‘Astronaut Teacher’ Mike Mongo to deliver ISDC Opening Keynote in Los Angeles

Florida author to kickoff Student Plenary at National Space Society’s 2018 International Space Development Conference

• STEAM-minded students attending Los Angeles space event

• Jeff Bezos to deliver remarks, receive award at day’s Governor’s Ball

LOS ANGELES–Florida children’s book author Mike Mongo will deliver this year’s Opening Keynote Student Plenary at the 2018 edition of the National Space Society’s International Space Development Conference on Friday, May 25th at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel Conference Venue.

Mongo, an international space STEAM educator, is the author of popular children’s book, The Astronaut Instruction Manual. His Keynote for the Conference’s 2018 Student Plenary is titled, “How to Prepare for the Astronaut Job Fair”.

The International Space Development Conference (ISDC) is the annual crowning event for the US not-for-profit space exploration advocacy org, the National Space Society (NSS). Every year hundreds of top space scientists, industry professionals, and enthusiasts convene at the ISDC, one of the top space industry conferences in the world. This will be the first time the ISDC has been in Los Angeles since 2014.

One of the primary objectives of National Space Society and ISDC is outreach, and on May 5th astronaut teacher and children’s book author Mike Mongo will deliver the Opening Keynote to kickoff this year’s Student Plenary.

‘Astronaut Teacher’ Mike Mongo is author of The Astronaut Instruction Manual, a pre-teen guide to pursuing careers in space and astronautics. Mr Mongo annually reaches thousands of students in schools around the world to inspire and empower. His message is clear: “Tomorrow’s jobs are in space.”

“Ten years ago I had an epiphany,” says Mongo. “It was there is a need for teaching professionals to be preparing today’s young students for tomorrow’s jobs in space. As a working STEAM educator, I leapt into that role. Today that future I envisioned is a reality. And today’s middle-grade and high school students who know they can live, work, and play in space–and are given permission to imagine themselves in those roles–have a critical competitive advantage for tomorrow’s jobs in space.”

Mr Mongo is also vice-president of interstellar space science advocacy Icarus Interstellar, co-founder of interstellar science conference Starship Congress, and Special Advisor to the Board of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). His book The Astronaut Instruction Manual is currently in pre-production for television series.

Mike Mongo’s Opening Keynote for Friday, May 25th’s Student Plenary is titled How to Prepare for the Astronaut Job Fair.

Also on Friday, May 25th, is the ISDC’s Governor’s Ball, which this year is led by Blue Origin spaceship company’s and Amazon owner/founder Jeff Bezos.

Bezos will be delivering remarks at the close the day’s events at the 2018 ISDC Governor’s Ball where he will be receiving this year’s Gerard K. O’Neill Memorial Award. The Gerard K. O’Neill Memorial Award is given at infrequent intervals to exceptional individuals for recognition in space exploration and development.

Blue Origin is one of the largest private space transportation companies in the world, and Bezos is noted for his passion for space exploration. And of course books.

“To be honest, as much as I love the National Space Society and the International Space Development Conference,” says author Mongo, “and as excited as a I am about this Keynote before all these students and peers, I am at least as thrilled about meeting Jeff Bezos for the first time. I even have a special copy of The Astronaut Instruction Manual I’ll be handing him to give to some important young student in his life. Imagine being the kid who gets Jeff Bezos’ own copy of The Astronaut Instruction Manual. Now that is a kid who will be ready to go to space!”

For more information about Mike Mongo,
email mike@mikemongo.com or @mikemongo on twitter.

For more information about International Space Development Conference,
email ISDC.Media@nss.org or @isdc on twitter.

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Mike Mongo is author of The Astronaut Instruction Manual. He is co-founder of Starship Congress, vice-president of Icarus Interstellar, and Special Advisor to Board of Students for Exploration of Space (SEDS). Mr Mongo has learned from students he teaches how we can solve every challenge we face on earth today–energy, health, sustainability, diversity, inclusion, even the illusion of scarcity–by solving for space.