ASCEND is an acronym that stands for “Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery.” The name captures our ambition to empower space professionals and organizations to drive the space economy forward together.

ASCEND is built to convene space professionals and organizations from every discipline and industry to build the space economy, support space exploration, and further space science.

Our attendees come from all of the following groups:

ASCEND is built around asking the big idea questions that impact everyone working or studying in the space industry. We’re collaborating with our engineering, business, civil, and governmental advisors to select the cutting-edge topics and reaching out to space adjacent partners to bring in the whole space community.

The 2023 October program will be announced from 20 June through September.

The best way to impact the content at ASCEND is to propose your own work! Learn more about our Call for Content for 2023 (now closed) and stay tuned for the next Call for Content in 2024.

We would also love to hear your ideas for speakers and topics in the meantime. To share those ideas, send us an email at ascend@aiaa.org.

As one of ASCEND’s partners, you will be able to further its position by playing a lead role in defining the promise and potential of the emerging space economy.

Visit the Become a Sponsor page or send us an email at vickies@aiaa.org and we’ll help you customize your experience and impact at ASCEND.

The ASCEND program is built with the combined expertise of AIAA’s technical community and industry thought leaders. The structure and experience itself are being crafted with the support of world-renowned advisors in the space industry.

Check out the stacked Guiding Coalition for 2023 and get excited for the sessions these folks are cooking up for ASCEND this year.

Yes. All technical proceedings will be available online post-event as an exclusive benefit to registered attendees. In addition, various ASCEND programming will conclude with Outcomes via video, white paper, or other media and be available online as developed post-event.

The ASCEND universe is expanding to meet and anticipate the ever-growing needs of the global space community. The structure of ASCEND includes various other events, identified as the ASCENDxSeries, leading up to the apex event in October.

The ASCENDxSeries provides multiple informational and engaging opportunities, via summits, workshops, and/or webinars.

Check out the upcoming events or recordings of previous xSeries events.

No. For 2023 all Technical Paper Presentations will take place in person in Las Vegas. There will be no virtual component to our ASCEND programming.  

This year’s main event will take place in person at Caesars Forum, in Las Vegas, NV.

Discounted hotel rates are available through 29 September 2023 for ASCEND attendees. Book your room now:

• General Attendee Rates
• Government Attendee Rates

Yes – all Technical Paper Presenters, Speakers, Chairs, and all others attendees must be registered to enter the venue.

Yes, you can find the AIAA Visa Letter Request form at Visa Invitation Letter Request Form | AIAA

Registration for 2023 ASCEND will open on 20 June 2023.

Early bird rates expire at 11:59 PM ET on 15 September 2023.

Registration will remain open beyond the early bird deadline through the duration of the event. There will be onsite registration available.

Full conference registrants will have access to proceedings. Other registration types (Student and Retiree) do not have access to the proceedings (publications)

If you register and you’re not able to attend, you can request a full refund prior to 6 October 2023. After that date refund requests will not be granted.

Yes, we do! This is an exclusive benefit for current AIAA student members. Refer to the registration rates page for rules and restrictions.

We do offer a discount for AIAA members as well as additional discounts for different types of membership. Details can be found on the registration page.

Yes, ASCEND welcomes all credentialed members of the media whose primary responsibility is the coverage of the aerospace industry.