Jean-Luc Beuzit is a senior research officer at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France and is currently director of the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM). His research activities are related to the study of extrasolar planets, brown dwarfs and low mass stars. He is also deeply involved in the design and manufacturing of instruments dedicated to high angular resolution and high contrast imaging. He is in particular Principal Investigator of the SPHERE project, a second-generation instrument for the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope dedicated to the direct detection and spectral characterization of giant extra-solar planets around nearby stars.

Talk Title: LAM, a Space Science Laboratory in Provence

LAM (Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille) is one of the most important public research institutes in Europe in the area of astrophysics.
It associates fundamental research in astrophysics with renowned technological research in instrumentation and is one of the few laboratories in France qualified to develop instrumentation for space science missions. I have highlight current space missions under development and presented the LAM main facilities. 

 

THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION 

William H. Gerstenmaier is the associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. In this position, Gerstenmaier provides strategic direction for all aspects of NASA’s human exploration of space and cross-agency space support functions of space communications and space launch vehicles. He provides programmatic direction for the operation and utilization of the International Space Station, development of the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft. He also provides strategic guidance and direction for the commercial crew and cargo programs that will provide logistics and crew transportation to the space station, and to NASA’s journey to Mars. 
Gerstenmaier is the recipient of numerous awards; for his technical contributions and leadership in national and international human space ight programs, Gerstenmaier was elected into the 2018 class of the National Academy of Engineering. 
 

 

EMIRATES VISION AND PLAN TO MARS 
 

H.E Dr. Mohamed Nasser Al Ahbabi has been appointed as Director General of the UAE Space Agency after having the responsibility of designing and creating the agency.

He obtained his first Degree in the USA, then his MSc and PhD in the United Kingdom within the Information and Communication Technologies domain where he has published more than 20 scientific papers.

Dr Ahbabi has contributed and led numerous strategic projects in the ICT domain towards the benefit of the UAE government. He has also led a UAE Armed Forces Think Tank Project within the Centre of Excellence. His role embedded advising the military and government at a strategic level on emerging concepts and technologies in the area of smart defense, cyber warfare and space developments.

He was the head of YAHSAT MilSatCom and other Space Projects. He has an active role in ITU-R, UN Space working groups and ICT professional associations.

Dr Ahbabi is also a key speaker in a number of international conferences in the area of Smart Defense, mil-Space, Cybersecurity, and Smart governments. He is also a board member of YahSat Company, UAEU Council and of the UAE ICT fund.

In his role as the Director General of the UAE Space Agency, he leads ateam of 50 that manages the UAE’s space sector. He is responsible for realizing the agency’s goals of growing this Sector. He recommends the National Space Strategy and related laws, policies, and regulations to the government. He promotes and supports Industrial and R&D space projects. Dr. Al Ahbabi is also responsible for establishing and maintaining international relationships and partnerships, coordinating with national concerned authorities and providing guidance to non-government space sector organizations.