FY 2015 Report on NASA Large Conferences 

NASA Sponsored and Non Sponsored Conferences with Agency Spend of $100,000 or More 

October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015 
2

FY 2015 Report on NASA Sponsored Large Conferences 

Overview: In accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-12-

12, Section 2 – Conferences, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is 

providing this report on conferences. This report provides a summary of conference activities by 

NASA in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015. It includes a brief overview of each conference’s purpose to 

highlight the valuable role that conferences play in NASA’s mission, such as in key 

dissemination and exchange of cutting edge scientific and technological knowledge. 

The Space Act of 1958 requires NASA to “provide for the widest practicable and appropriate 

dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof.” Conferences 

provide an important vehicle for accomplishing this mandate. NASA scientists, engineers and 

leaders present scientific and technical papers and participate in interchanges on leading-edge 

research and technology with peers in the Federal Government, academia, the science 

community, the aeronautics and aerospace industries and international partners. NASA attended 

and sponsored conferences address a broad and diverse range of scientific and engineering 

challenges faced in carrying out its missions, including Earth science research, advanced 

aeronautics and the cutting-edge technologies needed for both current and planned robotic and 

human space flight programs. 

In addition to facilitating the dissemination and advancement of scientific research, conferences 

also serve as a cost-effective way for NASA to carry out other mission-related purposes, such as 

educational outreach and program development, planning and information gathering. For 

example, conferences on program management provide opportunities for examination of current 

trends in aerospace project and engineering management; offering forums for the exchange and 

dissemination of best practices, new ideas, and training for managers across NASA to help the 

Agency cost-effectively meet the toughest challenges in space exploration today. 

FY 2015 Conferences: NASA participated in 44 large conferences in FY 2015 for which it 

spent more than $100,000. Net conference expenses for the 2015 fiscal year, for conferences 

costing the Agency more than $100,000, totaled $14.6 million. Detailed information on the 

events approved under the justification and approval process under OMB M-12-12 follows. 
3

Conference Location Start Date End Date Total Cost NASA 

Paid 

Attendees

American Society for 

Gravitational and 

Space Research 

(ASGSR) Pasadena, CA 10/21/2014 10/26/2014 $271,917 125

Web site Link: https://www.asgsr.org/

Purpose: ASGSR brings together a diverse group of scientists and engineers to encourage an 

exchange of ideas bridging basic and applied biological and physical science research and technology 

in space and gravitational sciences. The members represent academia, government and industry 

interests bonded by a common issue - how living organisms and physical systems respond to gravity.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

46th Annual Meeting of 

the Division for 

Planetary Science 

(DPS) Tucson, AZ 11/9/2014 11/14/2014 $218,702 45

Web site Link: http://aas.org/meetings/dps46/registration

Purpose: The 46th Annual DPS event advances the investigation of the solar system and other 

planetary systems. The big questions of NASA’s Planetary Science Division include the following: 1. 

How did planets originate? 2. How did the solar system evolve? 3. How has life evolved elsewhere 

in the solar system? The Annual DPS brings together a group of Scientists to explore the answers to 

these pressing questions. 

Conference Location Start Date End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Supercomputing 2014

(SC14)

New 

Orleans, LA 11/16/2014 11/21/2014 $286,413 64

Web site Link: http://sc14.supercomputing.org/

Purpose: SC14 brings together the most respected minds in High Performance Computing (HPC), 

networking, storage and analysis to debut the research and innovation that will open the door to new 

scientific and economic opportunities. SC14 spotlights the most original and fascinating scientific 

and technical applications from around the world. SC14 will once again bring together the HPC 

community – an unprecedented array of scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, students, 

programmers, system administrators and developers – for an exceptional program of technical papers, 

tutorials, timely research posters and Birds-of-a-Feather sessions.
4

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Joint Army-NavyNASA-Air Force 

(JANNAF) Conference

Albuquerque, 

NM 12/8/2014 12/11/2014 $129,073 50

Web site Link: https://www.jannaf.org/mtgs/Dec2014/pages/index.html

Purpose: The JANNAF Interagency Propulsion Committee coordinates fundamental research, 

exploratory development, and advanced development programs; standardize procedures and 

nomenclature; promote and facilitate the exchange of technical information; and accomplish problem 

solving in areas of joint agency interest on propulsion systems used in missiles, rockets, boosters, 

space planes, spacecraft, satellites and guns. JANNAF subcommittees focus their resources on 

technical issues of interest to the JANNAF agencies.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

2014 Fall American 

Geophysical Union 

(AGU)

San 

Francisco, 

CA 12/15/2014 12/19/2014 $2,201,747 880

Web site Link: http://fallmeeting.agu.org/2014/

Purpose: AGU is the largest worldwide meeting in the geophysical sciences. AGU's activities focus

on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and 

international field of geophysics. The geophysical sciences involve four fundamental areas:

atmospheric and ocean sciences; solid-Earth sciences, hydrologic sciences and space sciences. 

Participation in the annual AGU meeting addresses NASA’s mission to “drive advances in science, 

technology and exploration to enhance knowledge, education innovation, economic vitality and 

stewardship of Earth” and enables broad and deep interaction with the worldwide community of 

researchers in Earth and space science. 

