"For decades the American aerospace industry has benefited from the synergistic relationship between three space experience mediums.  They are: (1) real space exploration/development, (2) Earth based tours of NASA Centers/space museums/space attractions and (3) the media via space themed movies, TV, games and virtual worlds. Together they represent the growing Space Experience Economy. Famous spokespeople such as Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite, Carl Sagan and Sir Richard Branson have also kept the public informed and excited about the potentials and wonders of space exploration.

Major non-space industries including hospitality, cruise lines, extreme sports/racing, mega real estate developers, adventure travel, yachting and advertising are seeing the space experience as an exciting and futuristic theme to promote their brands to the international market place and build stock value.  We will explore how SEE can be leveraged to grow and diversify our vital aerospace industry and attract young talent to the field."

Since the late 1970s John Spencer has been pioneering the field of space architecture.  He received design awards from NASA for early work on the “Freedom Space Station” and was involved in the start-up of SpaceHab.  He has an extensive background in spaceport planning and design and designed the interiors for an underwater hab/lab still in operation and a science base built in Antarctica.  In 1982 he started pioneering the space tourism industry, basing it on the cruise line industry, and since the mid 1990s he has been designing his original concept for an orbital super yacht called “Destiny.”  He is the author with Karen L. Rugg of the first book on space tourism published in the United States called Space Tourism - Do You Want to Go?  He founded the Space Tourism Society in 1995.  www.spacetourismsociety.org.  He has been quoted and appeared in over 100 TV and radio shows, newspaper and magazines articles on space tourism.  He coined the term Space Experience Economy (SEE) in 2005.

DEADLINE FOR SIGNING UP EXTENDED!

There will be complementary parking in the parking garage next to the hotel.

* ATTENDEES SIGNING UP TO BECOME AIAA MEMBERS (AT WWW.AIAA.ORG) BEFORE THE DINNER AND BRINGING PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP/PAYMENT FOR MEMBERSHIP TO THE DINNER, WILL RECEIVE A $25 DISCOUNT ON THE FIRST YEAR OF AIAA MEMBERSHIP

CANCELLATION POLICY:  If you cannot attend, please cancel your registration within 72 hours by contacting Nicola Sarzi-Amade at namade@smad.com or Rich Van Allen at rvanallen@smad.com or by calling (310) 219-2700.  Otherwise, you are still obligated to pay for the reserved meal.