Mr. Payton provides oversight of military space programs, including efforts associated with operationally responsive space. Conference Chair Pat Hynes said the growing support in the Pentagon for operationally responsive satellites that can be built and launched quickly to meet urgent military needs will provide new opportunities for commercial companies in the space business. The Pentagon’s Operationally Responsive Space Office, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has developed a framework in which government satellites could be easily configured with a range of sensing and communications modules and then quickly launched to serve military forces worldwide.
Payton is one of a number of space government and industry experts who will speak at ISPCS 2009. Other participants include Wayne Hale, past Shuttle Program Manager, Astronaut Michael Lopez Alegria, and Alan Stern, past NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. All ISPCS sessions are plenary, allowing everyone to receive the same information simultaneously. Responding to feedback, ISPCS has created multiple means of engaging the audience in discussions with speakers during sessions. Additional networking opportunities are scheduled throughout the two days. Held October 21 and 22 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA, ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by NASA.