Mars Exploration Rover. Image credit/NASA
More than 30 experts from NASA and the commercial space industry will gather in Washington on April 6-7 for the 2nd International Space Station and Mars Conference.
The two-day event, hosted by ExploreMars, Inc., will explore the role of the International Space Station in advancing the exploration of the Red Planet and other deep space destinations.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will deliver the opening day keynote address.
Six panel discussions are planned. PBS correspondent Miles O’Brien will participate in a dinner program with Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, and Doug McGuistion, director of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.
International Space Station near assembly complete Image Credit/NASA
The panel discussions include:
1. What we have learned and the challenges to human exploration of Mars.
2. The International Space Station as a research and test bed and analog platform for Mars.
3. The International Space Station as a research test bed for human factors of going beyond Low Earth Orbit.
4. The International Space Station as a technology development and operational platform for Mars and other destinations.
5. Can commercial activity at the International Space Station/Low Earth Orbit help to advance efforts to move beyond Low Earth Orbit.
6. The International Space Station partnership as a governance model for international human missions beyond Low Earth Orbit and eventually to Mars.
Commercial participants include Ad Astra Rocket Co.; Aeroject; Astrium; Boeing; Hamilton Sundstrand; SpaceX; United Space Alliance; Paragon Space Development; Phillips and Company.