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

225th American 

Astronomical Society 

(AAS) Seattle, WA 1/4/2015 1/9/2015 $417,735 176

Web site Link: https://aas.org/meetings/aas225

Purpose: The AAS conference fosters research, education and professional development in the 

multidisciplinary fields of astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science and solar physics. AAS brings

together a diverse group of scientists and technologists to engage in an exchange of ideas bridging 

space science, research and technology development. 
5

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

2015 American 

Meteorological Society 

(AMS) Phoenix, AZ 1/4/2015 1/8/2015 $286,275 129

Web site Link: https://annual.ametsoc.org/2015/

Purpose: AMS attracts thousands of Earth and space scientists, policy makers, educators, students 

and news media. Participation in the AMS meetings is critical to NASA’s mission to "drive advances 

in science, technology and exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic 

vitality and stewardship of Earth" by enabling broad and deep interaction throughout the worldwide 

community of researchers in the Earth and space sciences. For scientists, the aforementioned 

interactions are integral to the process of science and often grow into proposals for NASA research 

announcements.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

American Institute of 

Aeronautics and 

Astronautics (AIAA)

SciTech

Kissimmee, 

FL 1/5/2015 1/9/2015 $864,924 349

Web site Link: https://www.aiaa-scitech.org/

Purpose: AIAA SciTech organizes conferences to serve the aerospace profession as part of its core 

mission. Spanning over 70 technical discipline areas, AIAA’s conferences provide scientists, 

engineers and technologists the opportunity to present and disseminate their work in structured 

technical paper and poster sessions, learn about new technologies and advances from other presenters, 

further their professional development and expand their professional networks that furthers their 

work.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Earth Science 

Information Partners 

(ESIP) Federation 

Winter Meeting 2015 

Washington, 

DC 1/7/2015 1/9/2015 $109,822 74

Web site Link: http://commons.esipfed.org/2015WinterMeeting

Purpose: The ESIP Federation meetings align with and are crucial to the goals and activities of 

NASA's Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Program at NASA HQ, as well as the Earth Science 

Data and Information System (ESDIS) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). ESIP is the 

primary venue for bringing together Earth science data users and information technology experts.
6

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Human Research 

Program (HRP) 

Investigators Workshop

Galveston, 

TX 1/11/2015 1/16/2015 $204,204 59

Web site link: http://download.cnet.com/2015-NASA-Human-Research-Program-InvestigatorsWorkshop/3000-2064_4-76217574.html

Purpose: HRP Workshops provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, 

technologies, and tools for safe, reliable and productive human space exploration. It is a requirement 

of all HRP research projects to attend the annual workshop to share the status their research. Since 

inception, HRP uses the annual Investigators Workshop to assess research progress and facilitate 

communication between researchers, management, headquarters, other programs that HRP supports 

and stakeholders in Medical Operations and the Astronaut Office.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Chinese Academy of 

Sciences (CAS)/NASA 

Glacier Workshop

Kathmandu, 

Nepal 1/20/2015 1/23/2015 $193,800 20

Web site Link: http://www.irdrinternational.org/2015/02/06/cas-nasa-workshop/

Purpose: CAS/NASA Glacier Workshop is important to NASA in that the Himalayas are a rapidly 

changing and important component of the Earth system. NASA-supported researchers study ice loss, 

water resources and other aspects of Himalayan change using remote sensing tools, but lack access to 

data from in situ networks to validate results and inform process studies. This workshop offers new 

collaborations that foster access and improvement of NASA’s knowledge of the region.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Nuclear and Emerging 

Technologies (NET)

Albuquerque, 

NM 2/23/2015 2/26/2015 $117,390 59

Web site Link: http://www.lenr-forum.com/forum/index.php/Thread/1289-NETS-2015-Nuclear-andEmerging-Technologies-for-Space-Sponsored-by-ANS-USRA-NASA/

Purpose: NET serves as a major communications network and forum for professional and students 

working in the area of space nuclear technology. While NASA is considering capabilities for robotic 

and crewed missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond, strategies that implement advanced power and 

propulsion technologies, as well as radiation protection, will be important in accomplishing these 

missions in the future. Each year NETs facilitates the exchange of information among research and 

management personnel from international government, industry, academia and the national laboratory 

systems.
7

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Institute of Electrical 

and Electronics 

Engineers (IEEE)

Aerospace Conference Big Sky, MT 3/7/2015 3/14/2015 $389,141 101

Web site Link: 

https://www.ieee.org/conferences_events/conferences/conferencedetails/index.html?Conf_ID=33705

Purpose: The International IEEE Aerospace Conference promotes the interdisciplinary understanding 

of aerospace systems, their underlying science and technology and their application to government 

and commercial endeavors, by providing a working environment that encourages collaboration and 

interaction. This conference has a long-standing reputation for identifying, promoting and facilitating 

collaborations across NASA, Department of Defense (DOD) and international communities and has 

enhanced value by broad participation across all NASA Centers.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

South by Southwest 

(SxSW) Austin, TX 3/15/2015 3/18/2015 $294,805 57

Web site Link: http://sxsw.com/ 

Purpose: SXSW provides an opportunity to meet NASA’s Office of Communications goal to share 

NASA with the public, educators and students to provide opportunities to participate in the mission to 

foster innovation and contribute to a strong national economy. Additionally, participation in this 

event allows the Office of Communications to meet the following goals to 1.) Participate in events 

that attract large numbers of the general public; and 2.) Target venues and events to reach beyond 

space enthusiasts and the science-attentive public. 

