NASA to Participate in Space Symposium, Discuss Moon to Mars
NASA leadership and other experts will participate in the Space Foundation’s 38th Annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the agency will air two NASA events.
During her keynote, “Our Next Steps to the Moon and Beyond,” NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy will discuss progress toward a blueprint for sustained human exploration throughout the solar system at 11:15 a.m. EDT, on Tuesday, April 18.
Melroy’s keynote will be followed by the Moon to Mars Strategy Implementation panel, which she will moderate, at 4 p.m., on Wednesday, April 19. Participants include:
- Kenneth Bowersox, deputy associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate
- Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate
- James Free, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
- Robert Gibbs, associate administrator, Mission Support Directorate
- Jim Reuter, associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate
NASA will broadcast both key events with Melroy on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.
During Tuesday’s event, the Melroy keynote will air on the main NASA TV channel, and a scheduled downlink with crew from the space station will air on the agency’s media channel. Both events will stream live online at:
Media registered to cover the Space Symposium will have two opportunities to meet with NASA participants on Monday, April 17:
- James Free, associate administrator, NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and Amit Kshatriya, deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars Program
- Victor Glover, NASA astronaut and Artemis II crew member
Among other highlights with NASA at the symposium, which will not air live on NASA TV, are:
Monday, April 17:
- 12 p.m. MDT: NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana speaks at the New Generation Space Leaders Luncheon
- 6:30 p.m. MDT: Earlier this year, the Space Foundation announced its selection of the agency’s James Webb Space Telescope and Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) science missions for foundation awards. NASA representatives will receive those awards during the symposium’s opening ceremony.
Tuesday, April 18:
Multiple NASA experts will participate in the science track, including a discussion at 2:35 p.m. MDT, on planetary defense featuring NASA’s Bhavya Lal, associate administrator for Technology, Policy, and Strategy, and Lindley Johnson, NASA’s planetary defense officer.
Wednesday, April 19:
Multiple NASA experts will participate in events throughout the day including the gamechangers track where Alex McDonald, NASA’s chief economist, will participate in a panel at 1:30 p.m. MDT, on Private Sector and Science Exploration Missions.
Thursday, April 20:
- 9:35 a.m. MDT: Lal will moderate a panel titled Next Steps on Nuclear Power and Propulsion
- 12:15 p.m. MDT: Casey Swails, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for Business Operations, will participate in a panel discussion during the Women’s Global Gathering
- 7 p.m. MDT: NASA’s Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche is the featured speaker at the Space Technology Hall of Fame dinner
A full agenda for this year’s Space Symposium is available online.
The NASA exhibit will showcase interactive experiences from the agency’s Artemis program, James Webb Space Telescope, X-59 Quesst mission and provide daily talks in the booth from NASA’s subject matter experts on dozens of mission topics.
NASA will provide photos and updates about its participation in the Space Symposium from its @NASAExhibit on Twitter, as well as flagship accounts.