Startups and Space Investment Take Center Stage at ISSRDC

Seattle (WA), July 10, 2023 — Innovation is the cornerstone of space exploration and expanding commerce in low Earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles. (LEO) cannot happen without it. Several sessions at the 12^th annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference(Abbreviation: ISSRDC) The only conference dedicated exclusively to showcasing how the International Space Station is advancing science and technology and enabling a robust and sustainable market in LEO. This annual conference brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the space station. ISSRDC is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, manager of the ISS National Lab; NASA; and the American Astronautical Society. (ISSRDC) focus on building sound business models for entrepreneurs within this growing commercial frontier.

On Day 1, representatives from leading venture capital and private equity firms will share perspectives on investment landscape expectations over the coming year. In “Building Startups During Market Volatility,” panelists will explore funding and growth strategies suitable for early-stage companies to navigate the current environment. The discussion, which will be moderated by Carie Mullins, director of analytics at BryceTech, includes panelists from AE Industrial Partners, Generation Space, In-Q-Tel, Marlinspike Partners, and Morgan Stanley.

A plenary session on Day 2, called “Innovating in the Space Landscape,” focuses on new companies that have entered the space market to advance technologies and commercialize space in unique ways. Each featured panelist is the leader of a startup (Gravitics, Space Forge, Stoke Space, Privateer, and Xplore), that brings a unique perspective to the industry. Attendees can hear how these individuals forged a path toward space, as well as the challenges they have overcome and the opportunities they see ahead.

ISSRDC will take place July 31 through August 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Seattle. The conference brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the International Space Station. ISSRDC will showcase how the space station continues to provide a valuable platform for research and technology development that benefits humanity and enables a robust and sustainable market in LEO.

The conference is hosted by the ISSInternational Space Station National Laboratory, managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS(Abbreviation: CASIS™) The nonprofit organization that manages the ISS National Lab, which receives at least 50 percent of the U.S. research allocation on the International Space Station to facilitate research that benefits humanity (NASA manages the other 50% and focuses on research for space exploration purposes).); NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration; and the American Astronautical Society (AAS). Additional announcements on keynote speakers and various sessions will be forthcoming.

To learn more about ISSRDC 2023, including how to register, exhibit, or become a conference sponsor, please visit the conference website.

Download a high resolution image for this release: ISSRDC 2022 Investment Panel

Media Contact:       
Patrick O’Neill
904-806-0035
PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:  The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Lab allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative AgreementA cooperative agreement is Federal assistance that establishes a relationship between the U.S. Government and a recipient in which the principal purpose of the relationship is to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation.  Since 2011, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) has managed the National Laboratory® through a Cooperative Agreement with NASA. with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment. research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

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