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Jason MichaudCEO and Founder, StardustFounder and CEO of Stardust Inc., a Canadian company based in Iroquois Falls, Ontario, and the host of Stardust 2026. Stardust runs Odyssey, the free space education platform open at any age, the Stardust Challenge, and Stardust Ascend, its civilian astronaut training and interplanetary readiness program. Canada's National Coordinator for World Space Week.
Dr. Olav KrigolsonProfessor, Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience Laboratory, University of VictoriaProfessor at the University of Victoria and director of the Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience Laboratory. His work is mobile neuroimaging with EEG and fNIRS, human performance and decision-making, with more than 85 peer-reviewed publications and 250 conference presentations.
Taylour MillsSTEAM Advisor and Board of Advisors, SEDS USATaylour Mills sits on the Board of Advisors of SEDS USA, the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, and is an aerospace engineer at Crane Aerospace & Electronics in the Seattle area. Founding president of SEDS at the University of Washington, where the chapter grew to more than 120 students across the Seattle and Bothell campuses; University of Washington Aeronautics & Astronautics, class of 2021.Website
Paola RodríguezCEO, Neko Aerospace EngineeringCEO of Neko Aerospace Engineering, an aerospace engineering firm in Houston, Texas, and a Stardust ambassador.
David BavarescoPresident and Chief Aerospace Engineer, Neko Aerospace EngineeringPresident and Chief Aerospace Engineer of Neko Aerospace Engineering in Houston, Texas, and a Stardust ambassador.
Dr. Danny JaquesFounder, Danny's Rocket RanchDr. Danny Jaques is an educator and a space food and drink entrepreneur. Danny’s Rocket Ranch manufactures a line of dehydrated food and drinks. Ten percent of the company’s profits are dedicated to help deserving students attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.InstagramWebsiteX
Osho PriyaNASA Lucy Mission Ambassador, STEM outreach and ethical AIFull-time STEM outreach as an ambassador for NASA's Lucy mission, and building a community for ethical AI. Until May 2026 a software engineer at AWS and Amazon, on network infrastructure for EC2 and AI-driven products. NASA L'SPACE Academy ambassador, from the 2020 NPWEE cohort and the 2021 Mission Concept Academy. In SEDS she raised the funds that took her chapter to SpaceVision at Johnson Space Center and to the IREC rocketry competition at Spaceport America, and she organised a week of World Space Week talks with speakers from Virgin Orbit and NASA Marshall. BS in Computer Science and Engineering, SUNY Buffalo, 2023.linkedin.comWebsiteX
Frank WhiteAuthor, The Overview Effect, Human Space ProgramAuthor of The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, the 1987 book that named the shift astronauts describe when they see Earth from space, and a framework space psychology still works from. Founder of the Human Space Program and convener of the Overview Round Table. Harvard College, then Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar; his books span space, climate and artificial intelligence, including work with Isaac Asimov. He taught Introduction to Space Studies at Harvard Extension School and is bringing that course, and an Overview Effect course, to the Stardust platform. He joins Stardust 2026 on the stream.Website
Andrew ParrisPresident and Co-founder, The Inspired 24Andrew Parris is a three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcast television engineer who spent thirteen years at NASA supporting Space Shuttle and International Space Station operations, and astronaut crew training at the WETF and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and aboard Zero-G flights. He is President and co-founder of the non-profit The Inspired 24, which exists to democratise space and help its members reach spaceflight and the Overview Effect. He is an award-winning Space Center Houston volunteer, a Zero-G flyer, a spaceflight crew trainer, a World View Stratonaut and a mentor.