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

46th Lunar and 

Planetary Science 

Conference

The 

Woodlands, 

TX 3/16/2015 3/20/2015 $764,002 320

Web site Link: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/

Purpose: LPSC is the primary conference where researchers from around the world present results 

from a variety of topic areas of specific interest to NASA's Planetary Science Division. Each year, 

special sessions are chosen to highlight timely issues, such as results from new planetary missions and

emerging new fields of study. This conference began as the forum for presenting results from the 

Apollo program and continues as the major forum for first results from most of NASA's planetary 

missions.
8

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

European Geosciences 

Union (EGU)

Vienna, 

Austria 4/12/2015 4/17/2015 $246,333 48

Web site Link: http://www.egu2015.eu/

Purpose: EGU brings together NASA employees and contractors working on various Earth science 

missions and projects, such as the Earth Observing System (EOS) Mission, the Global Precipitation 

Mission (GPM), the Suomi-NPP (National Polar-orbiting Partnership), Ice, Cloud and land Elevation 

and Satellite-2 (ICESAT-2) and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) among others, to interact with 

international colleagues from various space agencies such as European Space Agency (ESA) and 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

International Academy 

of Astronautics (IAA) 

Planetary Defense 

Conference Rome, Italy 4/13/2015 4/17/2015 $152,432 36

Web site Link: https://iaaweb.org/content/view/599/785/

Purpose: IAA Planetary Defense Conference is one in a series of events where the best minds in the 

nation and the international community work on testing hardware and software to prepare for these 

categories of events. This conference presents the most recent progress and results regarding 

planetary defense. The subjects include: Planetary Defense - Recent Progress & Plans; NASA Earth 

Observations (NEO) Discovery; NEO Characterization; Mitigation Techniques & Missions; Impact 

Effects that Inform Warning, Mitigation & Costs, Consequence Management & Education.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

31st Space Symposium 

Colorado 

Springs, CO 4/13/2015 4/16/2015 $184,566 57

Web site Link: https://www.spacefoundation.org/events/upcoming-events/31st-space-symposium

Purpose: The Space Symposium is one of the single most important events for government 

organizations and other industries focused on space research objectives and expectations. NASA 

plays a unique role in both the national and commercial space. This conference presents a distinct 

opportunity to identify potential government and industry partners in one setting to support a broad 

range of space research and technology needs and opportunities for NASA to collaborate. Participants 

will be there to help facilitate various meetings on partnerships as well as share information on NASA 

technology portfolio that align with current and future public and private space technology 

development opportunities.
9

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Carbon Cycle and 

Ecosystems Workshop

Hyattsville, 

MD 4/20/2015 4/24/2015 $218,356 28

Web site Link: http://cce.nasa.gov/meeting_2015/

Purpose: A science team meeting for Principal Investigators, Co-Investigators, Collaborators and 

Students funded through NASA’s Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Focus Area programs that provide an 

opportunity to share scientific research results and foster interdisciplinary interactions. This workshop 

includes subjects such as Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry, Terrestrial Ecology, Land Cover and 

Land Use Change, Biodiversity, Ecological Forecasting, Carbon Monitoring System and Agriculture.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Measurement 

Techniques in Solar 

and Space Physics 

(MTSSP) Boulder, CO 4/20/2015 4/24/2015 $113,314 52

Web site Link: https://mtssp.msfc.nasa.gov/

Purpose: The MTSSP conference addresses the following fundamental questions put forth in NASA's 

2014 Science Plan: (1) What drives variations in the Sun and how do these changes impact the solar 

system and drive space weather? (2) How did our solar system originate and change over time? New 

measurement techniques and technologies must be identified to successfully advance the 

understanding of how the chemical and physical process in our Sun, in GeoSpace and throughout the 

solar system operate, interact and evolve.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Triennial Earth-Sun 

Summit (TESS)

Indianapolis, 

IN 4/26/2015 5/1/2015 $138,642 71

Web site Link: https://aas.org/meetings/tess2015

Purpose: The primary motivation for TESS is to unify the Heliophysics Division by promoting 

greater interaction and cooperation among the four science disciplines under the Heliophysics 

umbrella: solar, heliospheric, magnetospheric and ionospheric physics. Promoting greater interaction 

directly supports the Agency’s efforts to better understand the connected Sun-Earth system. This 

event also contributes to the success of the annual Living with a Star Program. 
10

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Annual General 

Counsel’s Conference 

New 

Orleans, LA 5/5/2015 5/7/2015 $119,850 91

Web site Link: http://www.cvent.com/events/27th-annual-general-counsel-conference2015/archived-d8a52181dcd042208eb1aa45fea781f4.aspx

Purpose: The annual NASA General Counsel’s Conference provides an indispensable forum for 

NASA attorneys to grapple with key legal and policy issues facing the Agency. It is an essential tool 

to foster consistent, efficient and effective application of the law across the Agency, as well as 

providing a venue for discussion and resolution of legal issues. The Conference provides an 

opportunity for knowledge transfers among the attorneys and thus both formal and informal 

training. Further, it enables attorneys from across the agency to forge and strengthen relationships 

that foster ongoing collaboration in support of NASA’s mission.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

86th Aerospace Medical 

Association Conference

(AsMA)

