International Space Development Conference Convenes at Birthplace of U.S. Manned Spacecraft

By Carmelo Turdo

The National Space Society (NSS) wrapped up its 36th annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC) Monday in St. Louis, the birthplace of the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft that propelled the U.S. into manned space exploration.  The ISDC was hosted by the local NSS chapter, St. Louis Space Frontier, and held in the historic St. Louis Union Station hotel and convention center.  A full agenda of presentations attracted attendees and exhibitors from around the world, and St. Louis aerospace education organizations were there to support the weekend's activities.

Mayuko Ishii, Astrax Studio,

with The Rocket Prince book

The Aero Experience joined with other local co-sponsors, the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, Missouri Aviation Historical Society, The Space Museum Bonne Terre Missouri, and Mac's Old Team, among others, to support the conference and contribute to its success.  Exhibits were available daily during the conference days Friday-Sunday, and lunch sessions included keynote speakers NASA Space Shuttle Astronaut Dr. Linda Godwin, Gemini and Apollo Astronaut and retired USAF General Thomas Stafford and World View Enterprises CEO Jane Poynter.  Of special interest was the Saturday Panel Presentation and Luncheon with members of Mac's Old Team, a group of St. Louis-based McDonnell Aircraft engineers who helped design, build and launch the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft at the dawn of the U.S. manned space program.  More from Saturday's Mac's Old Team program will be featured in an upcoming story. 

Some of the exhibitors on Saturday included:

Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum President Mark Nankivil visits with Michael 

Mackowski from Phoenix, AZ 

Space Museum, Bonne Terre, Missouri President Earl Mullins with some

of the museum's displays

Martin Harris with Missouri Aviation Historical Society aviation and space

program display

Beautiful paintings from Janice Schoultz Mudd

Missouri University of Science and Technology Mars Rover Design

Tesla Model 90D S-Series All-Electric car

Saturday's Panel Presentation featured a two-hour session with Mac's Old Team and Astronaut Thomas Stafford.  During the luncheon that followed, Mac's Old Team and General Stafford received the NSS Space Pioneer Award.

ISDC Chair Christine Nobbe welcomes us to the morning session

Moderator Amy Shira Teitel checks on the panelists

The Panel Presentation gets underway

Bob Schepp

Earl Robb

Dean Purdy

Norm Beckel

Jerry Roberts

Astronaut Thomas Stafford

A brief time to visit after the session

Mac's Old Team with Thomas Stafford and Amy Shira Teitel

The luncheon featured the Keynote Speaker, Astronaut and Retired USAF General Thomas Stafford, and the presentation of the Space Pioneer Awards.  Accepting the awards from Mr. Philip Newell are Thomas Stafford and Norm Beckel representing Mac's Old Team.

The Aero Experience was honored to participate and record the day's activities with Mac's Old Team and General Stafford.  In the next story on the ISDC in St. Louis, we will include selected excerpts from the Panel Presentation that will take us back to the pioneering days of manned space flight!  We thank all who produced this conference and for the access needed to present this story.