Agenda At-A-Glance

Last year, the ISS National Laboratory, in collaboration with NASA’s Division of Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS), announced the first-ever Igniting Innovation solicitation to advance research on cancer and other diseases. These flight projects aim to address the goals of the Cancer Moonshot^SM initiative and accelerate the translation of stem cell- and organoid-based disease models and advanced technologies for biomanufacturing. Join us for a lively and informative conversation about this unique initiative and the evolution of Igniting Innovation for 2025.

Transformative research in biomedicine is taking place on the International Space Station to benefit life on Earth. Meet some of the pioneers of this R&D as they discuss how space is advancing discovery and clinical applications within the biomedical community.

The session will be co-moderated by Jennifer Buchli, NASA chief scientist for the ISS Program, and Michael Roberts, chief scientific officer for the ISS National Lab. Both NASA and the ISS National Lab have prioritized utilization of the space station for cancer and other disease-related research, as well as in-space production applications and manufacturing opportunities, and this session features panelists within those respective fields.

This panel will highlight the impacts of Genes in Space on participants’ academic and career developments. Led by former participants, panelists will discuss how the resources and support they received through the program taught them to think critically about the real-world challenges of living and working in space and how to make meaningful impacts in space biology. Discussion will also touch on the specific lessons learned from guided mentorship opportunities and the experience of networking with space industry professionals as teenagers at ISSRDC.

In 2013, the ISS National Lab began their partnership with MassChallenge to better educate those within startup communities on the research possibilities that existed on the ISS. Since then, The ISS National Lab has partnered with Boeing to award grants through a MassChallenge Boston “Technology in Space” prize. Grants to awarded companies provide seed funding and assist with hardware costs for flight to the space station. This discussion will focus on previous grantees and how the program served as springboard for business success.

Humans have been living on the ISS for over two decades and today commercial astronauts have joined their NASA counterparts. As the number people traveling to, and spending time in, space increases, our understanding of the physiological responses of humans must increase as well. Join us for this panel of experts as they discuss how we leverage the ISS to improve human performance in commercial space habitats, what new human interfaces might exist in a commercial environment (i.e. robotics, AI), and how do we shape processes for balancing risk between NASA requirements and commercial interests.

A leading expert in robot ethics, Kate Darling oversees a team of researchers who explore key societal questions related to the development of intelligent robots. She explores the emotional connection between people and life-like machines, seeking to influence technology design and policy direction. Darling, also known as the “Mistress of Machines,” will be accompanied by one of her robots.

Jim Free, the senior advisor to Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, is NASA’s third highest-ranking executive and its highest-ranking civil servant. In addition to leading the agency’s 10 center directors and the mission directorate associate administrators at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., he acts as chief operating officer for more than 18,000 employees.

In his keynote address, Free will discuss the International Space Station (ISS) as a novel platform for innovation in low Earth orbit (LEO), the exciting developments taking place on the space station, the agency’s perspective on its future, the growing space economy, and the continuity of research and development on the orbiting laboratory.

This panel will discuss aspects between the ISS program and Commercial LEO Destinations Program as they relate maintaining continuity of research in the microgravity environment.  Panel members will also provide information leveraging the low-earth environment to achieve other exploration mission research objectives.

Join us for the ultimate (and probably first-ever) payload operations game show! Do you know how projects go from concept to flight? Do you understand the payload manifest process? Can you navigate the intricacies of launching an investigation to station? By the end of this dynamic session, you’ll have a new appreciation for payload procedures, timelines, contingencies… and ohh, the acronyms! Plus, a contestant will be crowned the winner. This is a session you won’t want to miss.

During this session, launch providers and implementation partners that support the International Space Station Program will highlight the challenges and successes of launching projects to low Earth orbit (LEO), and highlight some of the recent investigations they supported. This panel will discuss the level of detail required behind the scenes to support a project or launch, while showcasing the diversity of experimentation taking place on this space station, and how the work supported now sets the foundation for research on future R&D platforms in LEO. 

Now that we are seeing signs of stabilizing funding access post the reset of 2022/23, it is time to revisit the investor expectations and decision criteria toward the space economy opportunities.  Our plenary session with leading capital market participants will cover a broad range of topics ranging from industry growth outlook and return on capital requirements to catalysts and risks for space infrastructure, services, and manufacturing investments, to government’s role as a customer, regulator, and funding source. We expect the discussion to deliver valuable insights on the current state of play as well as expectations on how the investment landscape is expected to evolve over the coming year.

Through the rapid advancements in space technology and the growing interest from various countries and private companies in space exploration, partnerships between NASA and International Partners are valuable. Join NASA and International Partners as they discuss the significance of joint research and utilization of other agency research facilities further pursues exploration goals.

Humanity is poised at the brink of a new era—an era where the realms of space are not just the domain of a select few but are accessible to all. In this panel, visionaries from diverse backgrounds converge to illuminate the path towards a future where the bridges to space are built upon the pillars of accessibility and technology. The panel will delve into the transformative power of inclusive practices within the aerospace industry. By fostering an environment where diverse perspectives thrive, we can harness the full spectrum of human creativity to tackle the challenges of space exploration.  

NASA astronaut Warren “Woody” Hoburg will discuss his 186 days on the International Space Station and the importance of inspiring the next generation. Hoburg has close ties to Boston as a graduate and former assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Hoburg’s address will focus on his six-month science expedition on the space station and the importance of shaping the future workforce to ensure the success of a sustainable low Earth orbit economy. Hoburg is a strong advocate of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for space-focused careers.