by Mark Schaaf
Daily Lobo
Twenty-five protesters greeted participants in the UNM Space Technology Forum at the Albuquerque Hilton on Monday.
Protesters stood outside the hotel holding signs advocating the restriction of nuclear weapons in outer space.
The forum, hosted by the UNM Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies, attracted protesters from as far away as Maine.
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Bruce Gagnon, a Maine resident and coordinator of the Network, said according to Congressional and Air Force documents and contracts to the Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies, the United States is pursuing nuclear reactor projects.
He said the military will ultimately use those projects to power weapons in space.
"We are concerned about the arms race moving into the heavens," Gagnon said. "We've seen statements that they are never going to be able to pull this off (weapons in space) unless we have nuclear reactors."
Gagnon said they hold a protest at the conference every year. The protest was organized by the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space and Stop the War Machine.
Mohamed El-Genk, UNM Regents Professor and director of the Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies, said he didn't have a problem with the protest.
"Their accusation is not conducive to a dialogue. They have their minds made up," El-Genk said. "But they are free to do what they want. If any of them would like to come in and register, they can, like anyone else."
El-Genk said attendance figures hadn't been determined yet, but the conference usually draws about 500 people each year.
In the hotel, the conference was full of exhibits from industries, government and higher learning, such as Lockheed Martin, L3 Communications and NASA.
It included more than 270 presentations in 69 different sessions and focused on new ideas and discoveries, particularly in the fields of space exploration and nuclear power.
The displays and speeches revolved around the theme "Embarking on the New Age of Exploration Together."
One of NASA's exhibits showed different components and plans for future space exploration missions.
Speakers included Rep. Heather Wilson; Ron Sega, undersecretary of the Air Force; and Thomas Marsh, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.
There were also displays by New Mexico middle school and high school science students and an awards ceremony Monday.
Their displays, part of an annual Space Design Competition, were proposals for a lunar resort.
"We really use the forum to help with the community," El-Genk said, adding different groups will come to the event throughout the week, such as senior citizens or Boy Scouts.
Former UNM graduate student Jeff King said this year's conference is similar to years past.
"It's fairly comparable, maybe a little smaller," King said. "I always enjoy coming here. Same people, same interesting stuff."
Representatives from the space and nuclear communities were also on hand at the event, presenting opportunities for higher education and careers available in the industry.
The conference ends Thursday.
