This is just one example of the vibrant dialogue that takes place each year at ISPCS. Join us in New Mexico for the 2012 event, taking place Oct. 17-18, where more than 450 of the "who's who" in the commercial space industry will collaborate on key issues and trends to help grow the industry and increase demand for commercial spaceflight. 

Where are we supposed to meet? Here or down at the outfitters? Beats me was the answer…again. I was with a group of speakers at a conference, and we were headed to the speaker’s dinner at the Sami camp. The Sami are the native people who live above the arctic circle in Lapland. They are reindeer herders. Their art is spare, similar to Zuni imagery, their songs resemble cowboy yodeling. Once again, the out of towners were lost.  I was invited to speak in Sweden on space transportation. I traveled across the globe, got exactly where I was supposed to be, and was lost. What is the thread that weaves the hours into a memory? What is the smallest part of a big adventure? At a conference on space transportation, we couldn’t’ figure out where we were supposed to meet.

I like a schedule, and an agenda. I believe a schedule is a commitment, an agreement. A transportation industry must include schedules. Otherwise there is no industry, just people, goods and vehicles going on their own at random times to random places. That’s why I am well suited to work on this space transportation business. I am working to increase predictability and decrease random nature of space travel.

If you have ever traveled to watch a Space Shuttle launch, you knew to put an end date on your stay. You may see a launch, you may not. But, don’t wait around; launches can be delayed for months. For good reason launches are delayed. Those days of millions of moving parts and unsustainable maintenance costs are gone. Building in complexity to a transportation system creates more complexity.  The Shuttle was likely the most significant transportation machine ever built by man. Those who flew in them honor all the dedication, innovation and creativity that went into the vehicles and program. We will continue to reap benefits from this vehicle and its support systems for years. We are moving on to less expensive, more sustainable vehicles for a more diverse industry.

Simplicity. What is so hard about giving people a schedule? Be at Gate 37 by 12:15 to board your plane. As I discussed the confusion with my colleagues, it became a cherished thread linking each of us closer during the trip. Every time we discovered we didn’t know where we were going or why we were all standing around hoping someone knew what was next, each discovered how the others dealt with ambiguity. Sometimes the best parts of a trip include the ridiculous.

Yet, I believe the lack of predictability in the access to space has contributed to the ambivalence people have about the industry. If no one knows for sure when they will have access to a place, it is forgotten.   Think about our downtown mall. It was inaccessible for many years, people just didn’t go there. It was certainly not a market place.

At a recent meeting in the Long Beach Convention Center, I was intentionally looking at the spaces where people gathered. There was a main auditorium that seated 800 people. Lectures started at 8:30am and continued until 5:30 pm. Speakers included Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and our Poet Laureate. There were fifteen hundred people in attendance. Throughout the Convention Center there were small lounges where small groups of people could watch the lectures on video, check their email and also talk. I had not seen bean bag chairs since I left college, but they were all over the place. And in use as people relaxed and listened.

I was sent a software tool prior to the meeting to help me connect with people who had similar interest to mine. I discovered most people did not use the tool. As the days progressed I became more focused on my original purpose for attending. I wanted to learn how people gathered at meetings, and how I could determine their interest in what we are working on here in New Mexico. The interesting conversations became frequent, one more exciting than the next, yet, where were they leading? Like this article you may be wondering, where are we going here? Is the feeling of being lost, aimless, uncertain part of the human journey? I avoid it. I like purpose. I am aim to get to space, and others want to go too. They expect to have interesting work to keep them productively occupied, they expect to explore. No lost in space for them or me.

Speaking in public is a double sided relationship. One side of the relationship is the writer alone preparing to meet and talk with the audience. The other side of the relationship is the writer talking to and with the audience. Preparing for a talk is kind of like preparing for a wedding. In practice, one does not see the other until the ceremony.  

