NASA, University of Houston to Host Humans in Space Symposium

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Oct 18, 2010, 05:07 ET

HOUSTON, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Space researchers, physicians, astronauts, and operations experts from around the world will gather April 11-15, 2011, in Houston to discuss the next chapter in human spaceflight at the 18th International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Humans in Space Symposium.

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Hosted by NASA and the University of Houston (UH), the theme of the international scientific symposium is "Integration and Cooperation in the Next Golden Age of Human Space Flight." The program will emphasize the search for synergies between the traditional biomedical disciplines to provide new insights for the next generation of investigators, spacecraft designers, mission planners and space explorers.

"The potential for international collaboration in biomedical research and operations has never been greater," said Dr. Jeffrey R. Davis, director of the Space Life Sciences Directorate at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and conference chair. "This meeting will highlight current successes, especially with the International Space Station partnership, and future opportunities."

The event will be held at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston. The focus of the symposium will be on the concept that integration across cultures, nations, agencies, disciplines and objectives will be essential to the next chapter of the humans-in-space story. Highlights will include special sessions devoted to the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic first spaceflight on April 12, 1961 and the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle mission, whose maiden flight occurred on April 12, 1981.

William H. Paloski, professor of health and human performance at the University of Houston and chair of the Scientific Organizing Committee for the conference, noted that: "We are proud that the IAA has selected Houston as the site for this prestigious conference. As home of the U.S. human space flight program, leading research universities, the largest medical center in the nation, and world-class hospitality, we expect to attract many of the world's experts in human space flight to participate in this important symposium."

UH's master's in human space exploration is unique, training the next generation of space program professionals.

An important difference from previous symposia will be a focus on integration and cooperation among the disciplines at the symposium through the expanded use of poster sessions, allowing ample time for thoughtful discussions with experts in other subject areas. Plenaries and panel sessions will be dedicated to cross-disciplinary presentations that will excite new interpretations of familiar data for in-depth discussion later in the poster sessions.

The Humans in Space Symposium is sponsored by NASA's Human Research Program and Space Life Sciences Directorate at the Johnson Space Center, the University of Houston, the Universities Space Research Association, the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, the University of Texas Medical Branch and Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group. Additional support is provided by NASA's Johnson Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Systems Architecture and Integration Office.

The preliminary program, logistics, and registration information may be found on the symposium website at www.dsls.usra.edu/meetings/IAA/

SOURCE NASA