Call for Sessions
Organize and Lead a 2023 Collaborative Session
Submission Opens 30 January — Closes 2000hrs EDT on 22 March
By design, the 2023 ASCEND Call for Content (CFC) is written at a higher-level to promote greater diversity and freedom of important content to be offered. The goal of the collaborative sessions is to spur large-scale discussions of the trends, economic forces, and technical challenges facing every member of the space ecosystem across a broad range of disciplines.
Collaborative communities are continuing forums where public and private sector members proactively work together to develop deeper understanding of issues, to achieve common objectives and outcomes, to solve shared challenges, and to leverage collective opportunities in an environment of trust, respect, empathy, and openness.
Call for Sessions Submission Process
To develop a deeper understanding of topics, issues, or themes relevant to the overall space sector, the 2023 ASCEND collaborative program invites proposals for sessions (in different session formats, see column A in the table below) discussing paradoxes or “trade-offs” in one of six topics of discussion (see column B below) from session participants (e.g., panelists) representing diverse industries (listed in column C). By selecting one bulleted item from column A, one from column B, and up to four to six (4-6) from column C (please avoid multiple participants from the same bulleted item), we can achieve the goal for all 2023 ASCEND Collaborative Sessions, to engage multiple perspectives on major discussion topics or themes.
Discussion topics should be worded as two contradictory statements, neither one “right” or “wrong,” just seeming opposites. These statements will frame in a lively and interesting collaboration session. Common paradoxical themes include the following dualisms:
- Inclusion-Exclusion
An example of this dualism could be whether to encourage satellite constellations for the new capabilities they provide or to discourage their proliferation because of the detrimental effects they have on some communities. Another example could be the question of whether human and/or robotic exploration should take priority.
- Preservation-Change
A good example of this could be whether the original Apollo lunar landing sites should be “off limits,” preserved as historic landmarks, or whether those areas should be available for further exploration and potential use. Another example could be the common practice of depicting the regulatory role of the FAA as a conflict between safety and promotion.
- Centrality-Distribution
An example of this paradox is the question of whether control of a complicated defense system should be centralized or distributed.
- Competition-Cooperation
This is a common question in the emergence of new industry segments. When is it appropriate for a company to work with its competitors to accumulate the necessary resources and capabilities to make the entire ecosystem viable in the long-term?
Collaborative Program Chairs
If you have questions about submission topics and our interdisciplinary approach, please reach out to one of the 2023 ASCEND Collaborative Program Chairs:
- Ken Davidian | Collaborative Program Chair
- Karl Garman | Collaborative Program Deputy Chair
- Jessica Piness | Collaborative Program Deputy Chair
- Hemali Vyas | Collaborative Program Deputy Chair
- Laurent Sibille | Collaborative-Technical Liaison
Key Dates and Deadlines
Column A
Session Formats
Step One: Pick One Format
A classic debate where a provocative question is posed and both sides are represented.
A moderated discussion between a small group of experts with audience participation through Q&A.
An interactive participation by attendees and roundtable facilitators to collaboratively probe issues and leverage collective experiences to develop a deeper, shared understanding.
A gathering of a community around a central topic for discussion and planning that includes high levels of attendee participation in open discussion.
An interactive learning session that includes the participation of attendees and may award certification or continuing education credits.
A collaborative session in which attendees are dispersed into small groups to discuss a central topic/theme, focused on developing outcomes, and capturing the collective wisdom/ideation.
Column C
Representatives From Which Industry(s)? (Examples)
Step Three: Pick Four to Six Industries
Raw Materials Industries
- Metals
- Minerals
- Chemicals
- Fluids
- Finance-capital
- Human Resources
- Data
Sub-systems and Systems Industries
- Plumbing
- Structures
- Communications
- Guidance, Navigation, Control (GNC)
- Power
- Propulsion
- Space Specialists
- Systems Integrators
Critical Elements Industries
- Spaceports
- Launch Vehicles
- Satellites
- Habitats
- Fuel Depots
Space-Resident Vehicles Industries
- Cargo Capsules
- Human Capsules
- Satellites
- Habitats
- Fuel Depots
Supporting Industries
- Support Vehicles
- Facilities and Equipment for Ground and Flight Operations
- Business Support Specialties
- Other Industries (e.g., automotive, electronics)
- Trade Organizations
- International Organizations
- Governments (domestic, foreign, all levels)
Retail Services Industries
- Customer Service
- Hospitality
- Business Development
- Training
Customers
- Existing
- Potential
General Submission Requirements
- Participant Contact Information – Full name, institution, phone, and email address for all session organizers and proposed speakers.