I am fortunate enough to be asked to speak in public, though I usually feel more fortunate after the talk. If there is a question and answer session after the talk, I feel I could have done better if I had known before hand who was in the audience.  Have you ever come up with a perfect retort after the person left the room?  It’s like that.  Is the post-talk Q&A anti-climatic? I wonder as I prepare for my next talk.

Think about the Gettysburg Address. There was no Q & A. Two hundred and seventy two beautifully crafted words delivered by the Ancient One, who was only 54 when he delivered that speech. It is reported, those who were in the audience said they could not hear Lincoln, others said they did not even know he had spoken, his talk was so short. It is the words, and their message that live on. Most don’t report Lincoln was a great speaker like, John Kennedy or Winston Churchill. In this age of YouTube and the internet, public speaking skill and skill crafting the right message for the audience is important I am learning.

When I write a talk, I look to others who are more eloquent than I. Lincoln spoke about the opening of a cemetery. That’s a tough subject to write a talk for. In 1863, during the depths of despair at being a country at war with itself, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, were looking for solace. They came to escape for a moment as they looked for hope, for healing, for kindness, for a way out of their individual and collective grief. And so he wrote for them and for himself. He wrote to heal his heart and their souls. Who can know what the human heart will feel? If lucky, a writer knows their own heart, and connects with the audience, heart to heart first.

In my heart I have a message, yes one of hope, one born of struggle. It’s a travel story, and if done right people love stories.

It was a long trip starting at 3am in Fairbanks. We landed in Seattle on September 10^th   at 10am in the morning. The Alaskan cruise liners dump thousands of tourists at the Seattle airport daily. Over a thousand people were on the security line at the Southwest Airlines terminal. I got all the exercise I needed finding the end of the line. But I got home. The next day was Tuesday, September 11. Many of my colleagues did not get home for days.

We all have travel stories. Humans have traveled across the globe since we started walking upright. It is part of our evolutionary journey. It is one of the things we all have in common. We travel to be with each other, to learn, to explore and to relocate. When we travel we go in groups and we always bring and buy stuff. It may be gifts, food, clothing, cars or houses. While researching human transportation I discovered interesting relationships.

Humans have evolved only 5 major transportation industries in the 3.3 million years we have been on earth; ground, sea, rail, air and space.  Space transportation is the last of the major transportation industries to evolve. Humans own over 1 billion cars, took 19 million cruises and flew over 32 million trips on 1,000 airlines last year. Over 29 million passengers traveled by rail last year. Know how many humans have been to space in the last fifty one years? 517.

Humans are not in the transaction loop in the space transportation industry yet. The transaction between supplier and consumer does not exist yet. That will change first in New Mexico. The first spaceline transporting humans will be operated thirty miles from here. When humans are involved in the space transportation they will create demand. They will bring others, they will explore, they will create demand for services. We humans always do. I have a message to deliver; we have a human transportation industry growing in New Mexico. Humans travel, it is what we do. Space travel for humans. New Mexico First.

The lawnmower telescope is my favorite Clyde Tombaugh telescope, built so he could move it around the backyard. Dr. Tombaugh was raised on a farm like many of the students he taught. Students scientists have pickups and tool boxes. They build instruments, they design housing for experiments, they invent, experiment and test their instruments. Ellington Field near Houston is where astronauts and NASA researchers flight test experiments.

Through New Mexico Space Grant, I have funded over a hundred students to travel with their experiments to Ellington Field. I proudly observed one of our students helping a team from Brown University with their experiment. It’s the tool box on the pickup that saved more than one team from going home without flying. Our students were going through a test readiness review of their experiment flying on the Zero G plane. It is the plane that was used to film the scenes in Apollo 13 where the astronauts were floating in the cabin.

