Entrance to the NASA Kennedy Space Center
From September 24 – 26, 220 happy invited guests converged on Orlando, Florida to attend the 2009 Hasselblad Global Conference. The singular choice of holding the event at NASA’s legendary Kennedy Space Center was in itself ample incentive for the guests to come. The Scandinavian-based company celebrated its history as well as heralding its future by staging part of the conference where Apollo 11 lifted off with Hasselblad moon cameras on board and unveiled the new H4D camera series together with the latest Phocus 2.0 imaging software.
Dr. Buzz Aldrin and press representatives
Hasselblad CEO Christian Poulsen and Dr. Buzz Aldrin
A gathering of leading photography and aerospace experts as prestigious as the one at the Florida event will not be seen again for a long time. Hasselblad CEO Christian Poulsen took part along with senior management from the company’s research and development team to celebrate with familiar friends from NASA. And even the “Man on the Moon” himself appeared in person with his wife Lois: astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to ever set foot on the moon as part of the 1969 Apollo mission and one of the first Hasselblad photographers to capture images in space. The 79-year-old veteran astronaut answered journalists’ questions, sharing details about his life and the unforgettable moon flight with equal portions of humor and philosophical insight. One perhaps little-known fact was that Hasselblad cameras are still awaiting the return of humans in the Sea of Tranquility, where the equipment had to be left behind to reduce weight on board the lunar lander.
Dr. Buzz Aldrin with his new Hasselblad 503CW 
Gala-Dinner in the Apollo/Saturn V Center beneath the mighty Saturn V rocket
The three-day program gave attendees many unique glimpses into the mysteries of aeronautics and behind-the-scenes information about Hasselblad. Those taking part in a VIP tour of the spacious Cape Canaveral space center were able to capture images from the past and future of space exploration. As part of a compact university training course, photographers were given useful tips on how to put their Hasselblad equipment to the most effective use from expert Hasselblad engineers themselves. The conclusion to the 2009 Hasselblad Global Conference was a banquet for the guests in the Apollo/Saturn V Center beneath a huge Saturn V rocket. The 110 m space rocket measuring 10 m in diameter created a genuinely overwhelming backdrop for the closing event.
