SSIB 2022 Learn More

Speaker List:

Ryan Weed, Defense Innovation Unit

Associate Administrator Dr. Bhavya Lal, NASA

Robbie Schingler, Planet

Steve Wood, Maxar

Peter Wegner, BlackSky

Brian Flewelling, ExoAnalytics

Shiloh Dockstader, Planet

Lee Steinke

Christos Christodoulou, University of New Mexico

Tom Caudill, Blue Halo

Pav Singh, Defense Innovation Unit

Katherine Koleski, Defense Innovation Unit

Bruce Cahan, Urban Logic

Meagan Crawford, Space Fund

Mark Jelonek, Aerospace Corp

Nicholas Eftimiades, Atlantic Council

Rick Tomlinson, Space Fund

Lisa Rich, Xplore

Working Groups

Hybrid Space Communications: This working group will explore the progress made in securing funding for the future Space Internet and how to accelerate achieving the vision for transforming space systems into a ‘space superhighway’ that strengthens US leadership in commercial, civil and national security space. The discussion will include how to enable the space industrial base in delivering critical solutions across building hybrid space architecture, multi-path communications, SATCOM, Space Domain Awareness, weather observation sources and ground terminals. Hybrid space communications are foundational to enabling secure, authenticated, interoperable communication between satellites and much broader economic activity. Addressing where automation and autonomy are desirable and essential for transforming communications in space will also be covered.

In Space Transportation and Logistics: This working group will explore how the U.S. and its allies should advance development on modular, serviceable, and reusable systems and sustainable in-space logistics infrastructure (both physical and digital) to support operations by leveraging commercial, civil, and national security space systems. This will include a discussion on implementing the Active Debris Removal Strategy (pending release) and In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) National Strategy.

Policy and Finance: This working group will discuss recent developments and actionable steps needed to modernize near- and mid-term licensing, trade, economic and financial policies and strategies to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the commercial space sector. This encompasses policies and strategies on how to engage allies and regional partners and address foreign ownership, control and influence (FOCI) while protecting our national security and supporting the U.S. space industrial base.

Next Generation Power and Propulsion: In the last year, the U.S. Government has laid out a National Strategy for Nuclear Power and Propulsion. Both the human missions themselves and the logistics missions that support them will require large quantities of propellant and highly efficient propulsion systems to achieve affordable routine missions. Systems such as high-power electric propulsion, nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion, and Lunar-sourced propellant must all be developed to sustain the spaceflight ecosystem. This group will discuss progress made over the last year and challenges to be addressed to expand energy supplies more rapidly, including regulatory and licensing obstacles and a lack of testing facilities and nuclear disposal sites. Nuclear and solar power and propulsion, power beaming and alternative propellants will be among the innovative technologies explored and discussed.

Remote Sensing and Traffic Management: This working group will review the current remote sensing and traffic management landscape and propose implementable recommendations needed to resolve undetermined aspects of operation in cislunar space, including spectrum allocation, space situational awareness, and earth observation (EO, IR, Hyperspectral, SAR, RF, others) with real time tracking from, to, and in space. This will include modernizing and overcoming barriers to commercial acquisition regulations to leverage the nation’s growing commercial remote sensing industry to enhance our space domain awareness (SDA) architecture and continue expansion of LEO constellations.

Workforce, Education and STEM: A healthy space infrastructure supported by a STEM workforce must be put in place to capture a dominant share of the $1.4 trillion in economic growth expected over the next decade. Success will require a highly educated workforce across all Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines not only in design but skilled labor. However, workforce issues threaten the economic viability of space as well as the ability to maintain a strong national security space posture. This group will discuss progress in building the space workforce of the future and how to address talent gaps, such as preparing the workforce, increasing diversity, securing financial investments, and retaining talent.

Commercial Launch Sector: scheduled separately 25-26 May in Cape Canaveral, FL- Learn more here