Programme

Joe Pappalardo is senior editor at Popular Mechanics (U.S.) where he covers spaceflight, military technology and commercial aviation. He's been at the magazine for seven years, where his coverage has included the last Space Shuttle mission, launch operations in French Guiana, private space activity in California and Florida, and the landing of the Mars Curiosity rover. Before coming to Popular Mechanics he worked at Smithsonian Air & Space magazine in Washington D.C. He moderated two panels in 2011's SPIEF. He is also the author of the nonfiction book Sunflowers: The Secret History.

Pilot-Cosmonaut, two-time Hero of the Soviet Union. Born May 25, 1931 in Leningrad; graduated from Leningrad Military and Mechanical Institute in 1955, Doctor of Physics and Mathematical Sciences; worked at S.P. Korolev Design Bureau-1, handled flight dynamics analysis of space vehicles, involved in launches of first satellite and many other Soviet space vehicles. In 1966, was enlisted as cosmonaut. Performed three spaceflights in 1975-1985 with total duration of 134 days, 21 hours. During the second spaceflight in 1977-1978 performed space walk for 1 hour and 28 minutes. 1985-1992 — Laboratory Director, from 1992 — Senior Fellow, Institute of Atmospheric Physics under the Russian Academy of Sciences. Author of research on space issues, book “Planet in the Frame” (1984); was Deputy Chairman of the Soviet Peace Committee (1979-1991); from 1992 — First Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Peace and Accord. Awarded three Orders of Lenin, medals, Czechoslovak Order of Klement Gottwald and Indian Order of Kirti Chakra. Married, with two sons.

<p> Born in Moscow, Russia on 27 August 1979.Graduated from the State University “Higher School of Economics”, Diploma in Economy and Business Administration.Since 1995 in Healthcare and Pharmaceutics.R-Pharm Founder. President of All-Russia Business Association “Delovaya Rossiya” (“Business Russia”), actively participating in the improvement of investment climate in the Russian Federation and the establishment of the regional investment standard.Member of the Economic Council under the President of the Russian Federation.Member of the Presidential Council for Priority National Projects and Demographic Policy.Member of the Expert Council under the Government of the Russian Federation. Member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Head of Commission on Investment Climate.Representative (public ombudsman) of the Commissioner of the Presidential Council on the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs on issues related to the protection of the rights of foreign investors.Board-member and Co-chairman of Committee of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on pharmaceutical and medical industry.Co-Chairman of the National Rating CommitteeMember of the Public Council under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation (pharmaceutical, medical equipment and technologies).Member of the Supervisory Board of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization "Agency for Strategic Initiatives". </p>

Vitaly Lopota was born on September 28, 1950 in Grozny. Since July 2007, he has been President and Chief Designer of the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, Russia's principal agency for the development and operation of manned rocket and space systems, and the leading company in the construction of launch vehicles and unmanned space systems. He began his career as a fitter at an oil refinery. Following his military service, he entered the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, where, after finishing his postgraduate studies in 1981, he advanced from graduate research assistant to professor, department head, and then head of an industry research laboratory that later evolved into the Laser Technology Centre. Since 1991, he has been Director and Chief Designer of the Central Research and Design Institute for Robotics and Technical Cybernetics. Mr. Lopota is a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and a Doctor of Technical Sciences. He has had more than 200 of his scientific works published, and owns nearly 60 patents. He holds membership of the Russian President's Council for Science, Technology, and Education; the Council of Chief Designers, Leading Scientists, and Experts in Technologically Advanced Sectors of the Economy under the Auspices of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; a number of federal and regional expert councils, and academic, dissertation, and scientific and technical councils. He is an Honoured Scientist of the Russian Federation, and has been awarded the Order for Merit to the Fatherland Fourth Class, the Order of Honour, the Medal in Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of St. Petersburg, and other decorations.

<p> Born in Moscow, Russia on 27 August 1979.Graduated from the State University “Higher School of Economics”, Diploma in Economy and Business Administration.Since 1995 in Healthcare and Pharmaceutics.R-Pharm Founder. President of All-Russia Business Association “Delovaya Rossiya” (“Business Russia”), actively participating in the improvement of investment climate in the Russian Federation and the establishment of the regional investment standard.Member of the Economic Council under the President of the Russian Federation.Member of the Presidential Council for Priority National Projects and Demographic Policy.Member of the Expert Council under the Government of the Russian Federation. Member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Head of Commission on Investment Climate.Representative (public ombudsman) of the Commissioner of the Presidential Council on the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs on issues related to the protection of the rights of foreign investors.Board-member and Co-chairman of Committee of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on pharmaceutical and medical industry.Co-Chairman of the National Rating CommitteeMember of the Public Council under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation (pharmaceutical, medical equipment and technologies).Member of the Supervisory Board of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization "Agency for Strategic Initiatives". </p>