Caroline ClarkAnalogue Astronaut & Space Psychology Researcher, ExpansumCaroline Clark is an analogue astronaut and space psychology researcher. In 2025 she completed an analogue space mission at LunAres Research Station, where she and six crew members were sealed inside a habitat simulating life on the Moon, experiencing first-hand the psychological impact of isolation and confinement. Through Expansum, she studies leadership, team dynamics and psychological resilience in extreme environments, and applies that work to developing leaders on the ground. Her TEDx talk makes the evidence-based case for why women should be the first humans on Mars.youtube.comliftoff.carolineclark.spaceWebsite
Dr. Alexandra (Sandra) WhitmireLead Scientist, Human Factors and Behavioral Performance, NASA Human Research ProgramDr. Alexandra (Sandra) Whitmire is the lead scientist for the Human Factors and Behavioral Performance element of NASA’s Human Research Program at Johnson Space Center, where she helps lead research on the effects of prolonged isolation and confinement as NASA prepares to voyage to the Moon and on to Mars. She joined the Human Research Program in 2006 and played a key role in establishing NASA’s behavioral health and performance research group, which led to the creation of HERA, the Human Exploration Research Analog, in 2013 and a Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory in 2016. Her background is in experimental and occupational health psychology: a bachelor’s in English and psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s in psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a doctorate in psychology. Source: nasa.gov, People of Johnson.Website
Dr. Gretchen GreenPhysician and Blue Origin astronaut, NS-32At 12, Dr. Gretchen Green graduated Space Camp dreaming of space while also pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a doctor. Decades later, she became the first woman physician commercial astronaut on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket's 12th human mission to space. Today, she speaks worldwide to students and adults of all ages, inspiring them to “Raise Your Hand (Before You’re Ready),” create confidence through action, and keep moving toward their highest purpose and potential. Source: Dr. Green's own Odyssey profile.Website
Oscar O'FarrillPsychologist and High-Performance Coach, Astronaut Training Agency for México and Latin AméricaOscar Iván O'Farrill Cobo is a psychologist, high-performance coach and educator with more than 18 years of practice, and is with the Astronaut Training Agency for México and Latin América. He founded The Future Academy and a postgraduate programme in therapeutic accompaniment, studied cognitive and learning psychology at FLACSO Argentina and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and sits on the Psychology Proto Task-Force of the Overview Round Table and The Human Space Program. Before psychology he played and coached for Mexico's national rugby and ice hockey teams across 13 World Cups. At Stardust 2026 he joins the fireside and the session for the students. Sources: his own signature (28 Sep 2026), his own Instagram message of 15 Oct 2026 asking for this affiliation, linkedin.com/in/oscarofarrill, ecosistemaconsciencia.com.Website
Ashley LewellingDirector and producer, World's Biggest Analog film · Coordinator, GOWME, GOWMEAshley Lewelling directs and produces a film about the World’s Biggest Analog, the record-scale Moon and Mars analog mission, working with a co-lead and a crew, and is a coordinator with GOWME. She works in medical sales and does human factors research alongside it. She grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Cal State LA while taking pre-med prerequisites. She is working towards her Wilderness First Responder and W-EMT certifications and is drawn to rescue, wilderness, austere, emergency and space medicine. At Stardust 2026 she brings the WBA film and the human side of an analog mission. Roles corrected by Ashley herself, 14 Oct 2026.gowme.orgWebsite
Dr. Fernando De La Peña LlacaFounder and CEO, Aexa Aerospace and Aexa Tech, Aexa AerospaceFounder and CEO of Aexa Aerospace and Aexa Tech. For nearly three decades we have worked at the intersection of aerospace operations, immersive systems, and AI. Our team developed HoloConnect AI, a device-agnostic holographic and AI platform that has been demonstrated in orbit aboard the International Space Station and is now expanding into aerospace medicine, mission operations, and commercial applications. Our focus has been simple but ambitious: bringing immersive presence and intelligent systems into high-stakes environments where human performance, cognition, and decision-making truly matter.aexa.comlinkedin.com
Shinul PaulChief Operating Officer, StardustShinul Paul is an Aerospace Engineer and Astrophysicist whose career bridges hard science with a passion for human progress. With over a decade of experience in aerospace technologies, space systems, and UAV/RPAS, Shinul serves as COO of Stardust Inc., where he leads innovation in astronaut training, space research, and the development of next-generation infrastructure for humanity’s future in space.Instagram
Zain TawanaChief Impact and Partnership Officer, Stardust Inc.Zain Tawana is a psychonaut: an explorer of inner space, who believes the journey to the stars begins within. At Stardust Inc., he leads global impact and relationship strategies, while advancing research into space psychology and mental well-being for analog astronauts and future interplanetary missions.Instagram
Shifa ZahraDirector of Space Biology and Strategic Partnerships, Stardust Inc.Shifa Zahra is a biotechnologist working at the frontier of Space Biology and Astrobiology, driven by one central question: how does life originate, adapt, and survive beyond Earth? Her research focuses on developing non-Earth-centered life-detection strategies by integrating molecular biology, extremophile systems, and stress-adaptation mechanisms relevant to Mars and lunar exploration. By studying biological resilience under extreme conditions, Shifa aims to redefine how we search for life and how we sustain it beyond our planet.Instagram
Robert AillonFounder and CEO, Leviathan Space IndustriesRobert Aillon is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Space Society. He is the founder and CEO of Leviathan Space Industries LLC, which is leading the initiative to develop a private spaceport in Ecuador. Robert serves as President of the Guayaquil Space Society, a chapter of the National Space Society, and as Executive Director of the Ecuador Space Society. He is a graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, with a Master's in Space Leadership, Policy and Law.linkedin.comecuador-space.comWebsite
Rafael KargrenChief Strategy Officer, StardustRafael Kargren is a space entrepreneur, strategist, and educator with over three decades at the forefront of the global space industry. His career has spanned extreme environment astronaut training, space entrepreneurship, and national space strategy development, making him a pivotal figure in advancing humanity’s reach beyond Earth. Rafael has played a central role in bridging international space agencies, governments, and private companies, fostering collaborations that have redefined the landscape of space exploration. He has worked with agencies including NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO, and the Australian Space Agency, while supporting commercial giants such as Rocket Lab, OneWeb, SpaceX, and Maxar.
