Day 2 of ISSRDC Online Series to Feature Space Investment, Commercialization, and NASA-driven Programs

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), September 16, 2020 – Day 2 of the 9^th annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC(Abbreviation: ISSRDC) The only conference dedicated exclusively to showcasing how the International Space Station is advancing science and technology and enabling a robust and sustainable market in LEO. This annual conference brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the space station. ISSRDC is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, manager of the ISS National Lab; NASA; and the American Astronautical Society.) will take place virtually this Thursday, September 17, bringing together researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, and the general public to showcase the benefits of conducting research and technology development onboard our nation’s industrial incubator in low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles. (LEO). Each year, ISSRDC is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS(Abbreviation: CASIS™) The nonprofit organization that manages the ISS National Lab, which receives at least 50 percent of the U.S. research allocation on the International Space Station to facilitate research that benefits humanity (NASA manages the other 50% and focuses on research for space exploration purposes).), NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the American Astronautical Society.

The day will kick off with a session focused on space-based research that is leading to commercial product applications. Multiple plenary sessions will be dedicated to NASA-driven initiatives like GeneLab and the Cold Atom Lab. Additionally, a session focused on trends within the investment community will be led by executive leadership within Nasdaq.

Below highlights the sessions, speakers, and timeline for Day 2 of the ISSRDC Online Series:

9:45-10:00 a.m. ET
Welcome and Introductory Remarks

10:00-11:00 a.m. ET
The R&D Continuum: How the ISSInternational Space Station is Closing the Gap Toward Commercial Applications
Moderated by Michael Roberts, Interim Chief Scientist, CASIS
Speakers include:

• Alessandro Grattoni, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute
• Matt Lynch, Principal Scientist, Procter & Gamble
• Aleksander Ostrogorsky, Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. ET
Maximizing Spaceflight Biological Data with Omics Database: The NASA GeneLab Database
Speakers Include:

• Sylvain Costes, GeneLab Project Manager, NASA
• Samrawit Gebre, GeneLab Deputy Project Manager, NASA

2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Investing in Space: Trends, Opportunities, and Risks
Introduction by Alex MacDonald, Chief Economist, NASA
Moderated by Robert H. McCooey, Jr., Senior Vice President, Nasdaq’s Listing Services
Speakers include:

• Chad Anderson, Managing Partner, Space Capital
• Ann Kim, Managing Director, Sector Head, Frontier Technology, Silicon Valley Bank
• Alex van Hoek, Partner, Apollo Global Management
• Shahin Farshchi, Partner, Lux Capital

3:15-4:00 p.m. ET
An Overview of the Cold Atom Lab in Orbit
Speakers include:

• Kamal Oudrhini, Cold Atom Lab Project Manager, NASA
• Robert Thompson, Cold Atom Lab Project Scientist, NASA

The ISSRDC Online Series is free to the public, but registration is required to join the webcast. To view the full agenda and register for Day 2, please visit the conference website.

For those that were unable to join Day 1 of the ISSRDC Online Series sessions, all panel discussions are available on the conference website to watch on demand. Registration is also required to view previous sessions.

Media Contact:
Patrick O’Neill
904-806-0035
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

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About the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory: In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the ISS as the nation’s newest national laboratory to optimize its use for improving quality of life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users, and advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by non-NASA U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The ISS National Lab manages access to the permanent microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment. research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space is the non-profit responsible for management of the ISS National Lab.

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