news - 10.19.04

Retired Lockheed Martin Executive Norman R. Augustine Presents 2004 Arthur C. Clarke Lecture; Former Matra Marconi Space Chief Claude Goumy Receives Arthur C. Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award

(Washington, D.C., Tuesday, October 19, 2004) – Norman Augustine, former chairman and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation, today presented the 2004 Arthur C. Clarke Lecture at the annual Clarke awards reception at the Cosmos Club here. Former Matra Marconi Space chief executive Claude Goumy was honored with the Arthur C. Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his contributions to the development and exploitation of space over a full career in commercial, government and military, scientific and weather satellite technology and applications.

Augustine, who spoke on the topic of “From Kitty Hawk to Mars,” offered a far-reaching vision of manned and robotic space exploration to the Red Planet and beyond in the coming century, and laid out an action plan for achievable milestones on the way there. In pre-recorded remarks delivered from his home in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sir Arthur C. Clarke challenged Augustine, asking, “Mars? Why stop there? Alpha Centauri, at least!”

Augustine noted the recent success of SpaceShipOne and said that the factors limiting access to space are not in technology or engineering, but rather in cost. He predicted a permanent astronomical observatory on the Moon, part of an infrastructure that will support manned missions to Mars. “The very first Martian,” Augustine said, “may be in somebody’s third-grade classroom today.”

By mid-century, Augustine predicted, we will see tourist hotels in orbit, and by the end of the century on the Moon. Space tourism, he opined, “is the only approach that can justify high-volume, low-cost transportation to orbit.” Augustine concluded his remarks by noting additional safety and cost constraints, and said that to get there, “we need to make a strong commitment and we can’t do it on the cheap.”

Claude Goumy, who throughout his career in the European space and satellite industry, was recognized as a business builder and services and technology innovator, was honored with the Arthur C. Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award for 2004. This annual honor is bestowed upon a satellite industry executive whose life work has advanced the science and technology of communications and other applications satellites, and who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the industry as a whole.

Speaking at the award ceremony, attended by 125 business leaders, diplomatic representatives, and friends of Sir Arthur, Goumy said, “I am concerned that a lifetime achievement award suggests that I am finished.” Goumy reassured the audience that he continues to develop new ideas and approaches to space-based solutions and technology.

The Arthur C. Clarke Lecture and Award is administered by the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation (www.clarkefoundation.org), based in Washington, D.C. Sponsors of the 2004 Lecture and Award ceremony at the Cosmos Club included EADS Space, The FlatSigned Press, Coudert Brothers LLP, and Orbital Sciences Corporation.

The ACCF was formed in 1983 during the International Telecommunication Union’s World Communications Year. For additional information, please see www.clarkfoundation.org or contact ACCF Secretary Scott Chase at 301-879-1613 or scott.chase@clarkefoundation.org.

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