Lake Buena 

Vista, FL 5/10/2015 5/14/2015 $124,756 61

Web site Link: https://www.asma.org/annual-meetings/registration

Purpose: The AsMA is the major domestic conference for exchange of space-related medical and 

scientific information between NASA, Department of Defense (DoD), Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA) and other international aerospace medicine organizations. This exchange of medical and 

scientific data and opinion is vital for keeping NASA physicians and scientists abreast of the state of 

the art in aerospace medicine and provides an opportunity for NASA personnel to submit their work to 

critique by their peers. Specialty sessions permit the engagement of NASA and International Space 

Station (ISS) partners to exchange medical and scientific findings regarding long-duration space flight, 

and for NASA and FAA counterparts to participate in issues important to commercial space flight.
11

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

62nd Joint Army-NavyNASA-Air Force 

(JANNAF) Propulsion 

Meeting

Nashville, 

TN 6/1/2015 6/4/2015 $145,211 73

Web site Link: https://www.jannaf.org/mtgs/June2015/pages/index.html

Purpose: The JANNAF conference provides a forum for all, if not most, of the United States’ 

capability in the area of propulsion and propulsion systems. This event aims to pioneer the future in 

space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research. A primary component of exploration 

is transportation, and transportation is enabled by propulsion. The further understanding of this 

research and its applications are directly applicable to the advancement of the Agency’s mission. 

More capable propulsion systems will lead to more efficient and more cost effective exploration 

systems.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

12th International 

Planetary Probe 

Workshop (IPPW)

Cologne, 

Germany 6/15/2015 6/19/2015 $202,829 20

Web site Link: http://ippw12.dlr.de/

Purpose: The IPPW is the primary meeting where new technology and findings in the field of Entry, 

Descent and Landing (EDL) are shared. This event is essential to preserving the Nation’s core 

competency in the field of EDL. This is the only conference that brings together planetary scientists 

and mission designers to discuss issues that are specific to entry probes.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Astrobiology Science 

Conference 

(AbSciCon) Chicago, IL 6/15/2015 6/19/2015 $348,934 81

Web site Link: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2015/

Purpose: The AbSciCon is the only conference that brings together the panoply of individuals whose 

research focuses on the diverse fields encompassed by Astrobiology. As many of the missions funded 

by NASA generally and the Planetary Science Division specifically are focused on the search for life 

and habitable worlds in our solar system and beyond. The AbSciCon allows for the scientists that are 

part of this broad community to discuss their research with others in the Astrobiology community who 

are often primarily located in different communities and facilitates collaborations that lead to new 

research directions for future missions.
12

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

American Institute of 

Aeronautics and 

Astronautics (AIAA) 

Aviation 2015 Dallas, TX 6/22/2015 6/26,3015 $736,044 266

Web site Link: https://www.aiaa-aviation.org/

Purpose: The AIAA Aviation program covers many subjects that are vitally important to NASA’s 

missions, to our core capabilities, and to our academic and commercial partners. Aviation 2015 will 

drive discussions of a global aviation ecosystem and its economic value by building upon a foundation 

in engineering disciplines, such as, acoustics, applied aerodynamics, fluid mechanics and dynamics, 

aero measurement technology, flight and ground testing, atmospheric flight mechanics, thermophysics 

and heat transfer, in addition to broader topics of atmosphere and space environments and aviation 

technology, integration and operations. The study of aviation as a changing ecosystem is the result of 

market success driven by the democratization of international travel making air travel more accessible 

to more people and the desire to sustain that access for future generations.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

26th The International 

Union of Geodesy and 

Geophysics (IUGG)

General Assembly 

2015 Prague, CZ 6/22/2015 6/26/2015 $214,622 13

Web site Link: http://www.iugg2015prague.com/

Purpose: The IUGG General Assembly is primarily aligned with NASA’s Earth Science program. 

IUGG is truly an international organization, not just focused on Europe or the US. IUGG is an 

umbrella for many international organizations, such as the International Association of Geodesy, the 

International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences and similar association in 

Hydrology. IUGG provides a high degree of international cooperation as well as effective central 

coordination. The data interpretation and analysis of NASA Earth science measurements is performed 

collaboratively by scientists across the world. The wealth of information from current EOS missions 

and other NASA satellites, Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), Gravity Recovery and Climate 

Experiment (GRACE), Aquarius, Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP), SeaWinds, 

QuikSCAT, etc. and airborne missions such as IceBridge, is the basis of collaborative research. 
13

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

4th Annual 

International Space 

Station Research and 

Development (ISS 

R&D) Conference Boston, MA 7/7/2015 7/9/2015 $272,482 119

Web site Link: http://www.iafastro.org/evenements/iss-rd-conference-2015/

Purpose: The 2015 ISS R&D Conference is a forum to showcase the latest innovations, 

breakthroughs and discoveries onboard the International Space Station. The 2015 ISS R&D 

Conference brings together the leading minds in scientific research from the commercial and 

academic communities. The 4th annual conference focuses on new discoveries in microgravity 

research, life sciences, materials development and remote sensing.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

45th International 

Conference on 

Environmental 

Sciences 

Bellevue, 

WA 7/12/2015 7/16/2015 $195,581 67

Web site Link: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ceweb/ices/

Purpose: The conference will covers numerous topics relating to humans living and working in 

hostile environments including: aerospace human factors, environmental control and life support, 

system technologies, environmental monitoring and controls, planetary protection, Extravehicular 

Activity (EVA) system technology, life sciences, planetary habitats and systems and thermal control 

systems for both manned and unmanned vehicles. The conference is open to participants from any 

nation, academics, government and industry organizations.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Earth Science 

