What’s ahead for America’s space program? That’s exactly what you will find out by attending this year’s
Thirty-Third Space Congress. All three major efforts of America’s space program — scientific,
commercial and military — are experiencing dynamic changes. We’ve worked hard to present you with
a distinguished set of speakers and panelists who will reveal fascinating details. We hope to gain insight
from these experts and learn of the changes, new directions, and the near and long term plans these
various disciplines will take. I know you all have a vested interest and a hearty appetite for what they have
to say here.

As in previous years, there will be five major panel sessions during the Thirty-Third Space Congress;
all of them focused on where our space program is headed. Issues affecting the commercial space sector
will be thoroughly addressed in the panel session on the Future of the Commercial Space Industry. The
realm of scientific research and exploration in space will be the topic of our panel on Scientific Programs
in a World of New Technology. Drawdowns in the federal government and the Department of Defense
have considerable implications for future space activities and will set the stage for the panel dealing with
Government Trends in a post CoLd War Space Environment. In a forum new to Space Congress, we are
planning a panel session addressing NASA senior managers’ issues in a session which will discuss A
Perspective of the Future from NASA Center Directors. Technical papers to be presented will provide
detailed insight on crucial issues such as future launch vehicles and facilities, space business aspects
in a commercial market, the future of commercial satellites, Space Station/Mir, planetary programs and
space education for tomorrow. The Thirty-Third Space Congress has an exciting array of distinguished
speakers, panel members and technical paper presenters. We will continue to have space-oriented
exhibitions presented by companies and organizations at the leading edge of our industry. Also returning
are the popular Science Fair and a Meet the Astronauts panel intended to give the public, particularly our
youth, an opportunity to interact directly with those who have been at the frontier of space exploration.

The Space Congress is sponsored by the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies (CCTS) and
supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Department of
Defense (DoD). In addition, the Space Congress communities, local aerospace contractors and citizens
are instrumental in putting together this most informative symposium and helping the Space Congress
maintain its well-deserved reputation as the premier conference on space technology. This year will be
no exception.

I and this year’s committee, welcome you to the Thirty-Third Space Congress.