SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to Keynote 4th Annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference in Boston

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (January 28, 2015) –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. (ISSInternational Space Station R&D) today announced that Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer and Lead Designer for Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at its 4^th annual meeting at the Boston Marriott Copley Square in Boston, MA, July 7-9, 2015.  The ISS R&D Conference was created to connect commercial and academic communities involved in new innovations, breakthroughs, and discoveries onboard humankind’s unique orbiting laboratory. This event is held in coordination with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (the ISS National Lab), the American Astronautical Society (AAS), and NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Through their role at SpaceX, Musk and his team are critical to the overall success and sustainability of the ISS. Along with Orbital Sciences, SpaceX has been contracted by NASA to resupply the ISS through its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. This conference will also feature world-renowned speakers, including leading minds in 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, biomedical research, materials development, and remote sensing. the ISS National Lab and NASA leadership will also present new opportunities that the ISS can bring to researchers from a variety of scientific disciplines and backgrounds. Current ISS users from across a wide spectrum of commercial and academic entities will have the opportunity to present their findings at the conference.

“We are thrilled to have Elon Musk as a keynote speaker at this year’s ISS R&D Conference,” said the ISS National Lab Director of Marketing and Communications Brian Talbot. “Elon epitomizes the spirit of the International Space Station as a driver for new discovery and disruptive innovation. The growing ISS user community will greatly benefit from this forum to hear his unique perspectives on the ISS, space, and innovation.”

AAS General Chair of the meeting, Harley Thronson, affirmed, “In addition to this exciting opening to our conference, we are planning three days of challenging and varied presentations that encompass the full range of activities that the ISS is capable of supporting.”

With its rich history in life sciences, aerospace, and technology innovation, Boston serves as the ideal venue for this year’s event. During the conference, the winners will be announced for the “Galactic Grant Competition,” a partnership announced in November 2014 by the ISS National Lab and the Mass Life Sciences Center to provide Massachusetts-based companies a unique opportunity to access the ISS U.S. National Laboratory to conduct life sciences research.

Registration for the 2015 conference is now open. To learn more about ISS R&D 2015, including how to register, please visit: http://www.issconference.org/

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About the ISS National Lab: The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (the ISS National Lab) was selected by NASA in July 2011 to maximize use of the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory through 2020. the ISS National Lab is dedicated to supporting and accelerating innovations and new discoveries that will enhance the health and wellbeing of people and our planet. For more information, visit issnationallab.org.

About the ISS National Laboratory: In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the International Space Station as the nation’s newest national laboratory to maximize its use for improving life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users, and advancing STEM education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by other U.S. government agencies and by academic and private institutions, providing access to the permanent microgravity setting, vantage point 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., and varied environments of space.

About AAS:  The American Astronautical Society is America’s premier network of space professionals, technical and non-technical, dedicated to advancing all space activities.  The Society, founded in 1954, is committed to strengthening the nation’s space programs, inspiring the next generation of space professionals and expanding cooperation with international space organizations.

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