The flight readiness review is the last step before flight. NASA brings a team of engineers and scientists, to review each experiment before it flies. The teams ask students to demonstrate how their experiments work, and they determine if the experiments are safe to put on the plane. Once the plane goes into the steep dive to simulate microgravity, the students and their experiments experience 25 seconds of low gravitational pull. The equipment can float to the top of the plane if it is not secured within the test stand. Our students consistently passed these reviews. They know how to build hardware. Other team experiments needed work, and more often than not, our farm raised scientists helped solve problems. We have never been sent home in the over 20 campaigns without flying.

This and other activities have prepared our students to work on experiments that now go to space. I know Dr. Tombaugh would be proud of our accomplishments. Yet, I wonder how he would have engaged in the discussion about the new classification of Pluto as a Dwarf Planet. Dr. Tombaugh was a fierce debater, a champion for science, for students, for curiosity, and for fairness.

The new Hayden Planetarium’s director, Neil deGrasse Tyson and I had a few discussions about the re-classification of Pluto. The first was on a lecture trip to the Planetarium in 2009 with some NASA colleagues. I had the flu and was not is the best shape. But, I wanted to hear the lecture.

After being seated in the planetarium’s newly designed Rose Center lecture hall, lights were dimmed, and the solar system came into focus. Quickly, we were on a journey out from the Sun, racing through the Asteroid belt, past Jupiter, beyond Neptune and the Kuiper belt to Pluto. Within 3 sentences, Dr. Tyson told us there were more interesting classification problems to investigate and Pluto was only one of the changes the astronomical community would face as new instruments provided better views of planetary systems. I lost interest. Maybe it was the flu, the flyby out beyond our solar system, or maybe I was just too sad to listen. I soon realized I had to talk to Dr. Tyson.

After the lecture, I waited in the line for my turn to talk to Dr. Tyson. I told him I was from New Mexico State University. We discussed Dr. Tombaugh’s life, his body of work and all that Dr. Tombaugh had done to invigorate an interest in astronomy. He promised to always demonstrate respect for the discovery and the work it took for a young man to make the discovery he did. He said he knew Patsy, and we have stayed friends. Dr. Tyson continues to discuss the great interest Pluto generated around the world. If you are a fan of Pluto, please consider reading his book the Pluto Diaries: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet.

NASA has sent probes to all of the planets, the last probe, the New Horizon’s spacecraft left earth in 2006. It will travel three billion miles before it reaches Pluto and one of it’s orbiting moons, Charon. The Pluto System, as it is referred to by Alan Stern, a leading experts on Pluto, will be investigated by seven instruments on the New Horizons probe. Continue to learn more about Pluto and this mission at www.NASA.gov/missions. Dr. Tombaugh was a scientist. I believe he would encourage us to be curious about Pluto, look at what the research data tells us and make up our own minds. 

What do Pros Ranch market and going back to the moon have in common? Hint #1: it’s about looking around to see what isn’t happening. We are not going to Juarez or the moon. Right now, both are out of reach. Hint #2: it is about opportunity. Hint #3: it’s about us.

Why do I care about another grocery store coming to town? And why is the media and everyone talking about the “Experience” of grocery shopping? The last time the media covered grocery shopping was when it encouraged men to hit the produce section to see what might develop over the bananas. Today for working Americans, the reality of grocery shopping is get in, get out and get home. That’s the “Experience”. Until Pros Ranch came to town.

Grocery shopping in Juarez was an experience. Not because of the bargains, but because it was fun. I have experienced in Juarez as well as in Asia and Europe, grocery shopping as a contact sport. The shopper is part of the team. People who work in the markets draw you into play immediately. Everyone is involved; they are growing, packaging, selling, or transporting food products. Everyone is part of the supply chain. Grandparents tend fish stalls while watching the grandchildren. There is constant activity, and acres of stalls. Each family has their place, their piece of the market place. Block after block of shoes, dresses, crafts, chile, jewlery and plastic. Young, old, rich, poor, male female, even the family dogs are there. There is growth. First we observed this growth at our Farmer’s Market. Then, the ‘Out of the box’ thinkers, the Provenzano family, saw what was and wasn’t happening in our region and opened the Pros Ranch market. It’s just what we needed, affirmation that smart, professional and opportunistic investment can succeed in Dona Ana County.

