National Space Symposium kicks off at The Broadmoor

The National Space Symposium kicks off at The Broadmoor this week, pumping $25 million into the economy as military brass, NASA officials and executives from the aerospace industry gather for the biggest slide-rule party on the planet.

The symposium, which is in its 24th year, is expected to draw 7,500 participants, about 500 more than last year. The business deals for the commercial satellite industry are expected to be just as big, too, organizers said.

"That's one of the interesting things about the show - even though the economy is down, we're still seeing full participation across the board," said Kendra Horn, spokeswoman for the Space Foundation, which organizes the annual gathering.

The private festivities start at 9 p.m. today with a fireworks show and music by the boomerfriendly band "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy." The symposium runs through Thursday with a series of speeches and panel discussions representing the top minds in space fields.

Hot topics will include global warming and NASA's efforts to return to the moon and send astronauts to Mars.

NASA will get a big spotlight at the symposium as the industry marks 50 years of American space flight. The satellite Explorer 1 hit orbit on Feb. 1, 1958. While the high-minded discussions pull in crowds, the real work of the symposium is an exhibit hall crowded with about 150 vendors showing the latest in space technology. Defense contractors, colleges and government agencies set up command posts in the hall and in the hotel, where top executives meet with clients over the fourday trade show.

No one can pin an exact number on how many deals get done at the symposium.

"That's one of the hardest things for us to get a handle on is how many dollars change hands," Horn said.

Horn said the symposium is a big boost for the Colorado Springs economy, though, with The Broadmoor and several other hotels packed to capacity.

Many of the symposiumgoers also tack on a couple of extra days to travel around Colorado for sightseeing or skiing, Horn said.

Although the event is closed to the public, hundreds of area schoolchildren will get to see the exhibition hall and even ask questions of an astronaut during tours Wednesday.

Another item of emphasis this year is reaching out to teachers to enlist their help in aiming children toward aerospace careers.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0240 or tom.roeder@gazette.com