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5 June 2024 | In-person-only event
Registration is closed
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy
Chantilly, VA 20151
AIAA and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) are organizing a Summit on Outer Space Heritage on 5 June 2024, at NASM’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center outside Washington, DC. With the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing this year, this summit will contemplate how we should preserve the historical Apollo sites as well as other aspects of off-Earth space heritage. As lunar exploration activity increases, especially at the lunar South Pole, there is an urgent need for coordination, the establishment of common norms and practices, and the prevention of harmful interference between missions. Using an interdisciplinary approach, aligned with the priorities laid out in the Artemis Accords, the invited experts at the summit will explore outer space heritage sites from an understanding of engineering, science, policy, cultural heritage, economics, and law through a series of panels. This event will have a limited invite-only 150-person audience. Registration is closed.
Nondiscriminatory Practices
AIAA accepts registrations irrespective of age, race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, color, physical handicap, and national or ethnic origin.
Anti-Harassment Policy
It is the policy of AIAA to maintain a professional environment at its events that is free from all forms of discrimination, harassment and conduct that can be considered unprofessional, disruptive, inappropriate or discourteous. Full details can be found at aiaa.org/about/Governance/Anti-Harassment-Policy.
AIAA Photography and Video Notice
Attendance at, or participation in, this American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (hereinafter “AIAA”) event constitutes consent to the use and distribution by AIAA, its employees, agents, and assignees of the attendee’s image and/or voice for purposes related to the mission of AIAA, including but not limited to publicity, marketing, other electronic forms of media, and promotion of AIAA and its various programs and events. Please contact AIAA Director of Communications Rebecca Gray at rebeccag@aiaa.org with requests or questions.
Summit Points of Contact
If you need additional information on the Summit on Outer Space Heritage, or if your staff has any questions, please contact Steve Lee, Sr. Director, Adjacent Content & Product Development, AIAA at stevel@aiaa.org, or Ashira Beutler-Greene, Senior Manager, Content and Product Strategy, AIAA at ashirab@aiaa.org.
Outer Space Heritage Summit Agenda
8:30–9 a.m. | Registration and Light Breakfast
9–9:15 a.m. | Welcome – Dan Dumbacher, CEO, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
9:20–10 a.m. | Opening Keynote – Thomas D. Jones, Former NASA Astronaut
Our keynote speaker will commemorate the 55th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 mission. His meaningful remarks will help set the tone for this important day, looking at where we’ve been, the progress we’ve made, and why it matters.
10:05–10:55 a.m. | Panel 1: History & Preservation – Teasel Muir-Harmony, Curator, Space History Department, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
This panel will set the framework of the day’s discussions about outer space heritage. Topics will include the definition and evaluation of the historical significance of lunar sites, emphasizing the current process for stakeholder selection and how their perspectives contribute to decisions made about items and aspects of historical record.
Panelists:
Lisa Young, Museum Conservator, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Brian Odom, Chief Historian, NASA
Robert Pearlman, Editor and Founder, collectSPACE
11–11:15 a.m. | Morning Break
11:15–12 p.m. | Panel 2: Policy & Law – David Reinecke, Foreign Affairs Officer, Office of Space Affairs, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
This panel will address the challenges and opportunities in developing international heritage laws for the moon. Both domestic and international policies for access to celestial bodies and conservation of lunar sites will be analyzed, with particular emphasis on the One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act and its relationship to the United Nations Outer Space Treaty.
Panelists:
Michelle Hanlon, Co-Founder, President and CEO, For all Moonkind
Mai’a Davis Cross, Professor, Northeastern University
Ellen Gertsen, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy
Mike Gold, Chief Growth Officer, Redwire Space
12:05–1:55 p.m. | Lunch, Networking, and Lab Tours – Lunch and intimate behind-the-scenes tours of the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar will occur simultaneously.
2–2:50 p.m. | Panel 3: Science – Reut Sorek-Abramovich, Co-Founder and CTO, Starstone Biomaterials
This panel will focus on space-oriented research priorities and the balance between scientific data collection and preservation. Tensions between space sustainability, data gathering, and sampling removal will be discussed, with recommendations for responsible stewardship.
Panelists:
Ann Garrison Darrin, Principal Professional Staff, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Brett Denevi, Principal Staff Scientist, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Jeffrey Gillis-Davis, Research Professor, Washington University in St. Louis
3–3:50 p.m. | Panel 4: Engineering – Todd Mosher, Director, Formulation Team, Blue Origin
This panel will look at Space Heritage through the lens of the engineering challenges for lunar landing and space exploration. Panelists will describe engineering solutions and how they may impact developing international standards, including standards for preservation and research.
Panelists:
Erica Rodgers, Director of Advanced Programs, Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, NASA
David Korsmeyer, Deputy Center Directory at NASA Ames
Brent Sherwood, Space Domain Lead, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Kevin Duda, Program Manager, Space Systems, Draper Laboratory
3:50–4:10 p.m. | Afternoon Break
4:15–5 p.m. | Panel 5: Next Generation – William Pomerantz, Head of Space Ventures, AeroVironment
In our final panel we will consider innovations and investments compatible with the goals of the emerging international space economy. Panelists will contextualize the goals for future activities alongside priorities for technology, research, diplomacy, and preservation presented over the course of the summit.
Panelist:
Marchel Holle, U.S. Government Relations Lead, ispace
Owen Chbani, Policy Intern at Commercial Spaceflight Federation, President of the Georgetown University Space Initiative
Audrey Scott, Chair of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (USA), incoming Graduate student in Physics at the University of Chicago
Matt Daniels, Former Assistant Director of Space Security and Special Project at the White House Office of Science and Technology, currently working at U.S. Department of Defense
5:05–5:25 p.m. | Final Thoughts – Teasel Muir-Harmony, Curator, Space History Department, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution