Actress Jolene Blalock will join forces with renowned astrophysicist and New York Times best-selling author, Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson in honoring the 19th set of inductees into the Space Technology Hall of Fame. The 2007 inductees, as recently announced by the Space Foundation, are the Microbial Check Valve (MCV) and Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron (EZVI). The organizations and individuals who developed and adapted these important and innovative technologies will be recognized on April 12 at the Space Technology Hall of Fame dinner, the culminating event at the 23rd National Space Symposium. The premier annual space industry conference, the Symposium will take place April 9-12, 2007, at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.
The Space Technology Hall of Fame Dinner, co-sponsored by Lockheed Martin, will feature Blalock, Tyson and the 2007 Space Technology Hall of Fame Inductees. Blalock, who recently finished filming her fourth major motion picture since leaving the series Star Trek: Enterprise, will serve as a special guest awards presenter. From 2001 – 2005 Blalock played Commander T’Pol on Star Trek: Enterprise and had a recurring role on Stargate SG-1 as Ishta in 2003 & 2004.
Tyson, who’s book Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries is currently on The New York Times best-seller list will be the featured dinner speaker. Tyson’s enthusiasm about space has touched millions, bringing the cosmos to life through his many roles, including as Fredrick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History; host of NOVA Science Now on PBS; frequent television and speaking engagements; work on science education; and much more. With his unique engaging, entertaining, and thought-provoking style, Tyson will address exploration and robust space programs as drivers of innovation, technology, and knowledge.
The Space Foundation, in cooperation with NASA, established the Space Technology Hall of Fame to increase public awareness of the benefits that result from space exploration programs and to encourage further innovation. Since 1988, the Space Technology Hall of Fame has honored 54 technologies as well as the innovating organizations and individuals who transformed space technology into commercial products that improve life here on Earth.
The individuals within the inductee organizations, whose contributions truly made these important, innovative, and life-improving technologies a reality, will also be recognized. This year, 14 individuals will be inducted and three will receive commendations for their work. Funding sources behind the inductee technologies will also receive commendations for their roles. The Space Technology Hall of Fame honorees will also be recognized at the 23rd National Space Symposium in a Private Induction ceremony, co-sponsored by Cisco Systems.
A complete list of all Space Technology Hall of Fame inducted technologies and innovating organizations and individuals can be found online at www.SpaceTechHallofFame.org.
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; 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 also 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; and 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.
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.
