AI Insight
This document outlines NASA's presentation schedule at the SmallSat 2026 conference, featuring multiple sessions across three days (August 24-26) at booth locations in the exhibit hall. The agenda includes technical presentations on small satellite missions, launch services, technology development, supply chain issues, partnership opportunities, and various NASA programs including SPARCS, ESCAPADE, INCUS, and CAPSTONE 02. Topics span mission design, commercial space access, technology transfer, payload opportunities, and highlights from both operational missions and future smallsat concepts across NASA's Science Mission Directorate and Space Technology Mission Directorate.
Why it matters
This conference agenda demonstrates NASA's active engagement with the small satellite community and commercial space sector, providing opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and access to NASA resources and programs. The sessions offer pathways for external partners to participate in space missions through various mechanisms including rideshare launches, payload hosting, and technology development partnerships.
Understand the Science
SmallSat 2026
Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth # 635, 835, 641, and 940) for Storytelling by NASA experts. Full Agenda below.
MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 9:00 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 |
Source: SmallSat 2026