Small Satellite Conference 2026 – NASA Short Talks
NASA Science ·
Monday, August 24 Session 1 – The SmallSat Ecosystem: Challenges and Emerging Solutions Examine the key challenges facing the SmallSat community, including technology gaps, supply chain risks, cybersecurity, and integration complexities. Attendees will learn about emerging solutions that are helping to build a more resilient and scalable ecosystem.Session Moderator: Jose Nunez, NASA Kennedy Space Center BryceTech’s […] The post Small Satellite Conference 2026 – NASA Short Talks appeared first on NASA Science .
Home About S3VI Community and Opportunities Opportunities Community of Practice Webinars SmallSat LEARN Forum Working Groups / Initiatives NASA Engineering Network Upcoming Conferences and Events Tools SSRI Knowledge Base State-of-the-Art Report Mission Design Tools Small Spacecraft Information Search Resources New to SmallSats? Definitions & Standards CubeSat 101 CubeSat 201 Guidebooks Opportunities Webinars Opportunities: Education to Flight SSDS Small Satellite Conference 2026 – NASA Short Talks
Examine the key challenges facing the SmallSat community, including technology gaps, supply chain risks, cybersecurity, and integration complexities. Attendees will learn about emerging solutions that are helping to build a more resilient and scalable ecosystem. Session Moderator: Jose Nunez, NASA Kennedy Space Center
BryceTech’s SmallSats by the Numbers: 2026 Fletcher Franklin – BryceTech
Supply Chain Observations Bruce Yost – NASA Ames Research Center
Civil Space Technology Shortfalls Rudy de Rosee – NASA Ames Research Center
SPARCS Camera and Early Science Observations Kaitlyn Ashcroft – Arizona State University
SkyFall – NASA’s Next Mars Helicopters Tim Canham – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA Swift Boost Bo Naasz – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Flight Opportunities – Hosted Orbital Ecosystem – Fly Foundational Robots – Space Roboticist Challenge Anh Nguyen – BryceTech
From Rideshare to Dedicated Launches: SmallSat Options with NASA LSP Caley Burke – NASA Kennedy Space Center
You Bring the Mission, We’ll Bring the Lab: Partnering with MSF Rush Elkins – NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
NASA Ames Mission Design Center: Imagining the Next Generation of Spaceflight Missions Matthew Napoli – NASA Ames Research Center
Engineering Challenges and Best Practices from a Stellar Launch Cycle Brad Williams – NASA Headquarters
HIAD Payload Return Solution for SmallSats Joe Del Corso – NASA Langley Research Center
Session 2 – Engaging with NASA: Partnerships, Programs, and Opportunities Learn how to connect with NASA through partnerships, solicitations, and collaboration pathways across small spacecraft science missions and technology development opportunities. Attendees from industry and academia will gain practical insight into how to engage and contribute, as well as understand opportunity timelines. Session Moderator: Cari Reinert, BryceTech
Panelists :
Session 3 – Small Spacecraft Enabling Science and Informing NASA’s Artemis Missions Understand how small spacecraft are delivering high-impact science and enabling new capabilities in support of NASA’s Artemis missions. NASA speakers will explore mission-driven applications and emerging science use cases for small spacecraft that demonstrate the growing role of this platform for discovery and exploration. Session Moderator: Aly Mendoza-Hill, NASA Headquarters
Panelists :
Session 4 – Bridging the Gap to Flight: Access, Readiness, and Cost Understand the options and pathways to getting your payload to space – from hosted payload options to launch opportunities to Earth and lunar destinations. This session tackles readiness gaps, funding challenges, and cost realities to help you successfully navigate the journey to flight. Session Moderator: Danielle McCulloch, Program Executive, Flight Opportunities
Panelists :
Session 5 – Distributed Small Spacecraft Missions: From Development to Demonstration Explore how NASA is advancing swarms / distributed system missions through on-orbit demonstrations of next-generation technologies. This session demonstrates how distributed architectures are enabling more capable, efficient missions, and what that means for future opportunities and community participation. Session Moderator: Sam Pedrotty, NASA Johnson Space Center
R5 Spacecraft Series Sam Pedrotty – NASA Johnson Space Center
INCUS Mission Overview Benjamin (Benji) Donitz – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Biological & Physical Sciences Payload Concepts for Future SmallSat Missions Matthew Lera – NASA Headquarters
Swift Boost Highlights David Morris – NASA Headquarters
Earth Science Division Mission Highlights Sachidananda Babu – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
TRACERS Mission Highlights Skyler Kleinschmidt – NASA Headquarters
SunRISE – Maximizing Science Uptime Across the Constellation Carson Schubert – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
University SmallSat Technology Partnerships Initiative Michael Gaunce – NASA Ames Research Center
CAPSTONE 02 Technology Demonstration Mission Sam Phan – NASA Ames Research Center
Green Propulsion Dual Mode Technology Demonstration Mission Nehemiah Williams – NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
DiskSat Technology Demonstration Mission Roger Hunter – NASA Ames Research Center
Small Spacecraft Community of Practice
Small Spacecraft Technology State-of-the-Art Report
Small Spacecraft Information Search
The post Small Satellite Conference 2026 – NASA Short Talks appeared first on NASA Science .