The United States Space Force (USSF) is the branch of the U.S. military service dedicated to advancing and protecting American interests in space, and like virtually every other government agency, it depends on innovations from the private sector to complete its mission. SpaceWERX is the innovation arm of the USSF, providing billions in funding for organizations in and near the commercial space sector. Join us as we discuss the impact of SpaceWERX on commercial space enterprises and how those same companies can engage with SpaceWERX to achieve their goals.

Join Dawn Wellman, Manager of Strategic Programs, Copper Research and Development at Rio Tinto, for a moderated conversation with key technology and industry leaders and U.S. federal officials. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the challenges of space mining, opportunities for technological advancements and technology transfer between space and terrestrial mining, and how cross sector collaboration and public-private partnerships can accelerate new frontiers in space and terrestrial mining. Join us to envision a future where mining in space becomes a reality and reshapes our approach to terrestrial mining.

As commercial giants like SpaceX redefine the pace of space exploration, and adversaries leverage technologies like DeepSeek to vie for control, the stakes in the space superiority race have never been higher. This panel brings together AI industry leaders and active-duty U.S. Space Force members, all central to integrating Generative AI into national defense strategies. Explore the real-life implementation of AI in every space launch, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency to ensure strategic superiority. Discover how AI not only fortifies our operations but also unites us with our commercial partners, leading the charge in securing our strategic advantages against global adversaries. This discussion will showcase how AI-driven solutions are actively employed in mission planning and execution, offering a tactical edge that safeguards our assets and ensures dominance in the evolving space arena.

This session will bring together multidisciplinary leaders to explore innovative strategies for supporting Low Earth Orbit (LEO) manufacturing activities. The discussion will cover the current state of LEO manufacturing, emphasizing key technological advancements and their potential applications. Participants will address the challenges and opportunities related to funding and bridging the financial gap to support sustainable development in this emerging field. Topics: Funding Mechanisms: Innovative funding models and public-private partnerships to support LEO manufacturing initiatives. Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborations that encourage investment, streamline regulatory processes, and promote international cooperation. Economic Impact: The economic benefits of LEO manufacturing for national and global markets. Technological Innovation: Breakthrough technologies and their implications for various industries, including healthcare, materials science, and telecommunications. The panel aims to provide valuable insights into how strategic partnerships and appropriate strategies can drive the advancement of LEO manufacturing, ensuring continued innovation in space-based technologies. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the collaborative efforts needed to overcome financial barriers and unlock the full potential of LEO manufacturing science and technology.

Access to, and protection of military and commercial space requires quick data analytics for operators to make split second decisions. From sensors to management and monitoring systems, across thousands of countries and companies, the number of disparate data sets is virtually limitless, and is projected to grow exponentially in the years to come. Secure, economical, and configurable data integration capabilities can rapidly merge silo’ed data sets to enable comprehensive, mission specific, space situational awareness to allow leaders to understand potential problems, evaluate viable solutions, and take decisive action. In the rapidly-evolving space domain, one constant exists- the time to make decisions and take action will continue to diminish. New data management capabilities must be deployed to facilitate space situational awareness at the speed of relevance. Government and industry experts will discuss the space data challenge and offer novel data integration techniques for faster time-to-value, lower costs, and enhanced configurability compared to traditional data solutions.

This panel will explore how microgravity enhances materials processing and properties for next-generation microelectronics. Panelists will discuss recent innovations achieved through microgravity research and their potential impact on industries such as telecommunications, computing, medical devices, and defense technologies. Technical and logistical challenges of conducting research and manufacturing in microgravity will be addressed. The discussion will also emphasize the importance of collaboration and partnerships between space agencies, research institutions, and private companies in advancing microgravity-based microelectronics research.

This panel will tie together participants in the Orbital Edge Accelerator but also go beyond that program and discuss perspectives on how to access LEO testing and how startup ecosystems align with national and commercial space priorities.

