First Steps to Settlement in Space
Papers are invited covering topics germane to establishing a thriving community in Low Earth Orbit. Topics will include but not be limited to:
- Defining the requirements for structures and systems to support space exploration and settlement.
- Construction of large structures in space.
- Transport of materials and people from the surface to a station and return.
- Logistics support, both on Earth and in orbit.
- Spacecraft services from such a station.
Ticket prices:
- Full registration: $50 (Reception and Lunch)
- Military, Government: $20 (Reception and Lunch)
- Students (with ID): $20 (No Lunch or Reception)
- Authors and Presenters: No charge
- Lunch: $12
- Reception: $10
Friday Sep. 11, 2026
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM EDT
We have worked with local hotels to secure a hotel block at discounted prices for our guests.
The block room rate is available for September 10, 2026 – September 11, 2026. The last day for you guests to book and save is August 22, 2026.
- Hampton Inn By Hilton Cocoa Beach, FL
Book your group rate for SPACE VISION SYMPOSIUM @ HAMPTON INN
3425 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321) 799-4099 – press 0 for front desk/reservations - Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach Cape Canaveral
Book your group rate for SPACE VISION SYMPOSIUM @ COURTYARD
3435 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321) 784-4800 – press 0 for front desk/reservations
Note: guests will see a $15 parking fee on their booking receipt. This will be taken off at check-in.
Keynote Speaker
Jim Thomas – Legacy of Launch Campaign Director, U.S. Space Force Historical Foundation
His “62 Miles” keynote — named for the distance to the Karman line — reflects a personal goal: to become one of fewer than 1,000 humans to cross it.
About Jim Thomas
Jim Thomas is Co-Founder of Karman Line, a real-asset space infrastructure platform headquartered on Florida’s Space Coast, and Campaign Director for the Legacy of Launch campaign anchored at the newly revitalized Sands Space History Center in Cape Canaveral. His work focuses on the integrated workforce, real estate, and convening infrastructure required to scale the commercial space economy from industrial-cadence launch through orbital and lunar settlement.
Jim convenes the regional aerospace and defense community through TAAD, the monthly Space Coast industry forum. He has also worked in space-focused venture capital and previously served as CEO of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he led economic development strategy across one of the fastest-growing aerospace corridors in the country. He is the author of the book Community of Tomorrow and holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California.
Additional Speakers
Speaker
Dame Commander Dr. Susan Jewell, MD – is a physician, scientist, entrepreneur, and internationally recognized leader in precision space medicine, analog astronautics, and human performance research for future space exploration.
About Dr. Susan Jewell, MD
She is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of MMAARS / MMAARS, UK (Mars Moon Astronautics Academy & Research Sciences), Co-founder and Chief Innovation & Medical Officer of VASTX (Virtual Astronaut Simulator for Therapeutics and eXploration), Co-founder of AvatarMEDIC, and Research Director of MMAARS-NAUTILUS OPS, the first underwater Analog Aquanaut Training Program.
Dr. Jewell’s work bridges exponential technologies, AI, behavioural and human factors, space medicine, and operational research. Her research focuses on developing AI-enabled Precision Space Medicine platforms that integrate digital twins, wearable physiological monitoring, biospecimen analytics, and computational modeling to optimize human health and performance in isolated, confined, and extreme operational environments. She leads several international translational research programs, including VASTX™, an AI-enabled physiologically based pharmacokinetic digital twin platform for personalized medication management in space; MAGSBHO™, an AI-assisted behavioral health and operational decision-support system for hybrid human–AI teams; and the Analog Astronaut OMICS Library Project (AAOLP), a longitudinal biobank supporting precision medicine research across analog missions.
Her multidisciplinary research spans desert, underwater, high-altitude, and other analog environments designed to advance technologies for future commercial and governmental human spaceflight. Her work has been presented at leading international aerospace conferences and is focused on translating terrestrial healthcare innovations into operational capabilities for lunar, Martian, and deep-space exploration.