Information Partners 

(ESIP) Federation 

Summer Meeting 2015

Pacific 

Grove, CA 7/14/2015 7/17/2015 $166,927 91

Web site Link: http://commons.esipfed.org/2015SummerMeeting

Purpose: The ESIP Federation meetings align with and are crucial to the goals and activities of 

NASA’s Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Program at NASA Headquarters as well as the Earth 

Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 

(GSFC). The ESDIS Project is responsible for management, oversight and technical direction of the 

Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS), which includes, among other 

things, 12 Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs). 
14

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

International 

Geoscience and 

Remote Sensing 

Symposium (IGARRS) 

2015 Milan, Italy 7/26/2015 7/31/2016 $266,127 47

Web site Link: http://www.igarss2015.org/

Purpose: The IGARSS event emphasizes the following areas: science data analysis methods; 

atmospheric science; cryospheric science; ocean science; solid Earth science; science missions and 

instruments; and education. These themes are also closely linked to NASA’s Earth Science Division 

strategic priorities and the work that the Division is funding. In addition, this year’s IGARSS 

conference is focusing on: monitoring natural disasters; hazard detection and mapping; emergency 

response; damage assessment; food security; and global crop monitoring. The aforementioned 

activities are all high priority areas for NASA. 

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

51st/ American Institute 

of Aeronautics and 

Astronautics/Society of 

Automotive 

Engineers/American

Society of Engineering 

Education/Joint 

Propulsion Conference 

(JPC) Orlando, FL 7/27/2015 7/29/2015 $323,489 95

Web site Link: http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/book/10.2514/MJPC15

Purpose: The JPC conference directly addresses the mission of the Agency to “drive advances in 

science, technology and exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality 

and stewardship of the Earth.” The focus of this conference is on aerospace propulsion and energy 

conversion technology, advanced energy and power systems, devices for terrestrial energy systems 

and aerospace applications. The JPC focuses on identifying and highlighting how innovative 

aerospace propulsion technologies powering both new and evolving systems are being designed, 

tested and flown. Panel sessions focused on advanced system applications that can be used to 

showcase propulsion systems and components and the technologies that enable them. 
15

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Unmanned Aerial 

Systems (UAS) Traffic 

Management 

Convention (UTM)

Moffett 

Field, CA 7/28/2015 7/30/2015 $992,962 84

Web site Link: http://utm.arc.nasa.gov/utm2015.shtml

Purpose: UTM represents the United States commercial interests, such as Amazon and Google. 

Industry and government panelists discussed the following topics:

 Privacy, Safety and Security 

 Technology 

 UAS Industry – Steps Toward Safe Integration 

 Commercial Applications: Media, Agriculture, Environmental and Cinematography 

 International Perspective: Safely Enabling Low-Altitude UAS Operations 

 State and Local Government Perspective: Getting Ready for Safe Low-Altitude Operations.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Asia Oceania 

Geosciences Society 

(AGOS)

Suntec, 

Singapore 8/2/2015 8/7/2015 $204,234 36

Web site Link: http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2015/public.asp?page=home.htm

Purpose: The AGOS meeting is one of the most important Asian meetings in heliophysics 

research. AOGS is focused on the geosciences with an emphasis on global issues. In addition, its 

location allows U.S. NASA researchers to interact with a population of researchers that are not 

otherwise readily available for scientific discussions. This conference allows NASA scientists to 

expose and disseminate the latest results from NASA missions and provide access to state-of-the-art 

simulations and correlative data sets from foreign space missions.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Thermal & Fluids 

Analysis Workshop

(TFWAS)

Washington, 

DC 8/3/2015 8/7/2015 $139,392 215

Web site Link: https://tfaws.nasa.gov/

Purpose: The TFAWS is an annual training and professional development workshop that is designed 

to encourage knowledge sharing, professional development and networking throughout the thermal 

and fluids engineering community within NASA and the aerospace community at large. The vision of 

TFAWS is to maintain continuity over time and between disciplines throughout the thermal and fluids 

engineering community.
16

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

29th International 

Astronomical Union 

(IAU) Honolulu, HI 8/3/2015 8/14/2015 $815,367 161

Web site Link: http://www.iau.org

Purpose: The IAU brings together over 10,000 distinguished astronomers from all nations of the 

World to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international 

cooperation. This meeting is the most effective means of fostering understanding of NASA’s mission, 

and the understanding of NASA’s scientists of the intellectual questions and national concerns that 

will be addressed by future missions. NASA’s scientists efficiently maintain currency in their 

disciplines by presenting and by participating in the many scientific and programmatic sessions held 

during the meeting. NASA-funded scientists and other scientists present their latest results, often in 

advance of publication. Discussions at the meetings by NASA’s scientists are an effective means to 

maintain understanding of recent trends in astrophysics research and NASA’s scientists have made 

effective use of this opportunity. 