What today’s top space investors want from early-stage ventures – and how they’re evaluating risk, readiness, and return in the LEO economy

Join us at the Space Innovation Challenge, where leading innovators will present breakthrough solutions to an expert panel of industry, government, and investment leaders. These space-based technologies not only drive progress in orbit but also create ripple effects across a wide range of industries—including communications, national security, climate monitoring, logistics, and healthcare. The top innovators will compete for the $100K prize pool, sponsored by Advanced Technology International (ATI). Challenge organizers have interest in civilian, military, and dual-use technologies. This innovation challenge program offers solution providers a unique opportunity to showcase their transformative ideas and shape the future of space exploration and its impact here on Earth.

As space becomes an increasingly contested domain, adversaries are leveraging Camouflage, Concealment, Deception, and Maneuver (CCDM) tactics to evade detection, disrupt U.S. surveillance, and challenge space superiority. Recent advancements by China and Russia highlight the growing sophistication of these threats, with satellites exhibiting unexpected maneuvers, blending into megaconstellations, or leveraging AI-driven autonomy to operate undetected. This panel will examine how CCDM activities threaten national security, from China’s dual-use space technologies and maneuvering satellites to Russia’s suspected development of anti-satellite weaponry. Experts will discuss the urgent need for enhanced space domain awareness (SDA), focusing on cutting-edge autonomous detection and assessment capabilities. How can the U.S. Space Force integrate AI, advanced sensor networks, and predictive analytics to rapidly identify and counter CCDM threats? What strategies will ensure space assets remain secure against adversary deception and covert operations?

This panel will focus on the unique opportunities that space environments provide for the development of quantum materials and technologies. Panelists will discuss how microgravity conditions can enhance the quantum properties of materials, leading to breakthroughs in advanced computing, sensing, and communication. The discussion will include the potential applications of these technologies in defense, space missions, and beyond, as well as the importance of long-term partnerships and funding to sustain progress in this cutting-edge field.

Protecting manufacturing infrastructures, advanced materials, and enabled products: from semiconductor forges and chemical and biological reactors to the novel materials they produce, and products made using those materials.

Join us at the Space Innovation Challenge, where leading innovators will present breakthrough solutions to an expert panel of industry, government, and investment leaders. These space-based technologies not only drive progress in orbit but also create ripple effects across a wide range of industries—including communications, national security, climate monitoring, logistics, and healthcare. The top innovators will compete for the $100K prize pool, sponsored by Advanced Technology International (ATI). Challenge organizers have interest in civilian, military, and dual-use technologies. This innovation challenge program offers solution providers a unique opportunity to showcase their transformative ideas and shape the future of space exploration and its impact here on Earth.

As commercial interest in low Earth orbit accelerates, the space industry faces a pivotal moment. This panel will explore the emerging need for a space-to-space commercial ecosystem—where in-orbit assembly, servicing, and manufacturing become critical to unlocking sustainable business models. Experts will dive into the feasibility of such an ecosystem, the technological gaps we must close, and whether a single integrated player or a coalition of innovators is best positioned to lead. Join us as we unpack the challenges, alternatives, and bold strategies shaping the future of orbital infrastructure.

The panel will bring together leading experts in biotechnology, space research, and healthcare to explore how the unique conditions of microgravity are enabling breakthroughs in biomanufacturing, including the production of complex biological tissues, pharmaceuticals, and regenerative medicine. They will discuss how these innovations are poised to address some of the most pressing healthcare challenges, from organ shortages to the development of personalized medicine. Objectives: • Highlight breakthroughs in in-space biomanufacturing. • Identify specific healthcare challenges that can be addressed through in-space biomanufacturing, such as organ shortages, regenerative medicine, and personalized treatments. • Highlight the partnerships that are driving innovation in this field. • Evaluate the potential economic benefits and social impact of in-space biomanufacturing on global healthcare systems. • Discuss the regulatory frameworks required to support the growth and sustainability of in-space biomanufacturing initiatives. • Increase public awareness of the importance of in-space biomanufacturing and its potential to revolutionize healthcare, garnering support for continued research and investment. • Set Future Research and Development Goals

Anne Wilson, PhD., Butler University, & Prashant Kumta, PhD, University of Pittsburgh lead an interactive session on what a crystallization priorities roadmap should look like.

