SmallSat 2026: NASA's Involvement and Agenda

NASA will be present at SmallSat 2026, inviting attendees to engage with NASA experts in the Exhibit Hall. Visit booths #635, #835, #641, and #940 for insightful discussions and presentations. A comprehensive agenda is provided below, outlining the schedule of events from August 24th to August 26th.

Monday, August 24

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Welcome: Jose Nunez
BryceTech’s Smallsats by the Numbers: 2026: Fletcher Franklin
Supply Chain Observations: Bruce Yost
Technology Shortfall: Rudy de Rosee
SPARCS Camera and Early Science Observations: Kaitlyn Ashcroft
JPL: Skyfall: Tim Canham
SWIFT LINK Reboost: Bo Naasz
Flight Opportunities – Hosted Orbital Ecosystem – Fly Foundational Robos – Space Roboticist Challenge: Anh Nguyen
From Rideshare to Dedicated Launches: SmallSat Options with NASA LSP: Caley Burke
You Bring the Mission, We’ll Bring the Lab: Partnering with MSFC: Rush Elkins
NASA Ames Mission Design Center: Imagining the Next Generation of Spaceflight Missions: Matthew Napoli
Engineering Challenges and Best Practices from a Stellar Launch Cycle: Brad Williams
HIAD Payload Return Solution for SmallSats: Joe Del Corso

3:25 PM - 4:10 PM

Moderating: Bruce Yost
RTMD NASA: Greg Stover
SMD HPD ADF: Asal Naseri
HSMD CSLI/CLPS/ Commercial Access to Space (CAtS): Pete Wilczynski
CARA: Conjunction Assessment Best Practices: Lauri Newman

Tuesday, August 25

9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Moderating: Cari Reinert
SMD Panelist 1 – Solicitations: Aly Mendoza-Hill
STMD Panelist CATALYST – I-Corps: Maggie Yancey
SBIR / STTR- Launchpad for Innovation: Ryszard Pisarski
Agency level Tech Transfer: Jose Nunez

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

Moderating: Aly Mendoza-Hill
SMD – APD Pioneers: Pablo Saz Parkinson
SMD – Science as a Service: What SmallSat Providers Need to Know: Beth Weinstein
SMD – HPD: Asal Naseri
ESCAPADE (HPD) Innovating Methods for Exploration: Skyler Kleinschmidt

Wednesday, August 26

9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Moderator, FO Panelist: Danielle McCulloch
NASA CSLI, VADR Panelist: Norman Phelps
CLPS Panelist: Angela Melito
Rideshare Panelist: Aly Mendoza-hill
SLS: David Hitt

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

Welcome / Close out Presentor/Moderator: Sam Pedrotty
JPL Mission INCUS: Benjamin (Benji) Donitz
SMD – Biological & Physical Sciences Payload Concepts for Future SmallSat Missions: Matthew Lera
SMD APD – SWIFT Reboost highlight: David Morris
SMD ESD – Mission Highlight: Sachidananda Babu
SMD HPD – TRACERS Mission Highlight: Skyler Kleinschmidt
SunRISE (SMD HPD) – Maximizing Science Uptime Across the Constellation: Carson Schubert
STMD USTP Overview: Mike Gaunce
STMD Mission CAPSTONE 02: Sam Phan
STMD R5 Spacecraft Series: Sam Pedrotty
STMD GPDM: Nehemiah Williams
STMD Mission DiskSat: Roger Hunter

English Translation and Paraphrasing

NASA's Presence at SmallSat 2026: Expert Insights and Event Schedule

NASA is participating in the SmallSat 2026 conference, inviting attendees to connect with NASA experts at their exhibit booths located at #635, #835, #641, and #940. The conference will feature a full agenda of presentations by NASA personnel. The schedule for these expert talks spans from Monday, August 24th, through Wednesday, August 26th.

Monday, August 24th

Morning Session (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM): This session will commence with a welcome address by Jose Nunez, followed by Fletcher Franklin discussing "BryceTech's Smallsats by the Numbers: 2026." Other presentations will cover supply chain observations (Bruce Yost), technology shortfalls (Rudy de Rosee), early science findings from the SPARCS camera (Kaitlyn Ashcroft), JPL's Skyfall project (Tim Canham), the SWIFT LINK Reboost initiative (Bo Naasz), and opportunities in flight programs such as Hosted Orbital Ecosystem, Fly Foundational Robos, and the Space Roboticist Challenge (Anh Nguyen). Additionally, Caley Burke will discuss small satellite launch options with NASA LSP, from rideshare to dedicated launches. Rush Elkins will present on partnerships with MSFC, focusing on how to utilize their labs. Matthew Napoli will share insights from the NASA Ames Mission Design Center on future spaceflight missions, and Brad Williams will discuss engineering challenges and best practices from a successful launch cycle. Finally, Joe Del Corso will present a solution for HIAD payload return for small satellites.

Afternoon Session (3:25 PM - 4:10 PM): Bruce Yost will moderate this segment, which includes updates on RTMD NASA (Greg Stover), SMD HPD ADF (Asal Naseri), and HSMD CSLI/CLPS/Commercial Access to Space (CAtS) (Pete Wilczynski). Lauri Newman will also present on conjunction assessment best practices for CARA.

Tuesday, August 25th

Morning Session (9:45 AM - 10:45 AM): Cari Reinert will moderate a panel discussion. Participants will include Aly Mendoza-Hill discussing solicitations within SMD, Maggie Yancey presenting on STMD's CATALYST – I-Corps program, and Ryszard Pisarski focusing on SBIR/STTR as a launchpad for innovation. Jose Nunez will also cover agency-level technology transfer.

Afternoon Session (3:15 PM - 4:15 PM): Aly Mendoza-Hill will moderate this session, featuring Pablo Saz Parkinson on SMD – APD Pioneers, Beth Weinstein discussing "SMD – Science as a Service: What SmallSat Providers Need to Know," Asal Naseri presenting on SMD – HPD, and Skyler Kleinschmidt discussing ESCAPADE (HPD) and innovating methods for exploration.

Wednesday, August 26th

Morning Session (9:45 AM - 10:45 AM): Danielle McCulloch will moderate a panel featuring Norman Phelps on NASA CSLI and VADR, Angela Melito on CLPS, and Aly Mendoza-hill on rideshare. David Hitt will also present on SLS.

Afternoon Session (3:15 PM - 4:15 PM): Sam Pedrotty will open and close the session. Presentations will include Benjamin (Benji) Donitz on JPL Mission INCUS, Matthew Lera on "SMD – Biological & Physical Sciences Payload Concepts for Future SmallSat Missions," David Morris on the SMD APD – SWIFT Reboost highlight, and Sachidananda Babu on an SMD ESD mission highlight. Skyler Kleinschmidt will present on the SMD HPD – TRACERS Mission Highlight, and Carson Schubert will discuss SunRISE (SMD HPD) and maximizing science uptime across the constellation. Mike Gaunce will provide an overview of STMD USTP, Sam Phan will present on STMD Mission CAPSTONE 02, Sam Pedrotty will discuss the STMD R5 Spacecraft Series, Nehemiah Williams will cover STMD GPDM, and Roger Hunter will present on STMD Mission DiskSat.