The benefits of going against the mainstream are not often discussed until after the success. Operating on the margins requires quick learners. They must focus, grow in increments, build their support systems and constantly look for opportunities. Make mistakes that are small, fix them quickly, and keep moving.

Our economy is recovering at the margins. The mainstream market place is being de-constructed because of its weaknesses. The big banks, the big industries, companies and organizations not able to operate on a smaller scale and take advantage changing consumer conditions will continue to contract.

New Mexico is not California, Texas, New York or Florida. We often operate at the margins. Senators Domenici and Bingaman worked most of their careers to help us capitalize on our strengths. White Sands Missile Range and Los Alamos National Laboratory created world class capability in New Mexico.  

NASA White Sands Test Facility has operated successfully at the margins of the space industry since the Apollo program. They had to be efficient and focused. They prevented problems and what you didn’t see is the story of their success.

Now they have another role to play in growing the commercial space industry in our country. They are small, nimble and capable to support our emerging space industry. Our strengths in New Mexico enable us to succeed at operating at the margins, particularly in the space industry. Small contractors, suppliers who are members of the supply chain are critical to the success of the market we are developing here in New Mexico. The spaceport is like an airport because it will operate in the open market. We must have a strong competitive supply chain. Protecting the supply chain and consumers has been a part of our national manufacturing economy for years, and has enabled the automobile industry to recover quickly.

What’s this got to do with not going to the moon? Look around at what is not happening. National competitive advantage in the space industry is being ceded to China. The United States is the only country to carry humans to and from the moon. The space industry market place encompasses living and working off earth. China, for national security reasons, cannot send astronauts to the International Space Station. It has launched the Taintong-1 space lab and has publically stated it will ferry individuals to and from the moon by 2020. They are being forced to operate on the margins. Has our country ceded our national competitive advantage to the Chinese? In the short run, we might keep our friends close and our competitors closer. Small, nimble companies and space programs may outlast large government programs in the long run. 

Watch Now-a short one minute clip

Watch Now- the full speech

Click here for our first podcast, George Nield's "10 Actions to Increase National Competitiveness". Also see text of audience questions for Associate Administrator Nield. "This new service is part of our ongoing commitment to inform the commercial space community and foster growth of national competitiveness in the aerospace industry", said ISPCS Chair Pat Hynes.

Panel sessions at ISPCS 2011 will feature a range of discussions among thought leaders on the most pressing topics facing the commercial space industry’s future, including innovation, regulation, sub-orbital and orbital vehicle development and where humans may fit in the mix. Visit the website tab “Program 2011”to see the full agenda.

ISPCS sessions will engage speakers and the audience on the continuous momentum of the commercial spaceflight industry, fueled by industry execution, government support, current collaborations, technical innovations, and to the promise of the future.

"ISPCS will provide attendees a clear snapshot of where the industry is today and a strong sense of where it is headed in the near future," said Pat Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "As the industry grows there is an increased need to showcase technologies, progress on programs, and expansion of companies and personnel in the business. Therefore, we have opened the new Commercial Space Exhibit Hall in addition to the Space Portal."

Garver will discuss NASA's commercial crew development program and other initiatives aimed at helping develop the U.S. commercial spaceflight industry.

"The federal government has to get out of the business of owning and operating low-Earth orbit transportation systems and work in new more efficient ways with the private sector," said Garver. "We are making tremendous progress with the commercial cargo and crew programs, and we are excited about having American companies transporting our astronauts and their supplies into space in the near future."

"There is no single step by step process that necessarily applies to the creation of all technologies. The challenge is to select the most elegant solution," Bigelow said. "Ideas are easy to come by. The efficacy of the idea is what is important."

