ABOUT ASCEND
It’s bringing together every corner of the space ecosystem to connect, debate, and discuss the future. Engineers, business leaders, policymakers, and everyone in-between.
That’s why ASCEND stands for Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery.
WHY A LIVE EVENT?
ASCEND is built on the belief that every member of the space community has something in common: a commitment to human exploration, effective utilization of space resources, and the long-term sustainability of the space enterprise. The best way to make it happen is to work across disciplines.
- Plot the course of the industry’s future
- Showcase ideas and technology advancements
- Test products and meet the people who built them
- Connect and problem-solve with experts from every sector
CURRICULUM
The ASCEND curriculum is built to provide three levels of value:
Large-scale discussions of the trends, economic forces, and challenges facing every member of the space ecosystem.
Focused conversations to apply these big ideas to different sectors, projects, and use cases.
Technical content to go deep on specific advancements and discoveries.
THE LAUNCH TEAM
ASCEND is built by AIAA: the world’s largest technical society dedicated to aerospace, promoting innovation, and convening technical experts who are shaping the future of our planet and beyond. The ASCEND experience is crafted with the support of world-renowned leaders in the space industry, including:
- Bobby Braun, University of Colorado Boulder
- Tory Bruno, United Launch Alliance
- Jim Chilton, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
- Mary Lynne Dittmar, Coalition for Deep Space Exploration
- Dan Dumbacher, AIAA
- Debra Facktor, Ball Aerospace
- Jim Free, Peerless Technologies
- Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA
- Tim Hughes, SpaceX
- Steve Isakowitz, The Aerospace Corporation
- Fred Kennedy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
- Robert Lightfoot, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
- Sandy Magnus, AstroPlanetview
- Jim Maser, Aerojet Rocketdyne
- Rob Meyerson, ASCEND Executive Producer
- Clay Mowry, Blue Origin
- Dava Newman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Robbie Schingler, Planet
- Kay Sears, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
- Ellen Stofan, National Air and Space Museum
- Mark Whorton, The University of Tennessee Space Institute
- George Whitesides, Virgin Galactic
Join the space industry’s foremost thinkers for the international space economy’s flagship event, where you’ll not only get to witness history in the making but play an important role in shaping its future
Keep me in the loop
Have questions? Contact us at ascend@aiaa.org
Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at ASCEND?
Email ascendsales@smithbucklin.com
Have questions? Contact us at ascend@aiaa.org
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