Space & Satellites USA 2026 Guide

The Agenda

Two days. Zero distractions.
We’re tackling the major themes that will define the inaugural program and the 2027 fiscal year.

Our program covers:

Defense, Policy & Acquisition
From the shifting priorities following the 2026 Midterm Elections to the complexities of aligning NASA, NOAA, and Space Force procurement, the industry is operating in an increasingly bureaucratic and politically sensitive environment. This theme addresses the critical challenge of navigating acquisition reform to bypass the "valley of death," secure 2027 budgets, and build a resilient strategy that survives the transition between administrations and international regulatory shifts like the EU Space Act.

Orbital Industry
The competition to secure a foothold in the permanent orbital economy has reached a fever pitch. With the focus moving toward "Launch Sovereignty" and the rapid expansion of mega-constellations, companies are fighting to solve the bottlenecks of launch cadence and orbital logistics. This pillar tackles the central challenge of transitioning from one-off science missions to repeatable commercial services, such as in-space manufacturing and lunar delivery, to ensure long-term ROI in an overcrowded and competitive market.

Emerging Technologies
The pressure to transition from hardware-centric platforms to software-defined, autonomous satellite fleets is the single most important technological shift in the sector. This theme zeroes in on the core issues of standardizing optical mesh networks, deploying orbital data centers, and utilizing edge AI to transform data into real-time insights. It provides a forum for leaders to confront the technical hurdles of building interoperable, high-capacity architectures that can scale to meet the massive data demands of the next decade.

Security & Resilience
The escalating threats of kinetic debris, GPS jamming, and sophisticated cyber-attacks pose existential risks to multi-billion dollar orbital assets. This pillar addresses the urgent challenge of ensuring the physical and digital sustainability of the space environment through "Cybersecurity by Design" and active debris removal. It explores the strategic need for enhanced domain awareness and zero-trust architectures, providing a critical platform to discuss the measures required to protect critical infrastructure from both state-sponsored threats and environmental degradation.

The Lineup

The early confirmed voices for Space & Satellites USA 2026
Meet the people leading the conversation in D.C. this year: 

Reuters Editorial

Joey Roulette, Space Correspondent, Reuters

Orbital Infrastructure & Operations

Michelle Parker, Vice President Boeing Space Mission Systems, Boeing
Jonathan Cirtain, CEO, Axiom Space
James Mason, Chief Space Officer, Planet Labs
Emile DeRijk, CEO, Swissto12
Todd Master, Chief Operating Officer, Umbra

Connectivity & Defense Solutions

Greg Pelton, Chief Technology Officer, Iridium
Charles Cynamon, President, Telesat Government Solutions
Asit Tandon, Chief Network & IT Officer, Telesat
Jonny Dyer, CEO, Muon Space
Ian Canning, CEO, Eutelsat Network Solutions
Milo Medin, CEO, Logos Space

Space Access, Logistics & Exploration

Jason Kim, CEO, Firefly Aerospace
Rob Thornton, CEO, Astrobotic
Ian Cinnamon, CEO, Apex Space
Jeff Thornburg, CEO, Portal Space Systems
Rupesh Gandupalli, CEO, XDLINX Space Labs
Rob DeMillo, CEO, Sophia Space
Carol Craig, CEO, Sidus Space

Policy, Sustainability & Venture

Jamie Morin, VP Defense Strategic Space, Aerospace Corporation
Dave Cavossa, CEO, Commercial Space Federation
Audrey Schaffer, Senior Vice President, Global Policy and Government Strategy, Slingshot Aerospace
Janna Lewis, Senior Vice President of Policy and General Counsel, Astroscale
Chad Anderson, CEO, Space Capital
Mark Boggett, CEO, Seraphim Space
Paula Trimble, VP Public Policy, Muon Space
Mike French, CEO, Space Policy Group
Chris Kunstadter, CEO, Triton Space