Bigelow will be one of a number of successful businessmen sharing updates about a range of commercial space projects at ISPCS 2011.

"Bigelow is one of the ‘makers' getting the work done," said Hynes. ‘On the long road to success, there is value in coming together to update each other on progress and successes. Having peers challenge one other while keeping in mind the big opportunities embedded in growing a new transportation industry is an important part of ISPCS."

"You have to have a certain amount of core competency or you can't be in the commercial space business," said Nelson. "The core competency of most industry competitors right now is engines, and we are starting to build a patent portfolio around the processes and sub-processes of our engine.

"Innovation grows out of trying to solve a problem. You're solving a problem and through that process you come up with something that is different, unique, out of the box. You want to protect that intellectual property, and the long-term key to success is whether a company can create a repeatable innovation process instead of being a one-hit wonder."

The four are working on different designs of vehicles that could service the space station. NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden has said he would like to see all four companies succeed, and so would we.

"This new funding is a statement of support by NASA leaders of the efforts to reinvigorate our national competitiveness in the launch industry," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "With the end of the Shuttle program, commercial space companies provide the clearest path to low Earth orbit and beyond."

Exhibits will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of expansive technologies and projects that have been developed by companies operating in the commercial spaceflight sector.

"The Commercial Space Exhibit Hall will showcase not only a range of technologies, but will also give attendees a chance to talk directly with the visionaries and engineers behind the advances being made in commercial space transportation," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "They will truly get a sense of where the industry is today."

"The commercial space transportation segment of the aerospace industry continues to expand and is generating significant job growth," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "The shift in the national focus to this industry and the technologies that are moving to the market is a testament to the growing strength of this industry."

"The early pioneers of the space industry had the confidence and the trust to share their ideas with others so that launch and vehicle technology could develop as quickly as possible," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "The aerospace industry will continue to grow not only from patented technologies, but also from the collegiality and the shared trust of those working in the business. Come to ISPCS and speed up the commercial space industry by sharing your ideas."

Anderson spent 30 years as a civilian with the Air Force and has wide experience in leading space programs for the service. Among her assignments, she led the Space Vehicles Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Space Technology Directorate, both at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque.

"We are very pleased with this announcement, and welcome Christine Anderson into these exciting times for New Mexico and our country," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "She is highly qualified to keep us on track, and to add to the growing capabilities at our spaceport."

Separately, Virgin Galactic said that the Southwest Research Institute has contracted to fly two scientists into space from Spaceport America and intends to contract for an additional six passengers engaged in research projects.  

"Our conference continues to be the industry's leading gathering of innovators with new technologies, risk taking entrepreneurs, and customers creating demand for commercial space products," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair.

Mark your calendars now to attend this important conference, now in its 7th year, in Las Cruces, NM. A block of rooms will again be set aside for conference attendees at the enchanting Hotel Encanto, http://www.hhandr.com/encanto.php.

Jerry Stagner, Benjamin Woods and Richard Holdridge have been reappointed to the board, with Holdridge in the position of chairman. The new directors are Irvin Diamond, an Albuquerque CPA; Sid Gutierrez, a former astronaut now with Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque; David Buchholtz, an Albuquerque attorney; and Scott Krahling, a Las Cruces marketing consultant.

"The carry-over directors will provide continuity for Spaceport America while the new members bring a wide range of experience to the task of completing the facility and making it operational," said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair.

One of the first tasks of the new board is to name a new executive director for the spaceport to replace Rick Homans, who resigned at the governor's request in January. An announcement is expected soon.

Another resignation this week was Will Whitehorn, who stepped down as Ppresident of Virgin Galactic. CEO George Whitesides will now assume the added role of President of Virgin Galactic. Our emerging industry will thrive as it adapts to change.

Ms. Garver's reasons, along with presentations from Bigelow Aerospace Founder Robert Bigelow, Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides and many others are now posted on the ISPCS Web site.

