Responsibility for the Future Exploration and Development of Space
25 August 2007
Bryant Conference Center
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Open to the public
When humans first reached the moon in 1969, only the United States and the Soviet Union were participants in the race for space technology and travel. Today, some three decades since someone viewed Earth from the moon's surface, the development of space is an international priority among multiple nations and among privately-funded space entrepreneurs.
In 2004, President Bush announced a plan that not only would place Americans back on the moon but would ultimately propel them to human footprints on Mars. This "Vision for Space Exploration" dramatically changed NASA and the landscape for space science, exploration, and development. Also in 2004, Burt Rutan's company, Scaled Composites, won the Ansari X Prize by becoming the first non-governmental organization to successfully send a manned vehicle into space. World-renowned experts are asserting that we find ourselves in a "new age of space exploration."
This new age of space exploration carries with it several intriguing questions. Will the United States or another nation lead a new era of space cultivation? Or will private industry capitalize on the burgeoning opportunities in space? The 2007 Gloria and John L. Blackburn Academic Symposium is designed to provide an opportunity for in-depth examination of the questions surrounding this new age of space exploration. Please join us for this public symposium as we examine "Responsibility for the Future Exploration and Development of Space" on the campus of The University of Alabama in beautiful Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Schedule
- 9:00 am
- Welcome
- 9:15-10:15 am
- Keynote Speaker: Burt Rutan, Founder and CEO of Scaled Composites
- 10:30-11:15 am
- Keynote Speaker: David King, Director, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
- 1:00-2:15 pm
- Panel Discussion: The Role of Government, Private Enterprise, and the University Research Community in Future Space Exploration and Development
- Dr. John Baker, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Alabama
- Dr. Clark W. Hawk, Director of the UAH Propulsion Research Center, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Marty Kress, Executive Director, the National Space Science and Technology Center
- Dr. Rosalia N. Scripa, Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Moderator, Dr. Malcolm Portera, Chancellor, The University of Alabama System
- 2:30-3:45 pm
- Panel Discussion: Space Exploration from an Astronaut's Perspective
- Dr. Jan Davis, UAH Alumna
- Col. James S. Voss (Ret.), AU Alumnus
- Col. James M. Kelly, UA Alumnus
- Moderator, Dr. Michael Freeman, Associate Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, The University of Alabama
- 3:45-4:00 pm
- Closing Comments
- 4:00-5:00 pm
- Picture Signing with Astronauts
Poster session highlighting research and accomplishments in the area of space exploration and development from UA, UAB, and UAH faculty
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Sponsored by
The University of Alabama Division of Student Affairs in partnership with The University of Alabama College of Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Engineering, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Engineering
Keynote Speakers
Burt Rutan
Founder and CEO
Scaled Composites
Named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Inc. magazine and described by Newsweek as "the man responsible for more innovations in modern aviation than any living engineer," Burt Rutan is a bold entrepreneur and designer with the vision and passion for the advancement of technology. TIME magazine named him one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2006.
Rutan made international headlines in 2004 as the designer of SpaceShipOne, the world's first privately funded spacecraft. He reached another milestone when SpaceShipOne traveled to space twice in two weeks, winning the $10 million Ansari X Prize, the competition created to spur the development of affordable space tourism. Rutan's vision of private enterprise offering adventure rides into space captured the interest of Virgin's Richard Branson, who is licensing SpaceShipOne technology and developing commercial spaceships.
Rutan's company, Scaled Composites, is one of the most aggressive aerospace research companies in the world. Based in Mojave, California, the company has developed and tested many groundbreaking projects, from military aircraft to executive jets, showcasing some of the most innovative and energy-efficient designs ever. Among Rutan's many design are the Voyager, the first aircraft to circle the world nonstop; and the Virgin Atlantic's GlobalFlyer in which pilot Steve Fossett broke all the world's distance records, including those of Voyager. Rutan is a winner of the Presidential Citizens Medal and the Lindbergh Award.
David King
Director
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
David King heads one of NASA's largest field installations, with more than 6,500 on-site civil service and contractor employees and an annual budget of $2.3 billion. Named director of Marshall Space Flight Center in June 2003, King manages a broad range of propulsion, scientific, and space transportation activities.
King was deputy director of Marshall from November 2002 until his appointment as director. While deputy, he played a key role in the recovery operations of the space shuttle Columbia. As the senior on-site NASA official, he directed efforts to search for answers and recover debris from the February 1, 2003, accident. Prior to his appointment as deputy director, King was director of space shuttle processing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He managed and coordinated all shuttle processing and launch operations, overseeing the work of approximately 5,400 civil service and contractor employees.
Among his many recognitions, King received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for notable leadership in 2001 and 2004 and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1996. In 2001 and 2005 he received Presidential Rank Award, which are presented annually by the president of the United States for exceptional long-term accomplishments. Also in 2005, King received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the highest honor that NASA gives to government employees.
Information
Gloria and Dr. John L. Blackburn
The University of Alabama's Blackburn Institute is named in honor of Dr. John L. Blackburn, who serves as advisor, mentor, and friend to the institute's staff, fellows, and advisory board. Blackburn served The University of Alabama as dean of students and vice president for educational development. He was instrumental in the peaceful integration of the campus in 1963. As vice chancellor of university resources at the University of Denver, he developed innovative theories of campus restructuring. In 1997, he received a lifetime award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Blackburn's wife, Gloria, has been a consistent influence on his life during their 57 years of marriage. An active member of the Tuscaloosa community, Gloria has served as co-chairperson of the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society's Heritage Week and the Heritage Week's Tuscaloosa Antique Show. She is also involved in the Junior League of Tuscaloosa, the Women's Chamber of Commerce, University Women's Club, and several community study clubs.
Sponsor Acknowledgment
The Gloria and John L. Blackburn Academic Symposium is funded by a gift from Blackburn Institute advisory board member Donald Steward and his wife, Priscilla "LuLu." An attorney in Anniston, Alabama, Stewart previously served as an Alabama state legislator and a United State senator. A graduate of The University of Alabama and its School of Law, Steward was Student Government Association president during the University's peaceful 1963 integration.
The Academic Symposium
The Gloria and John L. Blackburn Academic Symposium is an endowed program sponsored by The University of Alabama's Blackburn Institute and funded by the Donald and Priscilla "LuLu" Steward family. The purpose of the academic symposium is to highlight an academic area at The University of Alabama and demonstrate the Blackburn Institute's commitment to addressing issues facing citizens of our state and nation. While the Gloria and John L. Blackburn Academic Symposium is a unique collaboration between the divisions of student affairs and academic affairs at The University of Alabama, the 2007 symposium is also a partnership between the three excellent institutions within The University of Alabama System (The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville).
The Blackburn Institute
Housed within the Division of Student Affairs at The University of Alabama and supported through contributions from private donors, the Blackburn Institute is one of the most unique and effective leadership programs sponsored by an institution of higher education in the country. While traditional collegiate leadership experiences center on individual competency-building, the Blackburn Institute has a three-tiered focus that proposes to make a personal and meaningful impact on student fellows, alumni fellows, and the citizenship of Alabama. The Institute's purpose is to create a network of leaders, the Blackburn fellows, who have a clear understanding of the issue that face Alabama and the nation. The Institute provides its fellows opportunities to explore issues and identify strategic actions that will improve the quality of life for all citizens in Alabama and the country.
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© 2007 The Blackburn Institute