SpaceCom | Space Congress

The 2027 forum theme, “Resilience in a Changing World,” examines tools, approaches, and breakthroughs intended to strengthen resilience across aerospace, defense, and the broader engineering enterprise amid rapid technological and global change. The program combines technical sessions focused on research and technologies addressing specific problems with plenary and Forum 360 sessions on issues affecting aerospace. It serves civil, commercial, and national security sectors and connects academic, industry, and government professionals. Featured speakers include James Kenyon, Associate Administrator of NASA’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate; Daniel Hettema, Director of Digital Engineering, Modeling & Simulation at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; and Sha-Chelle Devlin Manning, Chief of Commercial Strategy at DARPA.

SpaceCom, in collaboration with NASA, focuses on commercialization, procurement, investment, partnerships, and business growth across the space economy. Its tracks cover infrastructure, manufacturing, mobility, market demand, investment trends, procurement priorities, lunar and cislunar initiatives, emerging technologies, commercial low Earth orbit destinations, AI, and autonomy. Program themes include Artemis cadence and architecture, supply-chain readiness, workforce and industrial execution, lunar infrastructure, robotics, human systems, commercial space stations, nuclear power and propulsion, science missions, orbital manufacturing, and space traffic management. Sessions address space-infrastructure co-investment, manufacturing bottlenecks, commercial procurement and scale, policy and governance, spacecraft servicing, cybersecurity, AI-enabled operations, lunar resource systems, and commercial investment. Headline keynotes include invited NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and retired NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson.

SpaceCom, in collaboration with NASA, focuses on commercialization, procurement, investment, partnerships, and business growth across the space economy. Its tracks cover infrastructure, manufacturing, mobility, market demand, investment trends, procurement priorities, lunar and cislunar initiatives, emerging technologies, commercial low Earth orbit destinations, AI, and autonomy. Program themes include Artemis cadence and architecture, supply-chain readiness, workforce and industrial execution, lunar infrastructure, robotics, human systems, commercial space stations, nuclear power and propulsion, science missions, orbital manufacturing, and space traffic management. Sessions address space-infrastructure co-investment, manufacturing bottlenecks, commercial procurement and scale, policy and governance, spacecraft servicing, cybersecurity, AI-enabled operations, lunar resource systems, and commercial investment. Headline keynotes include invited NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and retired NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson.

The week combines the SATELLITE Conference, GovMilSpace, a peer-evaluated Tech Seminar, an executive Inner Circle program, and an exhibit hall. Topics include satellite finance, M&A and market structure; 5G non-terrestrial networks and the road to 6G; direct-to-device connectivity; AI in satellite operations; software-defined networks; sovereign networks; launch economics; and ground-segment modernization. GovMilSpace addresses acquisition and commercial integration, resilient architectures, GEOINT, PNT, defense constellation services, optical communications, and the space industrial base. The Tech Seminar covers ground architecture, spectrum, propulsion, AI, and in-space operations, with white papers accompanying its technical sessions. The program also includes discussions of satellite manufacturing costs and supply-chain pressures, spectrum policy ahead of WRC-27, satellite-network security and interference testing, and orbital logistics. Some Inner Circle briefings and roundtables are exclusive to that executive program.

Space Symposium unites global space professionals from military, industry, commercial, and government sectors to examine critical space issues, foster dialogue, and drive innovation. Program tracks include Space Law, Space Science, Space Investment, and Game Changers: AI & Space. Sector coverage includes advanced manufacturing, aerospace systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, defense, engineering, finance, satellite systems, space services, space construction, and spaceports and infrastructure. The event includes live speaker programming, exhibit centers, and a virtual platform.