Dr. Jewell is passionate about expanding access to space research through education, international collaboration, and emerging technologies that improve human health on Earth while enabling humanity’s future beyond it. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sipjewell
Speaker
Vince Socci is Chief Technologist at On Target Motion where he delivers systems engineering, program management, venture management, and intellectual property services for safety-critical applications such as aerospace, automotive, rail, marine, and medical innovation programs.
About Vince Socci
His engineering career spans more than 35 years developing hardware, software, and systems in various fault-tolerant embedded controls applications. He led teams in senior roles at Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Parker Hannifin, National Instruments, and other organizations. He developed products for autonomous systems, UAVs, space vehicle propulsion and communications, fuel control systems, power and energy systems, navigation systems, avionics, medical and therapeutic devices, flight control systems, diagnostic/prognostic systems, radar, electrical system, health and fault managers, X-ray scanners, engine and motor controls, automotive and aerospace control systems, and military ground electric vehicles. He holds BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering, an MBA in technology management specializing in IP management, an MA in leadership and counseling and is currently a PhD candidate. He is a certified Project Management Professional and serves on PMI and SAE standards and technical committees.
Socci brought leadership experience to IEEE, MGA, EAC, and IEEE-USA boards of directors and various committees. He delivered strategic planning for Regions 1 and 3. He is founding chair of two AESS chapters. Socci has been an active member of IEEE AESS for over 25 years. He currently serves AESS as chapter chair and on the Board of Governors as Vice President of Membership. He led AESS conferences (space defense), standards (UAV), technical panels (UAV), and workshops (drone pilot licensing). He is an AESS DL and has written AESS-related papers and tutorials.
He provided membership value to the IEEE members by creating technical activities, tutorial programs, organizational units, PACE and professional skills programs, and networking programs as well as joint programs with other professional organizations.
He revitalized IEEE organization units by focusing on two objectives: increase volunteer involvement and increase technical and educational activities.
As an industry leader, he developed and led organizations at all levels from startup to Fortune-50 companies. He built teams and created succession plans. He dealt with resource issues and mitigated major personnel issues. He created companies, divisions and teams and mentored employees through their careers from entry level to senior management.
He has the integrity to serve in critical roles that demand unbiased and selfless perspectives. He fought for the right decisions, even if those decisions were unpopular. As stewards of IEEE, we should represent the full body of IEEE in our efforts, not just those where we have a personal interest. By bringing his IEEE organizational leadership experience and management expertise to the IEEE AESS BoG, Socci will help IEEE grow and be more effective across our membership and our constituents. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vsocci/
Speaker
Kari Curtin is a senior Aerospace Engineering student at Florida Institute of Technology.
About Kari Curtin
Kari Curtin is a senior Aerospace Engineering student at Florida Institute of Technology with a passion for the space and defense industry. She serves as President of the Women in Aerospace Engineering and Run Clubs and spent the summer as an Integration and Test Intern at L3Harris Technologies’ Malabar facility, where she gained hands-on experience supporting engineering and manufacturing operations. After graduating, Kari plans to pursue a master’s degree in Systems Engineering while continuing a career in the aerospace and defense industry.
Speaker
Mr. Jim Larson serves as Senior Vice President of AI Strategic Initiatives at Sidus Space, where he leads enterprise AI strategy for the company’s Orlaith™ AI Ecosystem.
About Jim Larson
Mr. Jim Larson leads enterprise AI strategy for Orlaith™ AI Ecosystem, the integrated edge-computing platform combining FeatherEdge™ AI/ML processors with Cielo™ software algorithms to deliver near real-time insights from satellite sensor data on LizzieSat® platforms in low Earth orbit.
