AGENDA

T.H. Stuart Holliday, CEO, Meridian International Center

Global space activities are rapidly accelerating, catapulted by NASA’s Artemis program, where NASA and a growing number of international and commercial partners will conduct a campaign of many firsts, including landing the first woman and first person of color on the surface of the Moon and enabling the first long-term human presence at another celestial body. This excitement has spawned a golden era for space, opening doors to a multitude of new opportunities in various sectors of society, as well as new challenges for international diplomacy, space governance, the sustainability of the space environment, and safe space operations. This session will discuss the various factors shaping responsible exploration in the modern space age and their implications for U.S. foreign policy.

Moderator: Kristin Fisher, Space and Defense Correspondent, CNN

Col. Pam Melroy (USAF Ret.), Deputy Administrator, NASA

The Honorable Richard Verma, Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, U.S. Department of State

The global space economy is growing—including in the national security sector. Intelligence gathering and military communications rely on satellites, making emerging technologies in space of particular interest to defense agencies. At the same time, strained communications with actors like China and Russia heighten concerns about their respective military aspirations in space. This session will address U.S. efforts to advance commercial innovation, space engagement, and national security while simultaneously prioritizing safety and stability of the domain.

Moderator: Kurt Scherer, Managing Partner, C5 Capital

Dr. John Plumb, Assistant Secretary for Space Policy, U.S. Department of Defense

Over the past decade, 25 countries have established their own national space agency. Even more are launching their own satellite into lower earth orbit, often in collaboration with their private sector. Countries and subregional blocs are entering the global space arena to advance a diverse set of policy and economic goals, such as to bolster their capacities in telecommunications, environmental monitoring, and threat prevention. However, space economies do not follow a “one-size-fits-all” strategy. Financial constraints, geography, natural resources, private-sector capacity, and human capital must inform how nations approach space. This session will discuss factors for emergent spacefaring ecosystems to consider when developing a customized roadmap for their own space economy. It will also underscore the value of leveraging partnerships to achieve their space ambitions.

Moderator: Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr. (USMC-Ret.), Administrator, NASA (2009-2017)

Her Excellency Mathilde Mukantabana, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda

Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Vice President, Space Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Space Foundation

Temidayo Oniosun, Managing Director, Space in Africa

From the free and peaceful use of space to the universe not being subject to national annexation, the United Nations’ Outer Space Treaty has defined international space conduct since its signing in 1967. However, this once stable foundation is starting to crack under the pressure of a new space age. The emergence of novel technologies, actors, and coalitions in space has engendered the need for a new set of norms and regulations. This session will highlight the framework for modernizing space governance through the Artemis Accords, signed by 39 countries to date. It will also explore partner countries, such as Canada’s approach to space regulations, and rival approaches to space cooperation, such as those guiding China’s International Lunar Research Station project.

Moderator: Jacqueline Feldscher, Managing Editor, Payload

Karen Feldstein, Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations, NASA

Dr. Jenni Gibbons, Astronaut, Canadian Space Agency

Valda Vikmanis-Keller, Director of the Office of Space Affairs, U.S. Department of State

NASA’s alliance around the International Space Station has been primarily focused on US, Russia, Canada, Japan and the EU countries. Axiom Space, in partnership with NASA, have been extending this limited alliance of 31 countries around the International Space Station (ISS) by giving emerging space-faring nations access to the ISS through human space flight including Turkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, among others. The new Axiom station, the first module of which will launch in 2026, will be accessible as a private sector initiative in partnership with NASA. This conversation will explore how, alongside the Artemis Accords, this new access to low-Earth orbit is one of the most strategic developments in space diplomacy.

Moderator: Christina Ruffini, Foreign Affairs Journalist

Matt Ondler, President, Axiom Space

Last year, the commercial sector was responsible for 90% of all payload deployments. This achievement marks a new era in space exploration—one in which governments embrace the private sector’s ability to innovate and execute missions at lower cost. However, existing space governance frameworks predate commercial actors and emerging space activities, leaving an exploding sector to operate in a regulatory vacuum. This session will emphasize how space commercialization can benefit from an international set of transparent, uniform norms. The session will also examine how frameworks like the Washington Compact and the White House’s Novel Space Activities Authorization and Supervision Framework are bridging this gap, along with how policymakers can create beneficial regulatory measures without hindering productivity.

Moderator: Dr. Jeff Foust, Senior Staff Writer, Space News

Dr. Diane Howard, Director of Commercial Space Policy, National Space Council

Jared Stout, Vice President, Government and External Relations, Axiom Space

Gabriel Swiney, Director, Policy, Advocacy, and International Division, Office of Space Commerce, NOAA

Moderator: Dr. Giovanni Zanalda, Director, Rethinking Diplomacy Program and Co-founder, Space Diplomacy Lab, Duke University

Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr., Director-General, Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)

The global space economy is racing towards a trillion-dollar valuation by 2040. Reaching these horizons is dependent upon the sector’s ability to train and retain a robust workforce. This includes not only scientists and engineers, but also tradespersons and technical workers. The White House has prepared a roadmap to “inspire, prepare, and employ” a competitive space labor market, while coalitions of private sector companies have also committed to increase the space industry’s capacity. This session will make the case for the United States leading the development of this global skilled workforce. It will underscore opportunities for the U.S. to work with nations to strengthen their STEM and vocational education, while showcasing cross-border partnerships and investments that are incentivizing space start-ups in communities around the world.

Moderator: Ché Bolden, CEO, The Charles F. Bolden Group

Krunal Joshi, Space Counsellor, Embassy of India/Indian Space Research Organization

Dr. Sian Proctor, U.S. Science Envoy; Geoscience Professor, Maricopa Community Colleges, Inspiration4 Mission Pilot, SpaceX

David Thomas, Executive Director, MILO Space Sciences Institute, Arizona State University Enterprise Partners

Alia Al Suwaidi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United Arab Emirates

To accept on behalf of the UAE and His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba

This discussion addresses the challenges of space as a new domain, emphasizing the need for robust operational frameworks akin to other domains, the importance of defending against cyber threats, and the significant energy demands in the space industry. It highlights the integration of nuclear power technology by organizations like X-energy to enhance spacecraft propulsion and provide sustainable lunar power sources, while also touching on recent geopolitical concerns regarding the veto of a U.N. resolution prohibiting nuclear weapons in space, underscoring the ongoing dialogue on space governance.

RADM (Ret.) Michael Hewitt, U.S. Navy, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, IP3

André Pienaar, Founder and CEO, C5 Capital

T.H. Stuart Holliday, Chief Executive Officer, Meridian International Center