Join us at the Space Innovation Challenge, where leading innovators will present breakthrough solutions to an expert panel of industry, government, and investment leaders. These space-based technologies not only drive progress in orbit but also create ripple effects across a wide range of industries—including communications, national security, climate monitoring, logistics, and healthcare. The top innovators will compete for the $100K prize pool, sponsored by Advanced Technology International (ATI). Challenge organizers have interest in civilian, military, and dual-use technologies. This innovation challenge program offers solution providers a unique opportunity to showcase their transformative ideas and shape the future of space exploration and its impact here on Earth.

As global reliance on space-based systems continues to grow, Space Domain Awareness (SDA) has become vital to national and economic security. With thousands of new satellites and increasing orbital congestion, understanding the “who, what, and why” behind anomalies—whether they stem from equipment failures, environmental disturbances, or hostile actions—is critical. This panel will examine the process of attribution within SDA, including how to distinguish between natural space weather, technical malfunctions, and intentional interference. Experts will explore the role of advanced modeling, data sharing, artificial intelligence, and evolving policy frameworks in enabling quicker, more accurate responses to disruptions in space operations.

RoadMap Discussion

Panel will discuss various aspects of air breathing electric propulsion, current efforts, potential missions, opportunity, industry and government interests

Foreign nations offer highly subsidized or free access to guidance and navigation service, access to US origin R&D IP, remote proximity and autonomous operations and space launch. The US companies with equities in these areas face a reduction in global customers as a result. The US in turn loses ground in the space domain left of conflict. Bringing together a panel of commercial PNT service, R&D IP, Remote Proximity and Autonomous Operations and Space Launch, we will share examples of these subsidies. We will also explore the solution space with presentation of possible new trade policies and programs. //

Over the past decade, government investments and public-private partnerships have catalyzed explosive growth in the commercial space industry. As the cost of access to orbit has dropped and launch frequency has increased, markets like Earth observation and internet from space have matured and consolidated. Now, on the horizon, a second wave of opportunity is emerging: in-space manufacturing. This panel explores the critical infrastructure enabling this next leap — from launch systems and return capabilities to the ISS, commercial space stations, free-flyers, ultra-fast in-orbit data exchange, energy harvesting through space solar panels, and the rise of supercomputing in orbit. We’ll also examine how companies with flight-ready payloads are poised to scale and how synergies between existing markets and manufacturing in space can accelerate innovation. Join leading founders, deep tech investors, and industry pioneers as we dive into the tangible opportunities in in-space manufacturing, the role of AI/ML in optimizing and scaling experiments, and the strategic path toward building sustainable industrial ecosystems beyond Earth.

New space platforms will enable disruptive technology that will transform the material and life sciences.

A discussion on how to incorporate resiliency and sustainability in small satellites between onboard and ground-based solutions – in support of the civil and national security space mission

This panel will explore the rapidly emerging field of in-space circular logistics—a transformative ecosystem poised to unlock a multi-billion-dollar space economy. This ecosystem includes both ground and space segments, ensuring that exquisite "microgravity enabled" products are manufactured at operational scale and cost. In the coming years, many drugs, sensors, microchips, and even replacement human tissues will be manufactured in space! The discussion will bring together leading innovators, technologists, and policy experts to examine the state-of-the-art in on-orbit capabilities, including autonomous servicing vehicles, modular platforms, re-entry vehicles and in-space manufacturing technologies. Panelists will identify key industry players, assess where commercial and government stakeholders are placing bets, and dive into the core challenges that must be addressed—from technical hurdles and risk mitigation strategies to regulatory modernization and norms of behavior in a servicing-enabled space environment. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how circular logistics is reshaping the economics and strategy of space operations—and why now is the moment for deep tech investors, founders, and policymakers to engage.

Presentation Findings: Redwire has successfully grown pharmaceutical seed crystals in space, learn how this work could propel semiconductors in space.

Presentation: Lambda Vision’s artificial retina is produced through a layer-by-layer production process; how this process could enable the semiconductor industry to drive innovation that is game changing.

Join Jim Harlan for a fireside chat on Intellectual Property Monetization.