A former U.S. Naval Aviator, he brings over three decades of experience spanning Naval Aviation, satellite communications, unmanned systems, and commercial space technology. During his Navy career, Mr. Larson served as Satellite Communications Officer at Pacific Fleet Headquarters, managing MILSTAR and EHF SATCOM programs and coordinating space-based assets across the Pacific Fleet. Later in his Reserve career, he was a founding officer of an MQ-9A Reaper detachment, qualifying as a Reaper drone Commander, Planner, and Operator.
With an active Top-Secret clearance and deep fluency across defense acquisition, dual-use space programs, and AI-enabled autonomous systems, Mr. Larson bridges the gap between operational mission requirements and the next generation of on-orbit intelligence.
Speaker
Robert Long serves as Space Florida’s president and CEO, leading the state’s aerospace finance and development authority to advance the aerospace industry and solidify the state as the premier global and interplanetary capital for aerospace commerce.
About Robert Long
He is a proven leader with more than 25 years of experience overseeing large organizations across the aerospace spectrum from launch operations and mobility to logistics and spaceport operations. Long has spent his career improving and enhancing the transportation to, from, and in space, managing complex aerospace programs, leveraging innovative technologies to improve both government and private sector outcomes, and developing new business models and operating concepts to create value for the commercial aerospace industry.
Long has nearly two decades of experience crafting defense industrial, aerospace, and fiscal policy and strategies, which included key roles advising the Defense Department’s Chief Technology Officer and senior Defense Department space leaders. He has a long track record of building partnerships across and within government & industry toward mutually beneficial outcomes.
Long most recently served as the Commander for Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range, Vandenberg Space Force Base. In this role he managed $8.4 billion in assets, a $280 million annual budget, installations spanning more than 118,000 acres, and oversaw 11,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel.
Long received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and has master’s degree from the College of Naval Command and Staff, the School for Advanced Air and Space Studies and the Eisenhower School. He retired as a colonel from the United States Space Force in July 2023.
Speaker
Matthew Smith is a Space Systems Engineer at Arcfield with a background in spacecraft systems engineering, systems architecture, and aerospace mission design.
About Matthew Smith
He holds a Master of Science in Space Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech.
His work centers on the design, analysis, and integration of complex space systems, including space-based sensing architectures, mission analysis, and aerospace simulation. Throughout his academic and professional career, Matthew has contributed to NASA-related projects, led multidisciplinary engineering teams, and received first-place honors in the AIAA Space System Design Competition.
His interests include spacecraft design, space domain awareness, lunar exploration, and the development of innovative technologies that advance future space missions.
Speaker
Norm Ennis has spent 15 years with NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, where he served as a Quality and Safety Manager.
About Norm Ennis
With more than 17 years of experience supporting the U.S. space program, Norm has spent 15 years with NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, where he served as a Quality and Safety Manager overseeing the launch of scientific balloon payloads for research missions. Following that role, he joined the Orion Program at Kennedy Space Center as a Quality Engineer, contributing to the development of NASA’s next-generation crewed spacecraft before retiring after nearly two years.
Education
- Vermont Technical College – Electromechanical Engineering Technology
- Auburn University – Aerospace Engineering
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Coursework nearly complete
History
The Space Visions Symposium is an extension of the thinking that generated the CCTS’ Flagship product; “The Space Congress”. Initially Space Congress was designed to provide a forum for professional societies, contractors, and government employees to exchange information and experience operating on the Eastern Range and later the Merritt Island Launch Area which became KSC. Technical papers connected with all areas of the design, engineering and operation of Launch Vehicles, Spacecraft and Range Systems were presented.
Local schools were encouraged to attend with a county wide Science Fair being held and judged.
Objective
The Space Visions Symposium starts where the Space Congress leaves off. Space Congress actually addresses the “here and now” of the industry whereas the Space Visions Symposium starts by looking at what is required for spacefaring to become routine, leading to people living and working in space and on other bodies.
The time horizon for the Space Visions Symposium starts at ten years in the future and extends out at least fifty years. We are seeking to build a constituency of professionals from all walks of life that will allow the establishment of credible Off-World settlements and economy’s.
