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Roger D. LauniusNational Air and Space Museum

Smithsonian Institution

Deams and Possibilities

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Goddard Memorial Symposium

• First Goddard Symposium held in 1961 in conjunction with the National Space Club’s Goddard dinner.

• Became annual event, with themes evolving from strictly technical subjects to more policy-oriented topics.

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A Who’s Who of Speakers

Congressional Speakers• Sen. Barbara Mikulski• Sen. Bill Nelson• Rep. Robert Walker• Rep. George Brown• Rep. Ralph Hall

• Wernher von Braun• Carl Sagan• Krafft Ericke• Pete Conrad• Ray Bradbury• Norman Augustine• Jean-Jacques Dordain • Neil deGrasse Tyson• Charles Donlan• George Morganthaler• David W. Thompson• Brian Dailey

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Space Race Major Subjects• Interactions of Space Vehicles with an Ionized

Atmosphere, 1961.• Torques and Attitude Sensing in Satellites, 1962.• Scientific Experiments for Manned Orbital Flight, 1965.• Space Age in Fiscal Year 2001, 1966.• Voyage to the Planets, 1967.• Role of the Space Program in the Development of

Modern Society, 1968.• Reducing the Cost of Space Transportation, 1969.• Aerospace Systems Development: Implications for the

Law, 1970. • International Cooperation in Space Operations, 1971.• Transfer of Space Technology to Community and

Industry, 1972.

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Reoccurring Themes• Human exploration and

exploitation of space.• Human futures in

Space.• Space budgets and

economics.• Practical uses of

space.• Industry/commercial/

NASA relations.• International space

activities.

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Key Themes at Goddard Symposium in 2012

• Human future in space.• Follow-on to Space Shuttle.• ISS utilization.• Asteroids, Moon, and Mars.

• State of U.S. budget and its role in space activities.• Desires to see space budgets increased.• Concerns about low priority of space for U.S. society.• Calls for more affirmative political leadership.

• Practical uses of space.• Environmental monitoring and Earth science research.• Inspiration and education.

• Science and technology developments, interactions of agencies, corporations, universities, and international organizations.