NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free to Deliver Keynote Address at ISSRDC
BOSTON (MA), June 18, 2024 – Jim Free, associate administrator for NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration, will deliver a keynote address on Wednesday, July 31, at the 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.) in Boston. Free, the senior advisor to Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, is NASA’s third highest-ranking executive and its highest-ranking civil servant. In addition to leading the agency’s 10 center directors and the mission directorate associate administrators at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., he acts as chief operating officer for more than 18,000 employees.
In his keynote address, Free will discuss the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) as a novel platform for innovation 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), the exciting developments taking place on the space station, the agency’s perspective on its future, the growing space economy, and the continuity of research and development on the orbiting laboratory.
Free has an extensive history with NASA. Before being named associate administrator, he served in several positions in the agency, most recently as associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Previously, he was director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center. He also served as crew exploration vehicle test and verification manager for the Orion program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Free is a recipient of the federal government’s prestigious Presidential Rank Award and several NASA awards, including numerous leadership and service medals.
“We’re honored to have Jim Free join us in Boston to provide insights from NASA on the critical role the space station plays in benefiting humanity through space-based research and technology development,” said Ray Lugo, chief executive officer for the ISS National Laboratory®. “Having had the privilege to know and work alongside Jim for many years, I know his perspectives and knowledge will be a fantastic addition to the conference as we look to fully utilize the ISS and lay the groundwork for future space platforms.”
ISSRDC is the only conference dedicated exclusively to research and development on the space station. The conference brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the orbiting laboratory. ISSRDC 2024 will showcase how the space station continues to provide a valuable platform for research and technology development that benefits humanity and enables a robust and sustainable market in LEO.
The conference is hosted by the ISS National Lab, which is managed 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).); NASA; and the American Astronautical Society (AAS). Additional announcements about keynote speakers and various sessions are forthcoming.
To learn more about ISSRDC, including how to register, exhibit, or become a conference sponsor, please visit the conference website
Download a high-resolution photo: NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free
Media Contact:
Patrick O’Neill
904-806-0035
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org
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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory: The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative AgreementA cooperative agreement is Federal assistance that establishes a relationship between the U.S. Government and a recipient in which the principal purpose of the relationship is to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation. Since 2011, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) has managed the National Laboratory® through a Cooperative Agreement with NASA. with NASA, facilitating access to its 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. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.