Conference Location
Space Coast Health Foundation
1100 Rockledge Blvd (US Highway 1)
Rockledge, FL 32955
Conference Registration
Please register for the symposium. Registration fees:
- Regular – $50 (includes lunch, reception)
- Military/Govt – $20 (includes lunch, reception)
- Student – $20 (optional fees: lunch: $12, reception: $10)
- Author/Speakers – no fee
- Author/Speakers +1’s – same fee as Students
Conference Add On Activities
Arrive a day early and enjoy these exciting experiences! (Details below)
Thursday, September 10
Location:
The Sands History Center
100 Spaceport Way Building 90328
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm (Must arrive at the Sands by 1:15pm)
Join us for an exclusive guided tour of historic Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where the earliest milestones of the U.S. space program came to life. Led by a space historian, this immersive experience takes you to the launch complexes that paved the way for America’s future in space exploration.
Along the way, you’ll visit:
- Launch Complex 26 – Site of the first successful American satellite launch.
- Launch Complexs 5 & 6 – Where Alan Shepard became the first American in space.
- Launch Complexs 9 & 10 – Home of the Navaho missile program, located across from Launch Complexs 31 & 32, the original Minuteman launch sites and now the final resting place of Challenger.
- Hangar C – The oldest hangar on Cape Canaveral, housing an extraordinary collection of more than 35 fully restored historic rockets, missiles, and space artifacts.
While neighboring Kennedy Space Center is renowned for the Space Shuttle program, Cape Canaveral tells the story of America’s earliest achievements—from Mercury and Gemini through the dawn of Apollo. This is a rare opportunity to walk the grounds where history was made and gain a deeper appreciation for the pioneering missions that launched the United States into the Space Age.
Price: $65 (includes access to the Welcome Reception hosted by D!NG immediately following)
You can register for the bus tour as an add on to your Space Visions Symposium Registration. Can’t make the Symposium but still want to go on the tour? No problem! You can register for just the tour in the same registration form.
Thursday, September 10
Location:
The Sands History Center
100 Spaceport Way Building 90328
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Kick off the Space Visions Symposium with an evening of meaningful networking at the iconic Space History Center. Join fellow leaders from government, industry, academia, and the defense community for cocktails, small plates, and engaging conversation in a unique setting that celebrates America’s space heritage. Whether you’re reconnecting with colleagues or forging new partnerships, this reception provides the perfect opportunity to build relationships before the symposium begins.
This year’s Welcome Reception is generously hosted by the Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG). Traveling from the Midwest, D!NG is helping build a stronger commercial and innovation bridge between the Midwest defense ecosystem and Florida’s Space Coast. Through collaborative education, workforce development, knowledge sharing, and strategic partnerships, D!NG accelerates innovation that strengthens our nation’s defense industrial base and supports those who serve. Their mission is centered on what matters most—the people—connecting organizations and individuals to create new opportunities that protect and advance the warfighter.
Enjoy:
- Cocktails and beverages
- Chef-selected small plates
- Networking with symposium attendees, speakers, sponsors, and regional leaders
- An inspiring venue surrounded by the history of American space exploration
Start the symposium by making the connections that matter.
The reception is FREE to attend.
However, you must RSVP in the Space Visions Symposium registration portal. If you signed up for the Cape Canaveral Bus Tour, you do NOT need to also RSVP to the Welcome Reception separately. If you cannot or chose not to participate in the bus tour, but wish to attend the Welcome Reception, select the Welcome Reception add-on ticket.
Sponsorship & Exhibit Space Available
The Space Visions Symposium brings together 150 engineers, scientists, and industry leaders focused on what it takes to make routine human occupation of Low Earth Orbit a reality. Your sponsorship puts your brand in front of the decision-makers and innovators driving that future – in a setting designed for meaningful engagement.
Sponsorship packages range from $500 to $1,750.
Explore your opportunities to connect with this powerful audience.
Event Sponsors
