Backgrounder - PDF Version Available* (83 KB)

SpaceOps 2004 - Eighth International
Conference on Space Operations

SpaceOps 2004 – Where Space Meets Business
The SpaceOps conferences have earned global recognition for bringing together the top space operators in the world. SpaceOps 2004 will build on this tradition of success and provide an exciting venue where "Space Meets Business".

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is the official host of SpaceOps 2004 with partners Telesat and the National Research Council Canada. This prominent industry event, taking place from May 17 to 21, 2004, is being held in Canada for the first time, and is aimed at space agencies, private-sector industry, government, and academic organizations from around the world involved in space operations. More than 120 government, industry and academic space operations organizations from over 25 countries are expected to participate in this international conference.

Key Highlights of SpaceOps 2004
SpaceOps 2004 offers a unique and unparalleled venue for discussion on space operations and services. The theme of SpaceOps 2004, "A Global Enterprise", captures the global and commercial scope of space operations today. The conference features plenary, technical and poster presentations that cover innovative techniques, methods and approaches to all aspects of space operations, as well as addressing current "hot issues" from telemedicine and GPS (global positioning systems) to the Mars missions and the International Space Station (ISS).

More than 400 papers from around the world have been accepted for the Technical Program, with speakers from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, the United States, and Canada. An estimated 260 posters and 380 oral presentations — a record for the SpaceOps conferences, will be given at SpaceOps 2004. In addition, companies such as MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, EMS Technologies, Com Dev, Alcatel, Arianespace, EADS Space, ILS, Boeing, and Harris, to name only a few, will display their latest products and services.

The SpaceOps 2004 conference theme is reflected throughout the oral and poster presentations in six parallel sessions covering the following tracks: Sharing the Resources, Building the Operational System, Sharing the Mission Experience, Managing the Mission, Broadening the Scope and Narrowing the Gap. Speakers will address topical areas in three Technical Plenary Sessions: Mars Missions Operations, Space Operations Challenges, and International Space Station Operations.

SpaceOps 2004 is also proud to introduce the following 'firsts':

• A Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Round Table addressing challenges and opportunities of operating and exploiting space assets in today's broadband and multi-media environment.
• A special focus on Industry Exhibits, providing a single venue for the space industry to showcase expertise, products, services, and pursue new business opportunities.
• Poster sessions enabling more direct and interactive discussions of specific technical topics.

World-class Industry Speakers
SpaceOps 2004 features distinguished industry speakers from around the world. The Opening Ceremony will present keynote speakers Dr. Mehran Anvari, a pioneer in telerobotic surgery, and Colonel Reaser, Chief Engineer of the Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) Office.

Taking part in the Mars Missions Operations plenary session, SpaceOps 2004 is honoured to present leading scientific experts from the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Cornell University and the University of Leicester, in addition to Lt. General Eugene Tattini of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The session will highlight exciting findings and reveal new discoveries resulting from the Spirit and Opportunity Rovers currently in operation on Mars. In addition, scientists from the Mars Express and Nozomi spacecrafts will also share their experiences.

CSA's Benoît Marcotte, Director of Operations Engineering, will lead the International Space Station Operations plenary. He is joined by scientific experts from NASA and JAXA who will highlight the benefits and major milestones of the ISS mission during its years of operation. They will also look forward to the next generation of the world's largest space exploration and exploitation undertaking.

As part of the CEO Round Table, senior executives from leading international space companies will convene to talk about space business and broadband. A first-time event for a SpaceOps conference, the CEO Round Table will be an open discussion on how space companies are preparing for the emerging broadband and multi-media market. Led by Telesat President and CEO Laurier (Larry) J. Boisvert and moderated by CSA President Dr. Marc Garneau, the CEO Round Table will feature senior executives from Boeing Satellite Systems, EADS Space, Alcatel Canada, Arianespace, and the MacDonald Dettwiler Space Group.

About SpaceOps
SpaceOps is an international space-flight operations association comprising representatives from many of the world's space-faring nations. Its forums are biennial symposiums, hosted and organized by a selected space agency. Since its inception in 1990, SpaceOps has held eight highly successful symposia hosted by various countries including France, Germany, Japan and the United States.

SpaceOps has established an international community that addresses all elements of spacecraft operations and discusses trends of technological and managerial developments in order to make spacecraft operations a more efficient business. SpaceOps also fosters technical interchange on all aspects of space mission operations and ground data systems, and promotes and maintains an international community of space operations experts.

SpaceOps comprises the following member space agencies:

• Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
• Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES)
• Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft und Raumfahrt (DLR)
• European Space Agency (ESA)
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE)
• Italian Space Agency (ASI)
• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

SpaceOps 2004 is being held at Centre Mont-Royal in Montréal, Québec from May 17 to 21, 2004. Visit the conference website at www.spaceops2004.org for more information.