Journalists are invited to attend a Post Workshop Briefing about “Examining the Vision: Balancing Science and Exploration” on Thursday, February 14, 2008, in person in Menlo Park, California or via telecon.

The Planetary Society and the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University will host the two-day, invitation-only workshop, “Examining the Vision: Balancing Science and Exploration,” February 12-13. The 50 participating scientists and engineers represent a broad cross-section of industry, academia, government and non-governmental organizations. The organizers hope that the workshop will yield thoughtful discussions about space exploration policy that may be shared with the next White House administration.

The three workshop organizers who will participate in the briefing are

* Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society
* Scott Hubbard, Stanford University, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
* Kathryn C. Thornton, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Virginia.

While the workshop at Stanford is closed to non-participants, we invite media to attend the briefing. Media unable to attend in person may access it via telecon. Time will be set aside for Q & A.

Date: Thursday, February 14, 2008

Time: 8:30 AM PST

Location: Stanford Park Hotel, 100 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA (private dining room, Duck Club Restaurant).

A statement will also be released on February 14. See it on The Planetary Society or Stanford University website.

To participate, please RSVP in advance to attend or to receive the telecon phone number and passcode.

CONTACT:

David Orenstein
Stanford University
650.736.2245
davidjo@exch-soe.stanford.edu

Susan Lendroth
The Planetary Society
626-793-5100 ext 237

susan.lendroth@planetary.org

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The Planetary Society:

The Planetary Society has inspired millions of people to explore other worlds and seek other life. Today, its international membership makes the non-governmental Planetary Society the largest space interest group in the world. Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray and Louis Friedman founded The Planetary Society in 1980.