Jim McDivitt Memorial Space Symposium
October 12, 2023
Honoring a University of Michigan legend in space exploration with conversations and thought leadership on the past, present, and future of space exploration.
About Jim McDivitt
University of Michigan class of 1954 alumnus Jim McDivitt played a vital role in the history of space exploration. Selected as the pilot for the Gemini 4 mission, McDivitt led the team who conducted the first spacewalk. He later commanded the Apollo 9 mission to test lunar landing technologies, paving the way for the first moon landing. McDivitt spent the next decade at NASA working to build and manage the space program. His legacy was foundational to the growth and innovation of the space industry today.
Jim McDivitt Memorial Space Symposium
Thursday, October 12, 2023
9:00 – 9:10am Welcome
Carlos Cesnik, Aero Department Chair
9:10 – 9:50am Reflections: Jim McDivitt
John LaFond, Former Advanced Program Chief Engineer, Ford Motor Company
9:55 – 10:55am Panel #1: History of Space
Moderator: Patrick McNally, SPRL Managing Director, UM
Kathy Clark, Former Chief Scientist for Human Space Flight, NASA
Dan Hastings, Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement (interim), MIT
John Tylko, Aurora Flight Sciences
11:00 – 12:00pm Panel #2: Space Exploration today
Moderator: Oliver Jia-Richards, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, UM
Debra Facktor, AIRBUS U.S. Space Systems
Mike Hess, Deputy Associate Administrator of Mission Support
Robert Gitten, SLD Systems Integrator-Blue Origin Lunar Transportation
Wayne Goodman, Executive VP Aerospace Corporation
12:15 – 1:15pm Lunch Break
1:30 – 2:30pm Keynote
Don Winter, Chair, National Academy of Engineering, former Secretary of the Navy
2:35 – 3:35pm Panel #3: Future of Space Exploration
Moderator: Aaron Johnson, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, UM
Kiko Dontchev, Vice President, Launch
Bonnie Dunbar, Texas A&M Professor, Aerospace Engineering
Mark Hilburger, NASA
Trudy Kortes, Director of Technology Demonstrations, NASA Spac
Technology Mission Directorate
3:35 – 3:50pm Break
3:50 – 4:30pm University of Michigan Vision for Space Activity
Speakers: Ben Jorns, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, UM
Mirko Gamba, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, UM
4:30 – 4:35pm Closing Remarks
Speaker: Carlos Cesnik, Chair & Professor of Aerospace Engineering, UM
4:35pm Networking Reception
Location: Rackham Assembly Hall
Speakers and Panelists
Carlos Cesnik
Chair & Professor of Aerospace Engineering, U–M
Kathy Clark
Former Chief Scientist for Human Space Flight, NASA
Kiko Dontchev
Vice President, Launch
Bonnie Dunbar
Texas A&M Professor, Aerospace Engineering
Debra Facktor
AIRBUS U.S. Space Systems
Mirko Gamba
Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, U–M
Robert Gitten
SLD Systems Integrator-Blue Origin Lunar Transportation
Wayne Goodman
Executive VP Aerospace Corporation
Dan Hastings
Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement (interim), MIT
Mike Hess
Deputy Associate Administrator of Mission Support
Mark Hilburger
NASA
Aaron Johnson
Professor, Aerospace Engineering, U–M
Ben Jorns
Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, U–M
Trudy Kortes
Director of Technology Demonstrations, NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate
Mark Hilburger
NASA
John LaFond
Former Advanced Program Chief Engineer, Ford Motor Company
Oliver Jia-Richards
Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering, U–M
John Tylko
Aurora Flight Sciences
Don Winter
Chair, National Academy of Engineering, former Secretary of the Navy
Peter Worden
Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, Former NASA’s Ames Research Center Director
We look forward to having you join us this year.
Please RSVP at the link below.