Beam Me up to Cyber 1.0
April 20, 2010 By: Don JewellReport from the 26th National Space Symposium
Every year the National Space Symposium (NSS) at the incomparable five-star Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, just keeps getting better and better. This year was certainly no exception as; Chief Chuck Zimkas, the COO and his staff at the Space Foundation outdid themselves once again. The event this year stretched for four jam-packed days with a bit left over and there was never a dull moment. My schedule, like many others, began each day before 0700 and usually ran into the wee hours of the next morning. Obviously sleep was at a premium, but who could sleep with so much going on plus gastronomically the cuisine was superb, which makes for lots of business meetings combined with epicurean delights.
This year for the first time the Space Foundation featured a full day of Cyberspace or Cyber 1.0 with topnotch senior speakers and expert panel members. It was well worthwhile and I predict this part of the NSS will only continue to grow.
The more than 140 exhibitors again this year spilled over into Colorado Hall and the quality of the exhibits were better than ever. There were more product demonstrations and hands-on opportunities this year. I found myself spending more time in each booth and I detected more real business being conducted this year. I suspect the economic situation drove this change as it is the one opportunity in the year to see representatives from almost every space company, not only in the U.S. but internationally as well. The NSS may be the largest space symposium in the world, but you don’t feel overwhelmed.
Unlike many shows I attend throughout the year, the NSS always makes sure there is generous walking and networking room between exhibits; everything is well signed plus Janet Stevens and her NSS media staff go out of their way to insure that journalist are fully supported with everything we need to get the story out. And of course the Broadmoor staff members are the very best, unobtrusive, professional and courteous to a fault. You can’t pass a staff member at any time of the day or night without being greeted courteously, a really nice touch.
As always the NSS had it moments of drama and by all accounts was a spectacular success, but this year the drama was more business oriented and concentrated around showcasing real capabilities versus futuristic concepts.
The entertainment was first class from awesome fireworks displays, rock & roll bands, remote broadcast by President Obama concerning future NASA funding to Star Trek's Leonard Simon Nimoy (Mr. Spock) urging us to, ”Live long and prosper.” Guess who had the bigger audience? Hint, hint…the answer is logical.
I certainly garnered enough material to put columns together for months and I plan to do just that. So my wish is that if you did not attend the NSS this year, then read about it in GPS World, make plans to attend next year (April 11-14, 2011) — and as Captain Jean-Luc Picard would say, “Make it so!”
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