The sixth annual MIT AeroAstro SpaceTech Conference explored what it takes to turn research into impact in the “Space Innovation Ecosystem,” showcasing how early-stage concepts become startups, how teams secure funding and partnerships, and how academic innovation fits into the broader space industry. Emceed by Prof. David Mindell, the event brought together leading experts from MIT and beyond, researchers, and students for a full day of panel discussions, presentations, and opportunities to connect with others at the forefront of space technology.
Check out our photo album here and watch videos of the sessions below:
Celebrating the Space Systems Lab
This year’s keynote address was given by Prof. David Miller, former director of the Space Systems Lab (SSL), followed by a panel discussion featuring alumni in celebration of 30 years of the Space Systems Lab. The panel discussion was moderated by Associate Dept. Head, Apollo Program Professor, and SSL alum Oli de Weck.
Alumni Entrepreneurship
In the next panel on Alumni Startups, moderator Prof. Dava Newman emphasized “paying it forward” by leveraging MIT’s network to help the next generation succeed. Panelists Rodrigo Diez PhD ‘19, Ariel Ekblaw PhD ‘20, E. Michael Fincke ‘89, and Jordan Wachs reflected on how MIT shaped their paths. Fincke, a NASA astronaut, credited Course 16 with teaching him how to “learn how to learn,” while Ekblaw highlighted hands-on, iterative engineering experiences as key to her success. Fincke also remarked that he looks forward to “the first class of MIT-ers who get to spend a semester abroad in low Earth Orbit.”
Research talks
The conference then turned to student lightning talks, where graduate student researchers distilled their work into five minute presentations. Speakers included Ireland Brown (ESL), Eric Elias (ACL), Carol Klingler (SSL), and Lanie McKinney (APG). These were followed by longer research presentations from Daniel Gochenaur (ESL), Rachel Morgan of NASA Ames Research Center, and Jianping Pan, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Victoria, which provided deeper dives into ongoing work.
MIT’s Innovation Network
The final panel featured MIT Sloan Prof. Fiona Murray, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship Bill Aulet, Prof. Paulo Lozano, and was moderated by Prof. Daniel Hastings. The discussion focused on MIT’s innovation network and the many pathways available for current MIT community members to transform their ideas into contributions to the space industry.
SpaceTech 2026 also included a poster session and expo that included AeroAstro students, the Massachusetts Space Consortium, and the Space Force Association.