And for those of you who missed this year's conference, perhaps we'll see you next year!

ISPCS 2011 will be held Oct. 19-20 during next year's Space Week in New Mexico.

The conference, the centerpiece of Space Week in New Mexico, will provide attendees an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities facing the commercial spaceflight industry, in this unique economic and political environment.

See the full program at http://www.ispcs.com/program_2010.php.

ISPCS 2010, to be held Oct. 20-21 during Space Week in New Mexico.

ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by NASA.

Register today. Go to www.ispcs.com
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This year's program features keynote speakers both mornings of the conference: Pulitzer-prize winning author Neil Sheehan on how the U.S. ballistic missile program led to key developments in rocket technology, and NASA Associate Administrator Lori Garver on the agency's new push for commercial space.

See the full program at http://www.ispcs.com/program_2010.php

ISPCS 2010, to be held Oct. 20-21 during Space Week in New Mexico.

The Spaceport America Runway Dedication and flyover of SpaceShipTwo aboard WhiteKnightTwo on Friday, October 22, is open only to ISPCS attendees and space is limited. Register for ISPCS early to secure a place at this event.

• Grant Anderson, VP of engineering and co-founder of Paragon Space Systems.
• Mark Sirangelo, EVP of Sierra Nevada Corporation and chair of the Commercial Space Federation.
• Tim Pickens, chief propulsion engineer and commercial space advisor for Dynetics.

ISPCS 2010, to be held Oct. 20-21 during Space Week in New Mexico.

Friday, October 22, exclusive offer to ISPCS attendees only: Register to attend the Spaceport America Runway Dedication. Attendees will see the first long distance capture-carry flight of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo aboard WhiteKnightTwo.

ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by NASA.

Register today. Go to www.ispcs.com
We're also on Facebook and Twitter

The sixth annual International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS 2010) is accepting Early Bird registrations beginning July 1st and is offering a $50 discount for attendees who register prior to October 2.

This year's conference, expected to attract over 400 company executives, government officials and industry and university researchers, will be held in Las Cruces on Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 & 21, during Space Week in New Mexico. Attendees who register before October 2nd will receive a discounted price of $425 for the full two-day conference. Seats at the conference are limited, so we encourage you to register soon at www.ispcs.com.

"Characterizing our industry for two days will the focus of ISPCS 2010 said Patricia Hynes, ISPCS Chair. "We are gradually increasing access to space for mankind, and ISPCS is where the leaders of this industry meet, listen and talk, collaborate and set the pace for these next steps."

On Friday morning, following the conference, attendees may also register for the Spaceport America Horizontal Launch and Facility Dedication and view the first long-distance capture-carry of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo aboard WhiteKnightTwo. This event is open ONLY to attendees of ISPCS. We will continue to update you on this event.

From an opening session that explores the historic, ongoing link between the founders of the Space Age and today's commercial space industry, to an exploration of the current status of today's advances in space technology, ISPCS 2010 will focus on people and their achievements.

"The forward momentum of the commercial space industry is unmistakable," said Patricia Hynes, conference chair. "SpaceX has achieved another milestone with the successful launch of its Falcon 9 rocket. XCOR and Masten Space Systems have announced a partnership. People working in the space business are constantly looking forward, and our annual event provides a forum for dialogue about the challenges that lie ahead."

Topics covered in other sessions at this year's event during Space Week in New Mexico will include hybrid spaceports; the impact of ITAR on commercial space; and test programs for commercial spaceflight.

The conference will provide attendees a "snap shot" of where individual companies are with a range of technologies and how various civil and military agencies are supporting commercial spaceflight programs.

ISPCS will be held Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 & 21, of Space Week in New Mexico. On Friday, October 22, ISPCS attendees will have the opportunity to view the first long distance capture carry of SpaceShipTwo at Spaceport America. This event is open ONLY to attendees of the full ISPCS conference. We will continue to update you on this event.

