The International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISS R&D) is proud to announce former NASA astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly will join Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN, for an interactive panel discussion at its 5th annual meeting at the San Diego Town and Country Resort & Convention Center from July 12-14, 2016. The ISS R&D Conference was created to connect commercial and academic communities involved in new innovations, breakthroughs, and discoveries onboard humankind’s unique orbiting laboratory. This event is held in coordination with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the American Astronautical Society (AAS), and NASA.
Mark Kelly (Captain, USN, Ret.) is a decorated astronaut who has logged approximately 54 days in space over the span of four separate shuttle missions. Scott Kelly (Captain, USN, Ret.) recently returned from 340 days onboard the ISS, the longest continuous stay of any American astronaut in microgravity. While at ISS R&D, the Kelly brothers will join Dr. Gupta to discuss their time in microgravity and how the human condition changes while onboard the station. In particular, Dr. Gupta will focus on the Twins Study, through which NASA intends to better understand human physiology as they prepare for the Journey to Mars, and how those discoveries onboard the ISS can improve life on Earth. To assist in the discussion on the Twins Study, Scott Kelly’s flight surgeon, Dr. Stevan Gilmore, will join the panel discussion. Additionally, Twins Study investigator Dr. Andrew Feinberg (John’s Hopkins University) also intends to join the conversation and summarize his research on the brothers.
“This conference is incredibly fortunate to have two national heroes present to discuss their time in space,” said CASIS Director of Marketing and Communications Brian Talbot. “To have both Kelly brothers join Dr. Gupta at ISS R&D will provide great insight into the human condition as it evolves on the space station. Additionally, it will allow viewers to better understand the types of investigations both brothers participated in as NASA prepares for its Journey to Mars.”
CASIS and NASA leadership will also present new opportunities that the ISS can bring to researchers from a variety of scientific disciplines and backgrounds. Current ISS users from across a wide spectrum of commercial and academic entities will have the opportunity to present their findings at the conference.
Registration for the 2016 conference is now open. To learn more about ISS R&D 2016, including how to register, please visit: http://www.issconference.org/
