[SatNews] ..."to the Red Bull Stratos record jump to Earth, to Billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic venture offering wealthy thrill-seekers like Brad Pitt a ticket to ride in space..."

An astronaut holding the world’s record for the most spacewalks during a single mission, a private company planning to reach Mars, aerospace industry titans alongside startup ventures, key military and NASA space officials, and thousands of engineers and executives are all planning to visit the Long Beach Convention Center April 1-3, 2014 for what is shaping up to be the biggest commercial space confab ever to hit the Los Angeles region, Space Tech Expo 2014.

“The Space business is making headlines; from Supermodel Kate Upton’s recent zero gravity shoot, to the Red Bull Stratos record jump to Earth, to Billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic venture offering wealthy thrill-seekers like Brad Pitt a ticket to ride in space, commercial interest in Space is at an all time high,” says Gordy McHattie, Event Director for Space Tech Expo, the B2B trade show. “Private and public space ventures and the industry are abuzz with new energy, and even consumer brands are getting in the game.”

Many of the players behind these ventures, and the technologies making them possible will be at Space Tech Expo, one of the largest events of its kind in the world, and the main business tradeshow and conference for the space industry held in the West Coast. Expo attendees will see the latest space suits, rocket materials, space vehicle systems, and many other types of space-related technologies and products, with the chance to meet and interact with colleagues, suppliers, and partners during the unique free-to-attend three-day event.

Space Tech Expo 2014, the West Coast’s premiere B2B event for spacecraft, satellite, launch vehicle and space-related technologies, brings together global decision-makers involved in the design, build and testing of spacecraft, satellite, launch vehicle and space-related technologies. In its third year, Space Tech Expo will take place April 1-3 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Also free to attend, Aerospace Electrical Systems Expo debuts this year alongside Space Tech Expo, and is the only tradeshow and summit dedicated to on-board electrical power for aviation and spacecraft. In addition to the free expos, Space Tech Conference, a concurrent three-day C-level paid registration conference, will bring together key military personnel, government officials and private sector executives to discuss pressing commercial, military and technology issues facing the space industry.

Space Tech Expo, Aerospace Electrical Systems Expo and Space Tech Conference are expected to feature over 150 organizations, and 2,000-plus attendees. To view the full agenda and registration details go here.

Marking a positive move from Los Angeles to Long Beach, Space Tech Expo has successfully established itself as the leading B2B exhibition and conference for the space and satellite industry on the West Coast. Welcoming more exhibitors, visitors and delegates than ever before, the 2013 annual event offered a prime opportunity for leading professionals to engage with the industry.

 In two years the show has achieved significant growth. This year’s event hosted 144 exhibitors,  a 10 percent rise from 2012. Despite the current challenges the industry is facing, attendee numbers also increased by 15 percent from 2012. Companies from across commercial spacecraft, satellite systems, launch vehicle and spacecraft design, engineering and testing were in attendance reaffirming Space Tech Expo as the premier event for the U.S. West Coast.

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