NASA Short Talks
Monday, August 24 The SmallSat Ecosystem: Challenges and Emerging Solutions
9:00–9:45 AM | NASA stage
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
Tuesday, August 25 Engaging with NASA: Partnerships, Programs, and Opportunities
10:00–10:45 AM | NASA stage
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
• Aly Mendoza-Hill, Science Mission Directorate Rideshare Lead, NASA Headquarters
• Maggie Yancey, Entrepreneurship Lead, NASA Headquarters
• Ryszard Pisarski, SBIR/STTR Ames Center Liaison, NASA Ames Research Center
• Jose Nunez, Technology Transfer Officer, NASA Kennedy Space Center
Tuesday, August 25 Small Spacecraft Enabling Science and Informing NASA’s Artemis Missions
3:30–4:15 PM | NASA stage
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
• Pablo Saz Parkinson, Program Scientist, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters
• Beth Weinstein, Deputy Associate Director for Flight, Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters
• Asal Naseri, Associate Director for Flight, Heliophysics Division, NASA Headquarters
• Skyler Kleinschmidt, Program Executive, Heliophysics Division, NASA Headquarters
Wednesday, August 26 Bridging the Gap to Flight: Access, Readiness, and Cost
10:00–10:45 AM | NASA stage
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
• Angela Melito, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration, Program Executive, NASA Kennedy Space Center
• Norman Phelps, Launch Services Program Mission Manager, NASA Kennedy Space Center
• Aly Mendoza-Hill, Science Mission Directorate Rideshare Lead, NASA Headquarters
• David Hitt, Space Launch System Payload Integration, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Wednesday, August 26 Distributed Small Spacecraft Missions: From Development to Demonstration
3:30–4:15 PM | NASA stage
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