Fifty years after Neil Armstrong took those first tentative steps onto the Moon on July 20, 1969, plans are underway to return. The 2019 International Space Development Conference^® will focus on returning humans to the Moon…this time to stay. This renaissance in space development is being fueled by new orbital commerce, improved technologies, scientific curiosity and a new partnership between commercial space companies, international efforts and NASA. ISDC^® 2019 will highlight this flowering of new ideas and ambitions, innovative technologies and the race to create profitable businesses and promote settlement in cislunar space and beyond.

“It’s time to go back to the Moon, but this time to stay.”

– Jeff Bezos

Founder, Blue Origin

The National Space Society (NSS) invites scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, students, artists and space enthusiasts to come to Arlington, Virginia from June 6-9, 2019 to join in discussions, presentations, tours and social events that all focus on the events that are leading rapidly to permanent settlements in space. NSS is urging NASA to build on the public-private partnerships which currently support the International Space Station to extend them into cislunar space.

Just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., ISDC^® 2019 will feature policy makers, business leaders and leading scientists and government officials who all have ideas about how best to settle the Moon, develop businesses, advance science and profit all humanity.

“Before the end of the next decade, NASA astronauts will again explore the surface of the Moon. And this time, we’re going to stay, building outposts and paving the way for eventual journeys to Mars and beyond.”

– NASA statement

2018

ISDC^® 2019 Conference Program includes four morning plenary sessions, four lunches and four dinners featuring highly engaging, world-class keynote speakers. Other activities include informative poster sessions that feature the latest thinking in space exploration and development, the NSS Space Settlement Contest, exclusive book signings and much more. Thought leaders in the space industry will share past, current and upcoming innovations and exciting plans for the future.

“This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprints — we will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars, and perhaps someday, worlds beyond.”

– President Donald Trump

December 11, 2017

The International Space Development Conference^®, now in its 38^th year, is the premiere event of the National Space Society, bringing together leading managers, engineers, scientists, educators, and business people from the civilian, military, commercial, entrepreneurial, and grassroots advocacy space sectors to work toward a common goal of developing a space-faring civilization. Each year ISDC^® attracts attendees from over 20 countries, and has been held in various locations across the Western hemisphere. This year’s ISDC^®conference will be in Arlington, Virginia.