The American Astronautical Society (AAS) will be "Mapping a Course for Solar System Exploration" at its 1999 National Conference, November 16-18, 1999, at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel in Pasadena, Calif.
Dr. Edward Stone, Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will open the two-day event with a presentation on "The Role of Robotic Outposts in Establishing a Permanent Presence in Space." Dr. Stone, who is Honorary Chair of the AAS meeting, will give the Carl Sagan Memorial Lecture as this year's recipient of the Sagan Award.
Also in the Opening Session, Rick Stephens, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Reusable Space Systems, will speak on "Enabling Exploration Beyond LEO (Low Earth Orbit)." Stephens is serving as General Chair of the meeting and is heading up The Boeing Company's sponsorship for the meeting.
Each year, the AAS's national meeting provides a forum for eminent engineers, scientists and policy makers from industry, government and academia to discuss significant issues about space exploration and development. This year's program will feature sessions on Current Visions; Robotic Exploration and Outposts; Destinations; and Technology Challenges. In addition to the conference program, the event will also include an awards banquet, two evening receptions, an exhibit hall and an assembly of the society's 46th Annual Meeting.
The AAS was established in 1954 as a professional, non-profit organization dedicated to the knowledge of, support for and interest in space activities through technical journals and publications, symposia, national conferences and educational initiatives.
For program and registration information, contact the American Astronautical Society, 6362 Rolling Mill Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22152; phone (703) 866-0020; fax (703) 866-3526; email aas@astronautical.org. Online registration is available at: www.astronautical.org