The half-day program examines space systems’ role in critical infrastructure resilience and the secure adoption of AI. Topics include protecting space-based communications, navigation, timing, and data services; applying zero-trust principles across spacecraft, ground systems, networks, users, and mission partners; and how Golden Dome for America may affect cybersecurity requirements, acquisition priorities, and resilient space architectures. The AI security theme covers AI-enabled threat detection and response across space, ground, and user segments, including human oversight; risks across AI models, training data, software, infrastructure, and vendors; and workforce readiness to deploy, govern, and defend AI-enabled systems. Government briefings, expert panels, and dedicated roundtables are planned.

The symposium focuses on space and missile defense, with organization updates from Space and Missile Defense Command, Space Command, Golden Dome for America’s Direct Report Program Manager, T2COM, CUAS, Northern Command, PAE Fires, the Missile Defense Agency, and space and missile defense companies. Panel themes include SPACECOM, Missile Defense System Next, International Space, INDOPACOM, industry, next-generation space and missile defense, and PAE Fires. The program also includes a technology track with technical paper presentations, a small-business showcase, and an exhibit hall featuring technology and products.

The conference covers four technical tracks: SR-1 and spacecraft reactors, including reactor physics, fuels and materials, power conversion, thermal management, controls, testing and civil, commercial, defense, and science mission applications; LR-1 and planetary surface reactors, including lunar and Mars power architectures, deployment, power distribution, and integration with habitats, mobility, ISRU, and science payloads; Dragonfly and radioisotope power systems, including isotope production, fuel fabrication, testing, safety, and mission operations; and building the space nuclear industrial base, including infrastructure, manufacturing and qualification supply chains, regulatory frameworks, safety, standards, workforce, and industrial partnerships. Special programming includes the 2nd Workshop for Fission Instrumentation and Controls for Space, on sensors, actuators, software, and conditioning electronics, and a special session on innovative spacecraft structures and thermal systems for nuclear propulsion and power, including deployable assemblies, vehicle aggregation, in-space assembly, and mission flexibility. Accepted and presented papers and abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings. Submissions are evaluated for originality, methodological rigor, quality of results, and scientific impact.

The summit presents an integrated, three-track program connecting aviation, advanced air mobility, space, and defense through shared priorities in supply chains, testbeds, capital, and workforce. Tracks are Flightline (Advanced Air Mobility & Aviation), Orbitline (Space & Space-Enabled Services), and Frontline (Defense, Dual-Use & Manufacturing). Sessions address Arizona entry points into U.S. and allied aerospace ecosystems; corridors, ranges, manufacturing capacity, and emerging spaceports for pilots and multi-domain experiments; intersections of aerospace with microelectronics, biosciences, AI, and advanced manufacturing; and converting strategy into pilots, partnerships, commitments, mission briefs, and Global Aerospace Commitments for 2030.

The program addresses Executive Order implementation, the FAA Reauthorization Act, secure supply chains and the FCC Covered List, aircraft certification, and airspace coordination. Featured officials include Steven Haines, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry & Analysis; Congresswoman Dina Titus; and Senator Peter Welch. Sessions examine NASA’s plans for future air transportation; federal agency UAS operations and procurement; FAA EIPP progress; state and local pathways for advanced air mobility; vertiports, corridors, grid integration, and spectrum allocation; large-UAS operational approvals; collision avoidance and detect-and-avoid; FCC enforcement; automated flight rules; retail and commercial drone markets; and the policy agenda for drones and AAM. Further program topics include counter-UAS policy for major events, Part 146 certification, industry responses to NPRM 2209, air traffic control investment, coordination between first-responder and commercial drone operations, UAS supply-chain security and domestic manufacturing, cellular integration and spectrum access, U.S. export opportunities, EU certifications and cybersecurity regulations, and state, local, and tribal drone operations.

A B2B event focused on aerospace and defense supply chains, manufacturing capabilities, services, and technologies. Suppliers, service providers, engineering, supply chain, procurement, and product development teams connect through pre-arranged one-to-one meetings; attendance is reserved for vetted professionals. The first day features presentations by executives and leaders covering commercial and military programs at Collins, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Topics include market-segment trends, challenges and opportunities, supplier expectations, manufacturing automation, and information integration.