Scientists from NASA attending two-day symposium in Philipsburg

Astronauts, researchers and scientists from NASA are gathering in this small Montana town this week for a two-day conference on aerospace issues.

Philipsburg is the local headquarters of the Inland Northwest Space Alliance, a NASA outreach center, which is hosting the conference.

By The Associated Press

http://helenair.com/articles/2004/09/28/montana/a09092804_03.txt

Astronaut Shannon Lucid, who holds the women’s record for the most hours in orbit, is among those expected to attend the conference, where colleagues will talk about space exploration, policy issues and funding for aerospace research and development.

On Wednesday, the public is invited to an open house that will celebrate the space alliance’s presence in Philipsburg, said George Bailey, president of Inland Northwest Space Alliance.

”It’s kind of a unique opportunity to have a close up discussion with not only the research scientists in outer space, but also NASA astronauts,” Bailey said.

The conference will include displays outlining some of the research projects underway, including studies of the Berkeley Pit’s extremophiles, organisms that live in extreme environments. The Berkeley Pit, in Butte, is a body of water contaminated by mine drainage. Another display shows work related to a space dynamic slab an earth observing satellite system.

INSA is a private, nonprofit organization created in 2003 by the University of Montana. According to its Web site, the group’s mission is to provide advocacy for space exploration and to encourage space and aerospace development in the Inland Northwest.

Business partners Dale Seigford and Shirley Beck of Philipsburg helped attract the Inland Northwest Space Alliance to town, then persuaded the alliance to stay. As an incentive, the pair offered office space in a 1800s era two-story building on Main Street, which they renovated to meet the organization’s needs.

For Philipsburg, the presence of the prominent organization presents a unique economic development tool, Bailey said.

”We’re trying to do research and development in outer space, but have it lead to job creation here in Montana,” Bailey said. ”By attending this event, people in the community can get a better idea of how they can participate in that.”

On the Net: http://www.inwspace.org.

Information from: The Montana Standard, http://www.mtstandard.com