A4H at ISDC 2010

Team members discuss A4H with Buzz Aldrin
Astronauts4Hire Jim Crowell, Luis Saraiva, Ryan Kobrick, Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto, and new recruit Todd Romberger attended the National Space Society's International Space Development Conference (ISDC) held on May 27-31 in Chicago, Illinois. The conference allowed members to meet face-to-face and discuss the future of A4H.  It also provided an excellent forum for networking with others in the space community to increase awareness of A4H and it's mission. The group discussed A4H with Buzz Aldrin and several prominent members of the suborbital community including Dave Masten, President/CEO of Masten Space Systems, Jeff Feige, CEO of Orbital Outfitters, and Rick Homans, Director of Spaceport America.

The numerous talks and panels attended by the A4H team showed the incredible progress being made by the suborbital spaceflight industry. Masten Space Systems, Armadillo Aerospace, XCOR Aerospace, and Virgin Galactic all reported on their latest flight tests.  2011 will be a big year as many of the vehicles complete testing and become fully operational.  By 2012, regular commercial suborbital spaceflights should be a reality.

Luis and Todd with Dave Masten
Howard Chipman showcased the astronaut training program being offered by Aurora Aerospace, and Steven Collicott presented suborbital research opportunities discussed at the 2010 Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference, which was the focusing event that led to the founding of A4H.

ISDC was an extremely valuable experience for the A4H team. They were motivated by the promise of the space community and look forward to building upon the contacts and relationships gained.
Location: Rosemont, IL, USA

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