The Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF-2005) was a huge success. STAIF-2005 consisted of 70 technical sessions with more than 270 presentations. More than 600 people (including the outreach components - the Secondary School Special Session and the Space Design Competition) participated in STAIF from 11 different countries. Countries represented include the United States, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Major functions and activities for STAIF are sponsored by industry and government organizations, including the Speakers' Breakfasts, Coffee Breaks, Awards Banquet, or in general support of STAIF. ISNPS would like to acknowledge and thank the contributors to STAIF-2005 for their generous contributions:
| The Boeing Company | Stirling Technology Company |
| Lockheed Martin | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Northrop Grumman Space Technology | Sandia National Laboratories |
| United States Department of Energy | |
The exhibitors have been an essential ingredient for the success of STAIF. STAIF-2005 hosted 9 exhibitors from government, industry, and higher-education sectors.
| NASA Glenn Research Center |  |
| Northrop Grumman Space Technology |  |
| Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company |  |
| Swales Aerospace |  |
| Stirling Technology Company |  |
Outstanding Paper Award (STAIF-2004)
The Outstanding Paper Award was established in 1992 by the University of New Mexico's Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies (ISNPS) to recognize outstanding technical contributions to the fields of all hosted conferences at STAIF. The recognition of the contribution is based upon the written paper published in the Proceedings of the year prior to when the awards are given and the content of the presentation at the technical session of STAIF. The award is presented by ISNPS upon the recommendation of the Outstanding Paper Award Committee. While it is unlikely, more than one significant contribution can be recognized for each conference. Recipients of the STAIF-2004 Outstanding Paper Award are:
Manuel Lujan Jr. Student Paper Award
This award was established in 1987 by The University of New Mexico’s Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies to recognize outstanding contributions by students in the field addressed at all conferences and symposia of the Space Technology & Applications International Forum. Up to two awards could be granted at the forum, with each consisting of a certificate and $500.00, shared equally if more than one awardee. The award is given by the Institute when worthy contributions are identified by the award committee. The winner this year was Shannon Bragg-Sitton, University of Michigan.
Schreiber-Spence Achievement Award
The Schreiber-Spence Achievement Award was established by The University of New Mexico's Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies on behalf of the Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF) to recognize national and international contributions that have advanced space technologies and applications through excellence in pioneering applications, technical contributions, public service or leadership. The Award consists of $2,500 (shared equally if there are multiple awardees who have contributed jointly) and a memento. The award is given by ISNPS when a worthy person or persons is identified by the Award Committee, but is not given more frequently than, nor necessarily, annually. The Schreiber-Spence Award(s) will be presented at the annual Space Technology and Applications International Forum and the awardee(s) is/are expected to attend. The recipient of the Schreiber-Spence Achievement Award for STAIF-2005 are Ronald J. Sovie, as well as Franklin P. Durham and Keith Boyer.
From Left to Right: Professor El-Genk, Frank Durham and Harry Finger at the Schreiber-Spence Achievment Award Presentation.
General Ernest C. Hardin, Jr. Scholarship Award
This scholarship fund was established in 1986 by the University of New Mexico's Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies to recognize outstanding undergraduate students who are pursuing a B.S. degree in nuclear engineering as well as graduate students who are pursuing M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in nuclear engineering with a space power option at the University of New Mexico. Several undergraduate student awards are offered annually to deserving students. Each of these awards consists of a certificate of recognition and a monetary award. Recipients of the General Ernest C. Hardin, Jr. Scholarship Award for 2005 are: Tai Pham and Nicholas Brown.
The outreach component of the STAIF is the Secondary School Special Session and the New Mexico Space Design Competition. These sessions are organized by The University of New Mexico's Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies and cosponsored by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium Program at UNM and NASA National Space Grant Colleges and Fellowship Program. Special session activities are coordinated by Irene El-Genk, West Mesa High School, Albuquerque, NM. Space-related topics were presented by members of the science and engineering community. The Space Design Competition problem was “Titan Traveler.” The Space Design Competition is coordinated by Mr. Jeff King, UNM-ISNPS. The individual designs can be seen here.
Space Design Competition Award Presentation
From left to right: Robert Sackheim ( NASA Marshall Space Flight Center), James Crocker ( Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.), Louis Caldera ( University of New Mexico), Joseph Cecchi ( University of New Mexico). |
John Casani ( Jet Propulsion Laboratory). |
Michael Sander ( Jet Propulsion Laboratory). |
Charles Allen ( The Boeing Company). |
Laurie Leshin ( Arizona State University). |
The Awards Banquet speaker for STAIF-2005 was Ms. Donna Shirley. She has an MS in Aerospace Engineering plus over forty years experience in aerospace and civil systems, including over thirty years in management. She is currently Director of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington, the only science fiction museum in the U.S. In addition, she is President of Managing Creativity, a small speaking and consulting company, which also offers classes in the management of creative enterprises. She retired from the University of Oklahoma in 2003 where she was Assistant Dean of Engineering for Advanced Program Development and an Instructor of Aerospace Mechanical Engineering.
In 1998 she retired as Manager of the Mars Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California after a thirty-two year career there. Prior to becoming manager of the Mars program, Ms. Shirley managed the team that built Sojourner, the Microrover, which was landed by the highly successful Mars Pathfinder project on the surface of Mars on July 4, 1997. Her previous positions at JPL included Cassini Project Engineer, Manager of Exploration Initiative Studies, Manager of Automation and Robotics, Manager of JPL's Space Station Program, Manager of the Mission Design Section, and Project Engineer for Mariner 10. She has led NASA-wide teams developing systems engineering and Program/Project Management standard practices for NASA, and was the official spokesperson for the White House's Mars Millennium Project in 2000-2001.
Ms. Shirley has written a book on "Managing Creativity", which is available on the internet at http://www.managingcreativity.com. She is a widely sought-after speaker on the subjects of Mars Exploration and management, and has appeared on many national television news programs and documentaries, including a 30 minute documentary focused on her life as part of the Smithsonian Institution's "Masters of Technology" public television series. Her autobiography, "Managing Martians", was published in July 1998 and 1999 by Broadway Books. She is on numerous non-profit boards, including the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts and the Global Space League. She lives in Seattle, WA and has one daughter, Laura, who is a PhD student in Behavioral Neuroscience.