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

29th Annual American 

Institute of Aeronautics 

and Astronautics

(AIAA)/Utah State 

University (USU) 

Small Satellites Logan, UT 8/8/2015 8/13/2015 $312,625 126

Web site Link: http://www.smallsat.org/conference/

Purpose: The AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites is internationally recognized as the premier 

conference on small satellites. The annual gathering provides a forum for the best minds in the small 

satellite community to review recent successes, explore new directions and introduce emerging 

technologies in small spacecraft development. In addition to creating an excellent environment for 

networking and talking with experts in military, science and academic fields, the Conference offers a 

program of international relevance, focusing on the key challenges and opportunities facing the small 

satellite community today.
17

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Society of Photographic 

Instrumentation 

Engineers (SPIE)

Optics + Photonics 

2015

San Diego, 

CA 8/9/2015 8/13/2015 $238,046 92

Web site Link: http://spie.org/optics-photonics.xml

Purpose: The SPIE Optics and Photonics Conference is held once every two years, and continues to 

be a key showplace conference for NASA to represent and present current technologies, current 

mission data, and interact with the international community in fields of Optics, Detectors, Systems 

Engineering, Contamination Engineering, Materials, Nanotechnology and many other critical 

technical fields.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

Astrodynamics 

Specialist Conference 

2015 Vail, CO 8/9/2015 8/13/2015 $111,805 42

Web site Link: https://www.aiaa.org/EventDetail.aspx?id=25374

Purpose: The Astrodynamics Specialists Conference holds technical sessions covering a wide 

spectrum of current topics in astrodynamics and spaceflight mechanics. This event is an essential 

forum for NASA’s technical leaders in astrodynamics to present their work, network with potential 

new hires and discuss cross-collaborations across NASA and other international space agencies. 

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

NASA Cost Analysis 

Symposium Moffett, CA 8/25/2015 8/27/2015 $178,894 74

Web site Link: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ooe/Symposium.html#.Vp58H0b0_p0

Purpose: The NASA Cost Analysis Symposium is essential to maintaining and improving the 

estimating and analysis functions across the NASA community. The NASA cost analysis community 

includes all Centers as well as HQ and represents an essential function to the agency. This event 

advances NASA’s core mission by providing a professional forum for agency analysts to present and 

learn results of cost research and participate in training sessions on methods and tools to support 

important agency initiatives such as conducting Joint Confidence Level (JCL) analyses.
18

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

American Institute of 

Aeronautics and 

Astronautics (AIAA) 

Space 2015 

Pasadena, 

CA 8/31/2015 9/2/2015 $418,706 201

Web site Link: https://www.aiaa-space.org/

Purpose: Since 2000, NASA, United States Air Force (USAF) and Industry jointly have organized 

this premier AIAA space conference and exposition event on the West Coast and provides an annual 

forum for exchange of information and discussions critical for the future exploration of Space. AIAA 

SPACE 2015 combines the best aspects of technical conferences with insights from respected leaders, 

providing a single, integrated forum for navigating the key challenges and opportunities affecting the 

future direction of global space policy, capabilities, planning, research and development, funding, 

security, environmental issues and international markets.

Conference Location Start 

Date

End 

Date

Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

First Joint Solar Probe 

Plus- Solar Orbiter 

Workshop

Florence, 

Italy 9/2/2015 9/4/2015 $108,341 31

Web site Link: http://www.solarprobeplus.org/2015/

Purpose: The First Joint workshop gathers the Heliophysics community to discuss the exciting new 

science opportunities that the Solar Orbiter (SO) and Solar Probe Plus (SPP) missions will provide 

and examines the important synergies between the two missions, leading to a strong collaboration for 

major advances in our understanding of the origins of the Heliosphere. The Workshop will address 

how the joint exploration of the corona and inner heliosphere will lead to advances in our 

understanding of coronal heating and solar wind acceleration, the magnetic and plasma structure of 

the heliosphere and the acceleration of energetic particles at shocks and flares. 

Conference Location Start 

Date

End Date Total Cost NASA Paid 

Attendees

European Planetary 

Science Congress 2015

(EPSC)

Nantes, 

France 9/27/2015 10/2/2015 $179,677 40

Web site Link: http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2015/

Purpose: The annual EPSC is an opportunity to showcase NASA’s efforts in Planetary Sciences and 

to present the results from NASA’s missions to an international community of scientists and to the 

media. The event fosters conversations regarding Rosetta; presenting the results from the lander and 

the orbiter; Cassini and Curiosity; NASA laboratory experiments; astrobiology; and exoplanets. Due 

to the large number of sessions and attendance, the opportunities to forge collaborations with other 

scientists are outstanding. The interpretation and analysis of NASA data is performed collaboratively 
19

by scientists across the world. NASA's core mission includes disseminating the latest measurements 

and engaging the science community to make the best use of this data possible.
• 


Administrator Approval for Conferences Exceeding $500K 

Purpose 

Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is requesting a waiver for 975 participants to attend the Fall American 

Geophysical Union (AGU) conference which is proposed to be held on December 15 -19, 2014 in San 

Francisco, California. The cumulative Agency participation is projected as 975 employees at an estimated cost 

of approximately $2,637,500. 

The following strategic goals will be addressed through NASA's attendance at the Fall Ametican Geophysical 

Union conference: 

1. 	 Expand the frontiers ofknowledge, capability, and opportunity in space. 

2. 	 Advance understanding ofEarth and develop technologies to improve the quality oflife on our home 

planet. 

Conference Background 

The AGU conference is the premier event for scientists and engineers from Earth Science, Heliophysics and 

Planetary Science. AGU is the best opportunity for NASA scientists and engineers to interact .with their 

respective communities, and the interactions often grow into proposals for NASA research announcements. 

