White House Space Policy Leader Jinni Meehan to Deliver ISSRDC Keynote on Critical Role of the Growing Low Earth Orbit Ecosystem
BOSTON (MA), July 23, 2024 – Space policy 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) will be the focus of a keynote address at the International Space Station Research and Development Conference(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. (ISSRDC) from Jinni Meehan, assistant director for space policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). As the ecosystem in LEO continues to mature, sustained support from the federal government and its agencies will enable valuable research and technology development (R&D) that significantly benefits humanity.
ISSRDC is the only conference dedicated specifically to the scientific and technological advancements made onboard the space station and the impacts on the growing economy in LEO. The conference takes place July 29-August 1 at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston, with this lunchtime keynote slated for Tuesday, July 30.
The White House OSTP provides advice to the President and federal departments and agencies to strengthen and advance American science and technology. The International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) represents the cornerstone of U.S. research in LEO, and the R&D conducted on the ISS provides value to the American taxpayers and paves the way for further inquiries that will benefit humanity. During her address, Meehan will present the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategic objectives and policy insights regarding space-based R&D, emphasizing the importance of advancing scientific knowledge and exploration onboard this space station and future space platforms.
Meehan joined OSTP as the assistant director for space policy in February 2024. Her portfolio includes a range of civil and commercial space topics including space weather, Earth observations, planetary defense, planetary protection, LEO, orbital debris, 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., cislunar, space situational awareness, astronautics, aeronautics, and in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. She is on detail from the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS), where she has served as the National Space Weather Program Manager since 2018, providing coordination within NOAA and across the federal government to ensure a space-weather-ready nation. Meehan was responsible for issues related to global, national, regional, and local policy, products, and services that impact the way NWS communicates space weather information to core partners, the space weather enterprise, and the general public.
ISSRDC brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the ISS. ISSRDC 2024 will showcase how the space station continues to provide a valuable platform for R&D that benefits humanity and enables a robust market in LEO.
The conference is hosted by the ISS National Laboratory®, 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).); NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration; and the American Astronautical Society (AAS). 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: Jinni Meehan, White House OSTP
Media Contact:
Patrick O’Neill
904-806-0035
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org
# # #
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 microgravity 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.