Media are invited to hear leaders in the science and engineering world speak at the 54th Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium at the Greenbelt Marriott, 6400 Ivy Lane, Greenbelt, Maryland, on March 9 and 10, 2016.

This year’s theme, “Leadership for Space: Opportunities and Challenges,” will emphasize NASA’s projects and programs in the coming years. Supported by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and sponsored by the American Astronautical Society, this symposium brings together leaders in science, engineering and technology to discuss many of the common and unique challenges and opportunities that might lie ahead.

“For 53 years, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium has been the D.C. area’s premier conference for leaders in the aerospace industry, science and space policy,” said Harley Thronson, chairman of the symposium’s planning committee at Goddard. “The theme of the 54th symposium is how government and private sector leadership in space exploration will face the challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the coming decade.”

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will provide a keynote address, describing NASA’s vision for space exploration, at 9:15 a.m. EST on Wednesday, March 9.

He will be preceded by Jean-Jacques Dordain, former director general of the European Space Agency, who will open the first day of the conference.

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland will be a featured speaker that afternoon.

The initial day’s closing spotlight talk will be given by Oscar- and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn.

William Wrobel, director of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia will be the keynote speaker on the second day.

Other speakers include John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, and senior representatives of the three other NASA Headquarters directorates, as well as Jim Reuter, deputy associate administrator for the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, and Kathy Laurini, senior advisor for NASA Exploration and Space Operations.

Panels with space industry representatives will discuss the evolution of a space policy and also space technology trajectories for the future. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s strategic research and partnerships will be discussed by a third panel. Sam Scimemi, director of the International Space Station, will lead a discussion on international and commercial space opportunities and challenges.

Media interested in arranging interviews with NASA speakers should contact Rho Christensen no later than March 8 at 301-286-6836 or rho.christensen@nasa.gov.

For details on the symposium, please visit
http://astronautical.org/.

For more information about NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, visit
http://www.nasa.gov/goddard.

Rho Christensen
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
301-286-6836
rho.christensen@nasa.gov