Dr. Sian Proctor, SpaceX Astronaut and Pilot, to Speak at NBAA-BACE Day 2 Keynote

Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org

Washington, DC, Sept. 30, 2021 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced that Dr. Sian Proctor, the mission pilot for the Inspiration4 all-civilian spaceflight launched on Sept. 16, 2021, will be a Day 2 Keynote speaker at the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE).

NBAA-BACE takes place Oct. 12-14 in Las Vegas, NV, where Proctor will join an inspiring roster of visionaries, heroes and leaders.

Proctor piloted the spacecraft – a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, atop a Falcon 90 launch rocket – from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center and returned safely to Earth three days later. The Inspiration4 mission was the first orbital spaceflight made by an all-civilian crew.

“We are so excited to have Dr. Sian Proctor with us for NBAA-BACE,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Her passion for flight, science and exploration reflect the very best in aviation and in humanity. She is a dedicated science educator and a pioneer who lifts us all closer to the stars. We can’t wait to hear firsthand about this incredible milestone in flight.”

Proctor was the top entrant selected for the Inspiration4 mission from hundreds of entries. She is a major in the Civil Air Patrol, and an aerospace education officer for its Arizona Wing. To prepare for the historic mission, she trained in a Cessna Citation CJ3, among other aircraft. She has completed four NASA-sponsored missions simulating what it would be like for humans to live on another planet.

In addition to being a commercial astronaut and science ambassador, Proctor is a geology professor at Maricopa Community College in Arizona. She has taught geology, sustainability and planetary science for more than 20 years. She is also a poet and an artist, creating work to inspire women of color to pursue careers in aviation, science and space exploration.

NBAA-BACE will take place in the new West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and at nearby Henderson Executive Airport (HND). Learn more about NBAA-BACE.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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