day International Conference for Space and Aeronautics will be launched here Saturday at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). The conference is designed to contribute to the Kingdom's national strategic plan for upgrading space and aeronautics, boost cooperation with specialists and forge ahead with the national agenda, organizers said. The objectives of the conference, which is being organized by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in collaboration with NASA, the American space agency, also include achieving sustainable development in the space and aeronautics sector and discussing related fields of science and technology. The conference will focus on exchanging knowledge between scientists and engineers about new discoveries in space sciences, technology and their products; discussing ideas and experiences; and developing a high-tech network of professionals in this sector. The conference will also include a forum on the 25th anniversary of the first space flight by Prince Sultan Bin Salman and the Kingdom's entrance into the field of space, organizers said. The forum will be attended by a number of princes, ministers, the president of NASA, several astronauts, international and local scientists including Nobel Prize winners and engineers and researchers. The event will host international speakers including Prince Sultan Bin Salman; Dr. Muhammad Al-Suwayyil, president of KACST and Prince Turki Bin Saud Bin Muhammad, deputy president of KACST. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology will also present its activities and programs in this field while focusing on subjects, such as monitoring the earth, aeronautics and telecommunication technology. The conference will also review experiments and tasks carried out by astronauts on the STS 51-G flight. Prince Sultan Bin Salman and other astronauts who participated in the flight will share their experiences, views and impressions of trends and developments in space discovery. The conference will also review the latest research by NASA, leading universities and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The Ministry of Education will participate with a lecture and an open dialogue with Prince Sultan Bin Salman, astronauts who joined him in the space flight and a number of outstanding students from 44 education zones. KACST considers this event to be an opportunity to benefit from a large gathering of experts and establish recommendations to guarantee the execution of the comprehensive national plan for science and technology and innovation in the field of space and aeronautics, which is among the most prominent strategic fields of concern to the Kingdom. Through these fields, the Kingdom looks forward to changing to a knowledge-based society, organizers said. – Okaz/SG King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology encouraged those interested in the event and its working papers to visit www.kacstaerospace.com