Conference Explanation 

AGU serves as a mission clitical event for inspiring future scientists and engineers. AGU is attended by several 

hundred teachers and students. AGU provides the perfect opportunity for NASA to inspire prospective future 

employees, or as a minimum, excite students to purse a STEM career. NASA is one ofthe Nation's, if not the 

Worlds, greatest champion in implementing highly successful STEM activities. AGU provides us the ideal 

forum to reach and inspire future scientists and engineers for NASA and more importantly - our Nation. AGU 

is one ofthose mission-critical events that NASA should make every effort to attend to preserve and grow the 

knowledge and capabilities ofour scientists and engineers. 

Decision and Sign~ _ 

~~{~ Disapprove: ____________________________ 

Date of Approval: 10/22/2014 
• 


Administrator Approval for Conferences Exceeding $500K 

Pumose 


Langley Research Center (LaRC) is requesting a waiver for 458 participants to attend the AIAA Science and Technology 


Forum and Exposition (SciTech) conference which is proposed to be held on January 5-9, 2015 in Kissimmee, FL. 


The cumulative Agency participation is projected as 458 employees at an estimated cost of approximately $1.5M. 


The following strategic goals will be addressed through NASA's attendance at the AIAA SciTech 2015: 


1. Expand the frontiers ofknowledge, capability, and opportunity in space 

2. Advance understanding ofEarth and develop technologies to improve the quality of life on our home planet 

Conference Background 

SciTech 2015 brings together engineers and educators, researchers and designers, scientists and students, managers and 


executives in sharing lessons learned across many organizations and disciplines, advancing technological innovation, 


education, economic progress, and national security. The event will explore how new technologies and new approaches 


can influence system affordability and environmental impact to enable the aerospace missions oftomorrow. 


Conference Explanation 

This is the largest event for aerospace research, development, and technology organized by the American Institute of 

Aeronautics and Astronautics, and is a consolidation of 11 technical events. Tliis event will provide extensive access to a 

wide range ofthe latest in research and development within specific areas ofexpertise and across technological 

boundaries. The value to NASA from this event is high; this conference covers many areas that are vital to strengthen core 

capabilities that cut across missions and offers discipline integration expertise. 

In addition to the conferences with a high number ofNASA participants in the table above, AlAA is co-locating the 

following additional conferences at SciTech 2015: 

• 23nd AIANASME/AHS Adaptive Structures Conference 

• 2nd AIAA Spacecraft Structures Conference 

• 53rd AlAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting 

• AlAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference 

• AlAA Infotech @ Aerospace 

• AlAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference 

• AlAA Modeling and Simulation Technologies Conference 

• 17th AIAA Non-Deterministic Approaches Conference 

• 56th AlANASME/ ASCE/ AHS/ ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference 

• 8th Symposium on Space Resource Utilization 

• 33rd ASME Wind Energy Symposium 

Decision and Sil!llature' 

~ 2:E$or~ Disapprove: -------- -----­

Date of Approval: 10/14/2014 
-· 


Administrator Approval for Conferences Exceeding $500K 

Purpose 

Johnson Space Center (JSC) is requesting a waiver for 370 participants to attend the 46th Lunar and 

Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) which is proposed to be held on March 16-20,2015 in Woodland, 

Texas. The cumulative Agency participation is projected as 370 employees at an estimated cost of 

approximately $873K. 

The following strategic goals will be addressed through NASA' s attendance at the LPSC conference: 

1. 	 Expand the frontiers ofknowledge, capability and opportunity in space 

2. 	 Advance understanding ofEarth and develop technologies to improve the quality oflife on our home 

planet 

Conference Background 

The LPSC is the primary conference where researchers from around the world present results from a variety of 

topic areas of specific interest to NASA's Planetary Science Division with special sessions chosen each year to 

highlight timely issues such as results from new planetary missions or emerging new fields ofstudy. This 

conference began as the forum for presenting results from the Apollo program and continues as the major forum 

for first results from most ofNASA's planetary missions. Previous total attendance from all communities has 

been over 2,000. 

Conference Explanation 

This conference highlights results from the scientific community on many NASA missions and international 

mission in which NASA has interest. Many NASA and JPL scientists use this domestic conference to report on 

their own competitive research as well as discuss new instrument and mission concepts with their peers. NASA 

officials will provide special briefings to the community on the state and direction ofscience and exploration 

initiatives ofinterest to the planetary science community. Based on history, approximately 45 JPL scientists are 

expected to attend. A large number ofthe NASA employees are local to the conference city. 

Decision and Signature: 

~V]Y ~l~ Disapprove: ______________________~----

Date of Approval: 3/4/2015 
• 


Administrator Approval for Conferences Exceeding $500K 

Purpose 

Langley Research Center (LaRC) is requesting a waiver for 285 participants to attend the American Institute 

of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation 2015 conference which is proposed to be held on June 22­

26, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. This conference is estimated to exceed $500,000 in net NASA expenses. The 

cumulative Agency participation is projected as 285 employees, at an estimated cost of approximately $83 7K. 

The following strategic goals will be addressed through NASA' s attendance at the AIAA Aviation: 

1. 	 Expand the frontiers of knowledge, capability, and opportunity in space 

2. 	 Advance understanding ofEarth and develop technologies to improve the quality oflife on our home 

planet 

3. 	 Serve the American public and accomplish our Mission by effectively managing our people, technical 

capabilities, and infrastructure 

Conference Background 

The AIAA Aviation program covers many subjects that are vitally important to NASA's missions, to our core 

capabilities, and to our academic and commercial partners. Aviation 2015 will drive .discussions of a global 

aviation ecosystem and its economic value by building upon a foundation in engineering disciplines, such as, 

acoustics, applied aerodynamics, fluid mechanics and dynamics, aero measurement technology, flight and 

ground testing, atmospheric flight mechanics, thermophysics and heat transfer, in addition to broader topics of 

atmosphere and space environments, and aviation technology, integration and operations. The study of aviation 

as a changing ecosystem is the result ofmarket success driven by the democratization of international travel 

making air travel more accessible to more people and the desire to sustain that access for future generations. 

