2022 ASCEND (AIAA), Oct 24-26, 2022, Las Vegas, NV/virtual

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will hold its second Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery (ASCEND) conference, 2022 ASCEND, from October 24-26, 2022 in Las Vegas, NV and online.

More information is on the event’s website.

A NASA press release lists events including NASA speakers as follows:

All times are Pacific

Monday, Oct. 24

8 a.m. – Keynote address from NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy on Going Back to the Moon by Design, followed by a panel on Partnering for Innovation in Cislunar Space.

Panelists include:

• Moderator: Ellen Ochoa, former NASA astronaut and former director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center
• Jim Free, associate administrator, NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
• Sandra Connelly, deputy associate administrator, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
• Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno, director of staff, U.S. Space Force
• Todd Nygren, senior vice president, Engineering and Technology Group, The Aerospace Corporation
• Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer, SpaceX

12:45 p.m. – Overview of NASA’s Strategic Technology Framework. Panelists include:

• Moderator: Julie Van Kleeck, space domain Lead and ASCEND executive producer, AIAA
• Jim Reuter, associate administrator, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
• Michelle Munk, acting chief architect, STMD

Tuesday, Oct. 25

7 a.m. – Media briefing on NASA’s Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) technology demonstration and other tech development for entry, descent, and landing. Participants include:

• Trudy Kortes, director of technology demonstrations, STMD
• Michelle Munk, acting chief architect, STMD
• Ashley Korzun, LOFTID aerodynamics database lead, NASA
• Neil Cheatwood, LOFTID principal investigator, NASA

8 a.m. – Accelerating Space Exploration Through Global Cooperation.

Panelists include:

• Moderator: Larry James, deputy director, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Peter Gräf, director of applications and science, German Space Agency (DLR)
• Krunal Joshi, counsellor, Space (ISRO), Embassy of India
• Nicolas Maubert, space counselor, Embassy of France in the United States; and Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) representative in the United States
• Masami Onada, director, Washington office, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
• Éric Vachon, director general, space science and technology, Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

Wednesday, Oct. 26

12 p.m. – Leaving Earth to Serve the Earth: Commercial and Government Assets Having Positive Impact on Earth. Panelists include:

• Kate Calvin, NASA chief scientist and senior climate advisor
• Julie Robinson, deputy director, NASA Earth Science Division
• Luciano Giesso, head of sales, global governments, Satellogic