"The student launch program is one manifestation of how attendees at our conference make a contribution to getting payloads into space by helping support our educational program," said conference chair Patricia Hynes, director of the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium. "The program also is developing New Mexico's workforce by encouraging scientific education through access to space annually from Spaceport America."

Eight experiments will launch on May 4th from the vertical launch complex at Spaceport America aboard an SL4 rocket built by UP Aerospace. The rocket will fly to a 70 mile apogee and then return to Earth by parachute so that the payloads can be recovered intact. The experiments include gathering launch data from an Inertial Measurement Unit; testing the reliability of miniature electrical connectors; and taking readings from a pressure sensor, accelerometers, a temperature sensor, and a Geiger counter onboard the rocket. The students involved are from New Mexico State University, the University of New Mexico, five community colleges and one high school. The Student Launch website http://www.launchnm.com has more details about the experiments.

This year's conference will be held Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 & 21, of Space Week in New Mexico. On Friday, October 22, ISPCS attendees will have the opportunity to tour the horizontal launch complex and other facilities at Spaceport America. ISPCS, in its sixth year, is the leading industry meeting of the commercial and personal spaceflight industry.

ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by the NASA.

"These are classic leading indicators of an emerging industry," said Patricia Hynes, conference chair. "The U.S. government will gradually play a lesser role in the space business, as smaller commercial companies take over more of the work of getting humans and cargo to space. This a challenging time for the people involved, and yet, there is the inherent thrill of just beginning."

The annual ISPCS conference brings together more than 300 leaders in this growing global industry. Content is the driver for two days of fast paced sessions, discussions, and business meetings. This year's event will be held Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 & 21, of Space Week in New Mexico.

ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by the NASA.

Source: Press Release
MARCH 30, 2010

SECOND ANNUAL EDUCATION LAUNCH AT SPACEPORT AMERICA

LAS CRUCES - As part of New Mexico Space Grant Consortium's mission to promote space programs and education to New Mexico students and educators, the second annual Education Launch will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 1 from Spaceport America. http://62mileclub.com/62mileblog/?p=2112

A flyover on October 22 of the two craft will be a unique event enabling attendees to see both the spaceport and the vehicles. It will be an extraordinary conclusion for Space Week in New Mexico, said ISPCS Chair Patricia Hynes.

The updated ISPCS website contains complete information about Space Week in New Mexico where ISPCS, the leading meeting of the commercial and personal spaceflight industry conference is held.

This year's conference will be held Wednesday-Thursday, October 20 - 21, Flyover at Spaceport America, Friday, October 22

Commenting on the historic flight, Burt Rutan said: "This is a momentous day for the Scaled and Virgin Teams. The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program." Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Galactic added: "Seeing the finished spaceship in December was a major day for us but watching VSS Enterprise fly for the first time really brings home what beautiful, ground-breaking...

NEWS ANALYSIS

WASHINGTON - Launching the future of U.S. human spaceflight on an uncertain trajectory, President Barack Obama surprised lawmakers and industry with a budget proposal that scraps NASA's Moon-bound Constellation program in its entirety and bets a chunk of the savings on the ability of commercial firms to ferry crews to and from the international space station.  more

The best way to control the future is to create it! Many of us have heard this, some live by it. The heritage space companies meet with new space companies at ISPCS to address the expanding commercial space industry, with a focus on safe, low cost, and reliable vehicles and operations, in a reasonable enabling regulatory environment. Please join us as we work to create the future of commercial spaceflight together.

FAST Paced, Unique Plenary and Networking Session
All ISPCS sessions are plenary, allowing everyone to get the same information at the same time. Sessions are fast paced, topics varied, speakers are global decision makers and thought leaders in the civilian and military spaceflight industry. Audience interaction occurs in and outside of sessions. It works and so will you, at the ISPCS. Join Us!

Held October 20 and 21 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA. ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by the NASA.