This will be the first such conference Space Shuttle Development Conference and will be held at the South Shore Harbour Conference Center in League City, Texas. USA is planning to make the conference an annual event andwill feature new technology demonstrations, advanced system concepts and design proposals for Space Shuttle avionics, propulsion, power, ground systems and major element configurations.

"Since it was first designed, the Shuttle has continuously evolved, taking advantage of new technology when possible to increase safety, reduce cost and enhance its capabilities. We need to ensure that it continues this evolution and remains ready to meet the requirements in space for this country well into the 21st century," said space shuttle program manager Tommy Holloway. "We want this conference to be a forum for ideas that will help us meet that goal. We anticipate that it will lead to opportunities for NASA and industry to invest in developments that will continue the Shuttle's evolution toward an even safer, more reliable and more affordable future.

Over its 17 year opeational history the Space Shuttle has still only flown for about 25% of its design lifetime, said Holloway. Adding that, "it remains the most reliable launch vehicle in the world, and its capabilities in orbit are unmatched as it begins assembly of the International Space Station."

In addition to candidate technologies and systems, next-generation missions for the Shuttle will be presented and discussed, including research, technology testing, satellite retrieval and refueling, and vehicle assembly in orbit.

USA development director Andrew Allen further emphasised the orbital capabilities of shuttle making it "imperative that we continue to evolve and improve the overall system and assure its availability to support human operations aboard the Space Station."

Details
Organizations interested in submitting proposals, exhibits, or technology demonstrations should contact United Space Alliance at 281-212-6222. Registration materials for the conference are available online.

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