NASA Administrator to Offer Keynote Address at Florida Tech Space Technology Day May 23

Event to Focus on Space Agency’s Current and Future Technology, Exploration Plans  

MELBOURNE, FLA. — The Florida Tech Office of Research in collaboration with NASA will host Space Technology Day on the university’s Melbourne campus Thursday, May 23.

This free, daylong event will bring together professors, students, engineers, technologists and business leaders from around Florida to engage on NASA’s current and future space technology activities and the agency’s plans for exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will deliver the keynote address at 1 p.m. NASA’s Acting Space Technology Mission Directorate Associate Administrator Jim Reuter will offer opening remarks at 8:45 a.m.

Both presentations will take place in the Hartley Room on the second floor of the university’s Denius Student Center.

Technical presentations by NASA personnel from 9:15 am until noon will focus on advanced materials, robotics and autonomy, power and propulsion, and advanced manufacturing. The afternoon program concentrates on NASA research grant programs and small business opportunities, followed by breakout-discussion groups aligned with the morning’s technical disciplines.

The purpose of the face-to-face event is to:

• Provide guidance about the NASA research proposal process in order to increase competitiveness.
• Connect NASA leadership to leading academic and commercial research and development capabilities.
• Expose attendees to NASA’s strategic technology investments that are paving the way for American leadership in the exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
• Forge new collaborations with investigators involving a range of participants, from undergraduate students to senior research faculty, at regional institutions and commercial entities.

In advance of Space Technology Day, special outreach has been conducted to encourage undergraduate student participation in exploring career and research opportunities. Additionally, students will be invited to further establish research connections with NASA representatives at an hour-long gathering at the conclusion of the day.

Prospective attendees seeking additional information are encouraged to contact the Florida Tech Office of Research at 321-674-7723 or email Tristan Fiedler at fiedler@fit.edu.

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EDITORS/PRODUCERS: Media access is available until 2 p.m. but RSVPs are requested. Please contact Adam Lowenstein at the Florida Tech News Bureau at adam@fit.edu or 321-674-8964 to secure access.