Conference Explanation 

AIAA Aviation 2015 will bring together more than 35 countries ofexperts reporting on the latest advancements 

in applied science and aviation technologies. More than 1 ,500 papers will be presented at the 16 technical 

conferences (with ITAR-compliant sessions). Seventy percent ofthe technical presentations will focus on five 

areas, including: Aeroacoustics; Applied Aerodynamics; Computational Fluid Dynamics; Fluid Dynamics and 

Air Transportation Integration and Operations. 

Decision and 

~ -~[~ Disapprove: _ _ ____________ 

DATE: 4/1/2015 

Sir~ ~ 
• 


Administrator Approval for Conferences Exceeding $500K 

Purpose 

Ames Research Center (ARC) is requesting a waiver for 1 02 participants to attend the UAS Traffic Management 


Convention (UTM) which is proposed to be held on July 28-30, 2015 in Moffett Field, California. The cumulative 


Agency participation is projected as 102 employees at an estimated cost ofapproximately $995K. 


The following strategic goals will be addressed through NASA's attendance at the UTM Convention conference: 

1. 	 Advance understanding of Earth and develop technologies to improve the quality of life on our home planet 

2. 	 Serve the American public and accomplish our Mission by effectively managing our people, technical 


capabilities, and infrastructure 


Conference Background 

The 2015 UTM Conference was a workshop in preparation ofthis year's event and was the inaugural event. This is 

NASA's second annual UTM conference. This year the conference purpose and scope has been re-engineered and 

expanded significantly. This year's event is focused on exploring the broad range oftechnical, policy and social aspects 

of low altitude UAS flight and associated research needs. NASA has included signifi~ant research funds in this topic in 

the budget and the outcomes ofthese discussions will help to validate NASA's technical approach. As such, the facility 

used in 2014 is not sufficient to accommodate the more than 1 ,000 attendees expected. Tents with proper ventilation, 

security, and logistical support are required. This event will bring together a broad range of stakeholders with an interest 

or role in this fledgling industry and whose views will influence the NASA research agenda, hence the large size and the 

partnership with AUVSI to put the event together, and the large associated costs. This topic has brought intense 

community, media and Congressional interest this year with Congressional hearings and briefings, which is why the event 

was put together on such short notice. Coordinating with the varied stakeholders to organize this unprecedented activity 

also has taken a lot of time. 

Conference Explanation 

NASA' s sponsorship ofthe event is critical for NASA's efforts in UTM for establishing key contacts and disseminating 

and sharing technical information. Bringing the broader community together on this topic can assist in obtaining 

knowledge ofthe appropriate teclmology and policies in place to keep pace with emerging opportunities in low-altitude 

UAS operations in the upcoming 5 -10 years. 

Decision and CD. 

~--------- ------------~--~--~ Disapprove: - ----------------------­

Date ofApproval: 7/20/2015 

Signa~ \~ 
• 


Administrator Approval for Conferences Exceeding $500K 

Purpose 

Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is requesting a waiver for 224 participants to attend the 29th International 

Astronomical Union (IAU) conference which is proposed to be held on August 3 -14, 2015 in Honolulu, Hawaii. This 

conference is estimated to exceed $500,000 in net NASA expenses. The cumulative Agency participation is projected as 

224 employees, at an estimated cost of approximately $1.1 M. 

The following strategic goals will be addressed through NASA's attendance at the IAU: 

1. 	 Expand the frontiers ofknowledge, capability, and opportunity in space 

2. 	 Advance understanding of Earth and develop teclmologies to improve the quali ty of life on our home planet 

3. 	 Serve the American public and accomplish our Mission by effectively managing our people, teclmical 


capabilities, and infrastructure 


Conference Background 

The IAU brings together over 10,000 distinguished astronomers from all nations of the World to promote and safeguard 

the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. This meeting is the most effective means of 

fostering understanding ofNASA's mission, and the understanding ofNASA's scientists ofthe intellectual questions and 

national concerns that will be addressed by future missions. NASA's scientists efficiently maintain currency in their 

disciplines by presenting and by participating in the many scientific and' programmatic sessions held during the meeting. 

NASA-funded scientists and other scientists present their latest results, often in advance ofpublication. Discussions at the 

meetings by NASA's scientists are an effective means to maintain understanding of recent trends in astrophysics research, 

and NASA's scientists have made effective use ofthis opportunity. 

Conference Explanation 

NASA is the world leader in space astrophysics, therefore it is appropriate that NASA attendance will constitute 

approximately 5% ofthe total attendance. NASA Scientists (civil servant and contractor) are significant fraction ofthe 

U.S. astronomical community. NASA scientists make up approximately 11% ofthe membership of the American 

Astronomical Society (AAS) . Approximately, 30 to 40% of all NASA research funding goes to NASA scientists, 

indicating that NASA scientists make up more than one-third ofthe active space astronomy research community. It is 

appropriate and justified that NASA scientists would constitute a significant fraction of any large national or international 

astronomical meeting. 

Disapprove:-------------­

DATE: 1211112014