Heads of space agencies, astronauts, and seniors in Israeli and international aerospace industries will be attending the 9th Ilan Ramon International Space Conference, headed by the Israel Space Agency of the Ministry of Science and the Fisher Institute. Simultaneously, a comprehensive, professional exhibition will take place, presenting the latest innovations by the Israeli military and civilian industries.

The conference will open with a welcoming speech by the Minister of Science, Technology and Space Yaakov Perry, to be followed by the Fisher Institute director, retired IDF Brigadier-General Assaf Agmon, Mayor of Herzliya Mr. Moshe Fadlon and Ms. Rona Ramon.

The first session of the conference will host a panel of senior space agencies personnel, including heads and representatives from agencies worldwide, such as NASA, ESA, Russia, China, Italy, Canada, Israel and Norway.

The second session will focus on space and science and will begin with a review of the main events in the past year in this field, delivered by Prof. Ehud Behar, head of the Space Research Institute at the Technion. This review will be followed by Dr. David Dvorkin of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, who will present the history of research of the solar system and Prof. Tzvi Piran of the Hebrew University, who will deliver a lecture on the topic of “Gold in Space”.

The closing session of the first day will address the issue of the security aspects of space led by retired Brigadier-General Amnon Harari, head of the Space Directorate at the Israeli Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (MAFAT).

The first speaker of this closing session will be Mr. Yossi Weiss, CEO of the IAI, who will present the space industry as an instrument of doubling Israel’s national security. Mr. Weiss will be followed by Lt.-Gen. John E. Hyten , Vice Commander of the American Air Force Space Command, who will lecture on space as a key element in US national security. The first day will conclude with the annual address of the Commander in Chief of the Israeli Air Force, Major-General Amir Eshel.

The second day of the conference will begin with a session about space in the world of industry and technology, headed by Mr. Tal Inbar, head of the Space Research Center at the Fisher Institute. This session will contain reviews regarding solutions, products and technologies of Israeli and international space industries.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)