrop Grumman Exhibition Center. The symposium generated some $6 million in direct spending and $12 million in indirect spending, creating an $18 million positive impact in the Colorado economy.

“All of us at the Space Foundation are proud to be the stewards of this world-class event,” said Foundation President & Chief Executive Officer Elliot G. Pulham. “The exploration and use of space propels humanity forward, and the symposium plays a key role in shaping our future in civil, commercial and national security space endeavors.”

This year’s symposium was more strongly focused on the human exploration of space than perhaps any other in the past two decades. NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Exploration Craig Steidle, NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Jim Kennedy and the senior NASA leadership of the Mars Exploration Rover team all played significant roles as speakers, panelists or honorees. Spurred by the renewed NASA emphasis on exploration that is key to the new U.S. space exploration policy, the exploration of Earth’s solar system was a hot topic, addressed by NASA, industry, the White House and members of the Presidential “Moon/Mars” Commission. Additional topics of high interest included space policy related to national security space systems and operations, the transformation of current military space programs to fulfill future national defense requirements, and the resurgence and growth in the commercial satellite services sector.

During a special luncheon, Gen Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Retired), was honored with the Space Foundation’s highest award: the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award. Several other individuals and organizations were also honored: LIFE Magazine, recipient of the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award; the Ariane 4 Launch Team, recipient of the Space Achievement Award; Space Center Houston, recipient of the Education Achievement Award; and the NASA Mars Exploration Team, recipient of the Jack Swigert Award for Space Exploration. Four technologies were inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame: LADARVision 4000, MedStar Monitoring System, Multi-Junction (MJ) Space Solar Cells, and Precision Global Positioning System (GPS) Software System.

Proceedings of the 20th National Space Symposium, courtesy of ITT Industries, are available free on CD-ROM to paid registrants. Call the Space Foundation at 1-800-691-4000 to request a copy.

The Space Foundation’s education, work force, space awareness, space technology and space policy efforts continue year round. The next Space Foundation symposium of note is Strategic Space 2004, scheduled Oct. 5-7 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. Strategic Space continues the dialogue started last year between senior leadership of United States Strategic Command, component and support commands, the aerospace contractor community, federal officials and other leaders. Visit www.stratspace.org or call the Space Foundation at 1-800-691-4000 for on-line registration and conference details.

The 21st National Space Symposium takes place April 4-7, 2005, once again at The Broadmoor. The majority of corporate sponsorship opportunities for the 2005 event, and more than half the available exhibit space, have already been sold; organizations interested in sponsorship or exhibit opportunities are urged to contact the Space Foundation at 1-800-691-4000 or visit the 21st National Space Symposium Web site at www.spacesymposium.org for more information.

The 20th National Space Symposium’s Opening Ceremony was co-sponsored by Lockheed Martin Corporation; the Opening Night Reception was co-sponsored by Eastman Kodak Company; the Opening Night Fireworks and Dessert Reception was co-sponsored by Inmarsat; the Corporate Partnership Reception was co-sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce; the Corporate Partnership Dinner was co-sponsored by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.; the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award Luncheon was co-sponsored by Spectrum Astro; the Space Technology Hall of Fame Reception was co-sponsored by Computer Sciences Corporation; the Space Technology Hall of Fame Dinner was co-sponsored by The Boeing Company; the exhibit center was sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corp.; the media center was sponsored by Sun Microsystems, Inc.; the Proceedings and transportation to satellite hotels were sponsored by ITT Industries; and the cyberspace center was sponsored by Hewlett Packard and Oracle Corporation. Additional sponsors included Air Force Research Laboratory, Analytical Graphics, Inc., BAE Systems, Cisco Systems, CSP Associates, Inc., Harris Corporation, Honeywell Aerospace, Infinite Links, Inmarsat, Integral Systems, Iridium Satellite System, ITT Industries, Network Appliance, Penwal Industries, Raytheon Company, SI International, SPACE.com, Space News, Space Systems Loral, SpaceVest, and Stellar Solutions. Holland & Hart, LLP, sponsored a pre-conference law seminar.

About the Space Foundation

The Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Space Foundation is a national non-profit organization, which vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and educational excellence.

The Space Foundation recently created a Web site just for kids with fun space activities: www.discoverspace.org. The Foundation also manages an on-site NASA Educational Resource Center; offers two distinct Master’s in Space Studies Degrees in conjunction with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Regis University; and has trained more than 30,000 teachers since 1986 on Teaching With Space through Space Discovery graduate courses and national conferences. For more information, visit www.spacefoundation.org.