Born September 25, 1957 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan Socialist Republic of the USSR. Graduated from Military Engineering Institute, in Leningrad in 1979. Served at Baikonur Cosmodrome. In 1989, graduated with honours from Military Academy named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky. From 1989, served in the Office of the Director of Space Facilities of the USSR Ministry of Defence. From March 10, 2004 – Commander of the Space Forces of the Russian Federation. From 30 June 2008 – Director of Armaments of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. March 30, 2009, dismissed from military service while retaining post as Director of Armaments of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – Deputy Minister of Defence. June 21, 2010, appointed First Deputy Minister of Defence. April 29, 2011, appointed Director of Federal Space Agency by decree of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Awards: Order of Merit for the Fatherland, Class IV; Medal of Order of Merit for the Fatherland, Class II; Active member of Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after K.E. Tsiolkovsky; Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences; Prize of the Russian Government in Science and Engineering (2005).

Born December 3, 1952 in Volgograd. In 1975, graduated with honours from Volgograd Polytechnic Institute and worked 26 years at Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TSNIIMASH), from Engineer to Director of Research and Development Centre. From 2001–2008, General Director and Chief Designer of NPO IT. Well-known scientist in matters of system analysis, special purpose rocket and space systems, ballistic flight support, the design, construction and experimental testing of national economic and strategic purpose rocket and space systems, complexes and means, and the latest space information technologies. He developed a new research area involving a systematic approach to the integrated use of aerospace, geophysical and geological information for solutions to natural resource problems. His research has been published in 118 scientific papers, presented at 21 conferences and documented in more than 250 scientific and reports. Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Professor, Academic, Vice President of Russian Cosmonaut Acade y named after Tsiolkovsky (RCAT), Honoured Engineer of the Russian Federation, and Honoured Space Technology Test Engineer.

<p> Born in Moscow, Russia on 27 August 1979.Graduated from the State University “Higher School of Economics”, Diploma in Economy and Business Administration.Since 1995 in Healthcare and Pharmaceutics.R-Pharm Founder. President of All-Russia Business Association “Delovaya Rossiya” (“Business Russia”), actively participating in the improvement of investment climate in the Russian Federation and the establishment of the regional investment standard.Member of the Economic Council under the President of the Russian Federation.Member of the Presidential Council for Priority National Projects and Demographic Policy.Member of the Expert Council under the Government of the Russian Federation. Member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Head of Commission on Investment Climate.Representative (public ombudsman) of the Commissioner of the Presidential Council on the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs on issues related to the protection of the rights of foreign investors.Board-member and Co-chairman of Committee of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs on pharmaceutical and medical industry.Co-Chairman of the National Rating CommitteeMember of the Public Council under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation (pharmaceutical, medical equipment and technologies).Member of the Supervisory Board of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization "Agency for Strategic Initiatives". </p>

Krikalev Sergey Konstantinovich was born on the 27th of August, 1958 in Leningrad. In 1965 he completed the secondary school, and in 1981 graduated from Leningrad Mechanical Institute with honor. From 1981 he was an engineer in the Office of NPO Energia. In 1985 he was enrolled in the cosmonaut corps by the decision of the State inter-departmental commission. In 1986 he completed a general spaceflight training and was assigned to the position of test-cosmonaut. Till 2009 being a test-cosmonaut he continued to work at RSC Energia. The final appointment was a deputy general designer. Krikalev S.K. performed six space flights between 1988 and 2005, the total duration of which equals 804 days, and eight EVAs of more than 40 hours long. From March, 2009 Krikalev S.K. is the Chief of State Organization “Gagarin Research&Test Cosmonaut Training Center”. Krikalev S.K., pilot-cosmonaut of the Soviet Union, awarded with: Medal “Gold Star” of Hero of the Soviet Union, Medal “Gold Star” of Hero of the Russian Federation, Order of Peoples Friendship, Order of Merit to the Country, class IV, Medal of Honor, and other decorations.

Louis R. Chênevert is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of United Technologies Corporation. He was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2008, and Chairman in January 2010. Since March 2006, held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer, and served as a Director of United Technologies. Prior to that he served as President, Pratt & Whitney, from April 1999 through March 2006. Before joining Pratt & Whitney in 1993, Chênevert spent 14 years at General Motors. He served as production general manager of General Motors’ St. Therese operation. Chênevert is Vice-Chairman of The Business Council, a member of the U.S.-India CEO Forum and Business Roundtable, and is a founding director and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Friends of HEC Montréal. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and is Chairman of the Yale Cancer Center’s Advisory Board. In 2005, Chênevert was inducted as a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Chênevert earned a bachelor of commerce degree in production management from the Université de Montréal, École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC).