T. Ito, International Space University, Strasbourg Central Campus, 1 Rue Jean­ Dominique Cassini, Parc d'Innovation, 67400 lllkirch-Graffenstaden, France e-mail: ito@isu. isunet. edu M. J. Rycroft, CAESAR Consultancy, 35 Millington Road, Cambridge CB3 9HW, UK e-mail: Michael. J. Rycroft®ukgateway. net As Symposium Committee Chair for the 2003 International Space University (ISU) Symposium, and Editor of this Proceedings volume, respectively, we write this introduction. The success of previous ISU symposia suggests that the ISU has developed a unique and winning formula for a novel type of symposium. The characteristics of ISU symposia are that they: ¿ Adopt a broad, and interdisciplinary, perspective ¿ Address all aspects of the