- Submission Details – Title, session format, session topic, represented industries of each panelist or participant.
- Session Description – Detailed description including the contradictory statements on the topic, and the list of participants and the industry perspective they represent.
Please Note
- All proposed sessions should strive to include diverse representation of both demographics and perspectives.
- All collaborative session participants are required to be registered and present in-person at ASCEND, and organizers will receive information about registration options upon acceptance.
Session Topics
Space Traffic Management/ Coordination ↓
Sessions are invited that offer non-technology-based methods as well (policy, best practices, lessons learned, etc.) that assess the appropriate roles of organizations (international bodies, national governments, and nongovernmental organizations, etc.) in providing space situational awareness, traffic management, and control services. Regulatory clarity regarding the on-orbit authorities of government agencies – as-yet largely undefined – is a timely subject. Attention to evolving regulatory frameworks and priority preferences for air traffic operations amidst the increasing launch/reentry cadence are of particular interest.
Submissions may relate to items, such as:
- Space access and safe operations from initial launch through mission completion/return
- Regulatory requirements and methods to manage certification of Commercial Launch Systems
- Orbital debris identification; notification; management
- Autonomous space domain tracking and reporting tools
Expanding and Evolving the Space Economy ↓
Recent analyses suggest that a fully developed space-based economy is poised to dwarf the current economic activities on Earth. Realizing the full promise and possibility of that growth—a forecasted $1 trillion globally by 2040—demands bringing together business leaders, academics, innovators, investors, technical experts, government stakeholders and decision-makers to envision, design, and build the future of space commerce, together. ASCEND seek sessions that may dig into these topics to support this community and help inspire new approaches and lessons learned from relevant markets.
Submissions may relate to items, such as:
- Emerging commercial services and capabilities in progress (like On-Orbit Servicing)
- Market research products
- Business plans and opportunities to enable synergistic implementation and exploitation.
- Major cost drivers and potential solutions (for establishment and expansion of space commerce)
- Strategies and success stories for public awareness
Space Exploration and Infrastructure: Exploring, Living and Working in Space ↓
Throughout human history, we have pondered the great mysteries, such as the formation of the universe and our solar system, the existence of life on other planets, and how we can better understand the complex systems of the Earth. Within the past century, however, advances in space technology have allowed us to make great leaps in our understanding of these and other scientific frontiers.
As we seek to further accelerate the growth of the space economy and make strides toward our off-world future, it is imperative that we leverage the resultant new technologies and capabilities to expand our understanding of the solar system and the universe. We must address the most crucial scientific questions that remain unanswered. This topic focuses attention on these questions, as prioritized by the scientific community in publications, such as the U.S. NASA-requested decadal surveys, and to identify opportunities and challenges that can be addressed through increased activities and human presence in space.
Space Security and Protection ↓
ASCEND seeks dialogue-generating panels and workshops to foster outcomes shaping the future utilization and protection of space. Space activities support all aspects of daily life, thus the overlap between efforts to produce value in space, efforts to manage the increasingly crowded space domain, and efforts to protect our ability to operate freely in space form a nexus for the space community.
ASCEND wishes to form sessions around space-based capabilities, sensor and system technologies, space traffic management, space domain awareness, and the protection of space assets. Content covering cislunar ventures provides insights into the growth beyond the traditional Earth orbit focus. Additionally, experiences in commercialization partnerships and public private partnerships inform the evolution and approaches to providing the systems necessary to protect, defend, and enable the continued open use of space for the benefit of all humankind in an environment that is becoming increasingly crowded, dangerous, and essential.
Space and Sustainability ↓
Education, Outreach and Workforce ↓
The recent explosive growth in the commercial space industry has led to one of the most dynamic and exciting periods of expansion of the aerospace workforce. However, this vitality and growth has not come without challenges: workforce retention and management has become a first-order concern, prevalent across the industry. At the same time, our industry is becoming increasingly conscious of the critical importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in our schools, and yet challenged to impart significant traction in this regard. Emergent technological needs in areas like artificial intelligence, human-robot teaming and cybersecurity are driving our system requirements and capabilities, resulting in significant changes in the educational needs of modern-day aerospace engineers. ASCEND seeks sessions to shed light on all these issues and help our industry wrap its arms around these huge challenges.
Submissions may relate to items, such as:
- Educational approaches and curriculum strategies
- Workforce development, retention, and management
- Outreach initiatives and programs
- Diversity, advocacy, equality, and inclusion
- Synergistic approaches by academia, government, and industry