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ASCEND 2026

Thank You for Building Our Off-World Future With Us
ASCEND 2026 has concluded. Watch sessions on demand, explore outcomes, and be the first to hear about ASCEND 2027.

ASCEND Call for Content Opens 21 July

Watch ASCEND 2026 On Demand

Powered by Our Technical Community and Event Partners

ASCEND 2026 is strengthened by industry leading partner organizations that, in addition to the Call for Content, bring dedicated programming and communities to the event. 

Hosts a classified program day and leads the Space Transformation Summit focused on long-term technological and strategic change.

Curates two days of Finance and Innovation programming, programming, convening investors, innovators, and industry leaders through panels, discussions, and a startup pitch competition.

Brings its Space Policy Summit to ASCEND over two days, convening policymakers, Congressional leaders, industry, and government stakeholders.

Delivers three days of ISS research and development content, spanning high-level discussions and technical presentations on microgravity science and utilization.

Organizes sessions on ISS heritage, focusing on preservation, recovery, and legacy.

Leads sessions exploring how D2D connectivity, cloud technologies, and AI are reshaping global space services.

The Space Force Association advocates for and supports the United States Space Force by bringing together military, industry partners, academia and the public.

Brings its SGx event to ASCEND, curating content for students and early-career professionals.

ASCEND 2026 Featured Speakers Included:

Opening Keynote Speaker
Jared Isaacman

Administrator
NASA

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The Honorable Brian Babin

U.S. Representative (TX-36), U.S. House of Representatives

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David Baumann

Director, Human Research Program, NASA

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Steve Bowen

Acting Director of Cross-Directorate Technical Integration, Space Operations Mission Directorate; Astronaut

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Gen. Shawn N. Bratton

Vice Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force

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Harriet Brettle

Executive Director, Keck Institute for Space Studies

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Tory Bruno

President, Blue National Security, Blue Origin

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A.C. Charania

Senior Vice President of Space Business Development, Zeno Power

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Carissa Christensen

Founder and CEO, BryceTech

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Jonathan Cirtain

CEO & President, Axiom Space

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Katie Cranor

Office of Commercial Space Transportation, FAA

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Jonny Dyer

CEO, Muon Space

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Debra Factor

Head of US Space Systems, Airbus US Space & Defense

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Brig. Gen. Nick Hague, USSF

Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Headquarters United States Space Force; NASA Astronaut

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Jenny Irvine

Vice President of Technology, In-Q-Tel

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Dana “Keoki” Jackson

Senior Vice President and General Manager, MITRE National Security, and AIAA President-Elect

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Taylor Jordan

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, NOAA

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Joe Landon

Co-Founder & President, Rendezvous Robotics

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Maj. Gen. Brook Leonard, USAF (Ret.)

Chief Executive Officer, Rogue Space Systems Corporation

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Robert Lightfoot

President, Lockheed Martin Space

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Laura Lucier

Chief, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, NASA

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Ray Lugo

CEO, ISS National Laboratory

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Sandra Magnus

Principal, AstroPlanetview LLC

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Nujoud Merancy

Deputy Associate Administrator, Strategy & Architecture Office, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA

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Rob Meyerson

CEO, Interlune

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Clay Mowry

CEO, AIAA

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Clive Neal

Professor of Planetary Geology, University of Notre Dame

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Kelli Kedis Ogborn

Strategic Advisor for Global Markets and Industry Engagement, Commercial Space Foundation

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Paul Rosen

Project Scientist, NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission

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John Tylko

Lecturer, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT

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Program-at-a-Glance

ASCEND 2026 covers a broad range of topics spanning space science and exploration, technology development and utilization, space economy, national security, and policy and law.

Key Themes:
Session Topics:
acend program icon economy gold
Space Economy
Shape the future of space commerce by exploring markets, investment, business models, and partnerships driving sustainable growth across the global space economy.
acend program icon security gold
Policy and Law
Advance space policy, law, and governance to support innovation, economic growth, security, and long-term sustainability.
acend program icon security gold
National Security
Protect and strengthen space systems by advancing mission resilience, cybersecurity, detection capabilities, partnerships, and next-generation technologies across an increasingly contested domain.
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Science and Exploration
Make great leaps in space technology and scientific discovery across low Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
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Technology Development and Utilization
Develop new enabling technologies and services, supporting space and terrestrial Infrastructure.

What to Expect:

2,000

Attendees

130

Sessions

190

Technical Papers

2026 Sponsors & Event Partners

FOUNDING SPONSOR
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PREMIER SPONSOR
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SILVER SPONSORS
CORPORATE PARTNERS
PREMIER EVENT PARTNER
EVENT PARTNERS

We are proud to collaborate with outstanding organizations that share our vision and make this event possible. Meet All Our Sponsors & Partners.

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