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ASCENDxTexas
Next Steps in the LEO-to-Lunar Voyage
14–15 February 2024
South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center

After a successful 2022 debut and 2023 event, 2024 ASCENDxTexas continues with a dynamic dive into projects and strategies that can revolutionize the off-world ecosystem. This day-and-a-half event serves as a collaborative hub, fostering partnerships and overcoming barriers to build transformative outcomes and to catalyze a new era of the space economy. Delve into the crucial role that commercialization plays in advancing space ecosystems and uncover insights on the future of space stations, CLPS, CLD, and other pivotal programs shaping the next generation of aerospace. Connect with global stakeholders in Texas to accelerate progress toward a sustainable off-world future.

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Registration

EARLY BIRD RATES AVAILABLE THROUGH 17 JANUARY 2024. Your registration provides an all-access pass for two-days of programming and networking opportunities.

Conference - Standard

$399

$449 regular

Members

$349

$399 regular

Students

$199

$299 regular

Government

$299

$299 regular

Powered by AIAA, ASCEND, which stands for Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery, is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space community designed to accelerate the building of our off-world future.

The ASCENDx Series accelerates momentum toward the ASCEND apex event. ASCENDxTexas is an open summit bringing together a broad community of stakeholders from NASA, industry, academia, government, and private entities to help build connections into partnerships, and engage in continuous discussions on strategy, development, and implementation of our off-world exploration, national security, and commercial activities. As with all our ASCEND events, ASCENDxTexas will focus on impactful outcomes and identifying opportunities holistically as a mission rather than a solution.

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Summit Agenda

Speaker and session details will be available at a later date. Check back soon!

Wednesday | 14 February

1300 HRS CT

Opening Remarks and Welcome

SPEAKER

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Vanessa Wyche
Director, NASA Johnson Space Center

1315 HRS CT

Results from the Past Year

1330 HRS CT

Agency Acquisition Models – Shaping Space Investment Strategies and Collaboration

As the space industry continues to evolve from a purely government-directed entity into a commercial-driven sector, new challenges arise in every direction. This session will explore the challenges and opportunities as seen from leadership’s perspective and provide a chance for open feedback from the audience.

1400 HRS CT

Moon-to-Mars Strategy – Evolving Projects, Timelines, and Architectural Update

As humanity reaches ever farther from our home world, clear foresight and navigation are crucial in building sustainable economies. How will the moon-to-Mars economy materialize, how far off is commercial viability, and what steps/technologies are needed to catalyze the industry? This session will provide an update on NASA’s moon-to-Mars timeline and strategy to help prepare both contractors and companies for future industries. 

SPEAKER

NUJOUD MERANCY 2022ASCEND 2

Nujoud Merancy
Deputy Associate Administrator for Strategy & Architecture, NASA

1430 HRS CT

Networking Coffee Break

Sponsored by

JES Tech Logo

1500 HRS CT

Texas as a Case Study – Space-Forward State Cooperation

Federal funding of space missions and research is no longer the only avenue to get a project off the ground. With the influx of private and individual funding of space endeavors, how are states incentivizing projects and companies to utilize local capabilities and resources? This panel will examine Texas as a case study in leveraging political, fiscal, and operational opportunities to bring the stars a little closer to the Lone Star State, including a look into HB 3447, the Texas Space Commission, and the Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium.

SPEAKER

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Brian Freedman
President, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP)

1545 HRS CT

Charting a Course for Future Space Research

Building off the previous panel, this session will examine the economic, academic, and industrial impact of the newly funded Texas Space Commission and the Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium, including the creation of the new Texas A&M Space Institute. Hear from leaders of these endeavors on how the new resources will be used and how they will accelerate the aerospace industry as a whole.

1630 HRS CT

Networking & Welcome Reception

Thursday | 15 February

0730 HRS CT

Networking Breakfast

Sponsored by

LeagueCityTX logo transparent 1893

0800 HRS CT

Capital and Capitol Support for Space Research

Research is never cheap – space research doubly so. With intense investment in space exploration and commercialization, research is critical to profitability. Building on the previous day’s panels on Agency Acquisition Models, Space-Forward State Cooperation, and Future Space Research, this session will delve into the economic drivers for government investment in space research with perspectives from key leadership and industry stakeholders.

0900 HRS CT

Demand Signals for a Viable Commercial Lunar Market

With the first CLPS mission scheduled to launch on 24 December 2023, and another five missions scheduled throughout 2024 – a commercial lunar market is beginning to emerge. At an estimated $1 million per payload–kilogram, the demand for these services needs to be clearly understood. Hear from industry leaders on their goals, timelines, challenges, and forecasting for this burgeoning piece of the cislunar economy. 

1000 HRS CT

Networking Coffee Break

1015 HRS CT

Operating in an Evolving Space Landscape: What Next Generation Outposts Can Learn from ISS

What does it take to run a crewed outpost in space?  How does a team establish and evolve the partnerships and sustaining processes on the ground that “keep the lights on”, and keep humanity in orbit?  A panel of International Space Station leaders will talk about the programmatic, organizational, and operational challenges of establishing and maintaining a human spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit, address some of the ways those challenges have evolved over the 23+ years of ISS crewed operations and consider what may lie ahead for future outposts.

MODERATOR

Stephanie Dudley NASA

Stephanie Dudley
Manager, Mission Integration & Utilization, Gateway Program, NASA

PANELIST

TJ Creamer NASA

T.J. Creamer
Flight Director & Astronaut, NASA

PANELIST

Mary Lawrence NASA

Mary Lawrence
Deputy Manager, Vehicle Office, ISS Program, NASA

PANELIST

Courtenay McMillan NASA

Courtenay McMillan
Manager Mission Integration & Operations, ISS Program, NASA

PANELIST

Ryan Prouty NASA

Ryan Prouty
Manager, Research Integration, ISS Program, NASA

1115 HRS CT

Building on the ISS Legacy—Commercial Opportunities in LEO

As the International Space Station edges closer to retirement, opportunities for Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations expand as new industries gain open access to microgravity. This panel will explore overarching plans for these future space stations, the status of developing demand signals, and next steps in budling a viable market for commercial LEO destinations.

SPEAKER

Camille Alleyne1 ASCEND2022

Camille Alleyne
Deputy Manager, Commercial LEO Development Program, NASA Johnson Space Center

1200 HRS CT

Lunch & Interactive Discussion

Sponsored by

Cimarron logo 2023

1400 HRS CT

Accelerating a Global Space Ecosystem

Our off-world future will be a global endeavor by necessity. Beyond cooperative exploration initiatives, commercialization will be driven by innovative ideas from around the world. This discussion will provide insights and reactions from other countries working to build a sustainable LEO-to-lunar ecosystem.

1445 HRS CT

Networking Coffee Break

1500 HRS CT

Report-Outs from Interactive Discussions

1530 HRS CT

Closing Keynote/Panel + Remarks

1600 HRS CT

Closing Reception

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Powered by AIAA, ASCEND promotes the collaborative, interdisciplinary, outcomes-driven community of professionals, students, and serious enthusiasts around the world who are accelerating humanity’s progress toward our off-world future!

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