Michael J. SmithCenter Opportunity Manager, Marshall Space Flight Center, NASAMichael J. Smith is the Center Opportunity Manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in the Partnerships, Analysis, Communications, and Engagement Office. He is the front door for organisations that want to work with Marshall: Space Act Agreements, collaborative opportunity announcements, technology transfer and the use of Marshall’s facilities. He hosted the Stardust team at Marshall in August 2025 and joined The Human Side of Space fireside in February 2026. At Stardust 2026 he speaks on how Marshall does business with the outside world, and what a student or a small company should know before they knock.nasa.govWebsite
Rocky SinghChief Revenue Officer, StardustRocky Singh is Chief Revenue Officer at Stardust, leading international growth across MENA and ASEAN. Fifteen years across aerospace, defence, transportation and IT: former Company Security Officer on the Royal Canadian Navy’s AJISS programme, and Principal of Third Rock Consulting, where his work spans cybersecurity readiness, ITB and offset frameworks, and R&D. A NewSpace advocate committed to humanity’s future in space. At Stardust 2026 he speaks on the unglamorous end of aerospace: how the industry actually buys, and what a student or a small company should know before they sell.linkedin.com
Eddie GonzalesStardust Advisory Board, NASA, retiredAn avid music lover and sneakerhead, Edward Gonzales has built a life walking the walk from street smart to business-savvy, first at one of Los Angeles’s prestigious law firms, then to “student-whisperer” at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory working with interns and underserved, underrepresented populations. Most recently, as NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility lead for Heliophysics, he brought his unique blend of experience to one of NASA’s most prestigious missions.
Edward has been honored by many NASA awards and recognition and has made it his personal mission to ensure that the agency’s future workforce is more diverse and equitable than when he started his career there two decades ago.
Having lost his father as a young teen, experienced police profiling and gang violence, he can relate to the struggles that many students face as they embark on their college and career journeys. He is eager to share that all paths to NASA aren’t linear and emphasizes the critical importance of creating a workforce pipeline that starts in school.
This led to an exciting project called “Permission to Dream,” collaborating with Christopher Gardner (The Pursuit of Happyness) to present inspirational talks at one thousand high schools across the United States.
Robert S. KatzFounder and CEO, World Innovation Network; NASA Space Apps Local Lead, Cape Canaveral, WINRobert S. Katz is the founder and CEO of World Innovation Network (WIN), a consultancy working across space, cybersecurity and innovation, and the NASA Space Apps Challenge Local Lead for Cape Canaveral, Florida. He has spent years watching what a team can build in a single weekend. At Stardust 2026 he tells his own story: the road that took him into this work, and what he would say to someone standing where he started.
Girinath AnandhanAnalog Astronaut and Founder, CosmoBuzz Space, CosmoBuzz LimitedGirinath Anandhan is an analog astronaut and founder of CosmoBuzz Space, a podcast and networking platform for people entering the space sector. He trained at AATC in Krakow, presented on emerging space economies at IAC in Antalya, gave a TEDx talk, and wrote “Networking in Zero Gravity.” He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Sciences from Kaunas University of Technology, mentors students there, and is based in Vilnius. He joins Stardust 2026 on the stream.Instagram
Dorra SaidiLead, Quasar Nexus, Université Centrale, TunisiaDorra Saidi is a NASA citizen scientist through her membership in the OSDR Analysis Working Groups (AWG), as well as a Stardust Ambassador, Virtual Moon Ambassador, and Research Fellow at the Advanced SpaceLife Research Institute. An Industrial Chemistry graduate with experience in science communication, open science, and STEM education, she has also served as an Open Science Ambassador and led her team at the NASA Space Apps Hackathon 2024. She led an international summit on space accessibility in Tunisia, featuring retired NASA astronaut Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman, author Andrew Chaikin, Stardust CEO Jason Michaud, and Virtual Moon CEO Manny Pimenta. The event was completely free and open to all and included an interactive VR workshop and a telescope observation session. Dorra brings a scientific eye and an educator's perspective, championing ideas that are rigorous, creative, and accessible. Source: her own email of 17 Oct 2026.
Ken RuffinSpace Communicator; President, NSS of North Texas, National Space SocietyKen Ruffin is a space communicator, consultant and engineer, founder and CEO of Didymos Consulting, and President of the National Space Society of North Texas, which has been named NSS Chapter of the Year seven times. He serves on the NSS Board of Strategic Advisors and Chapters Committee and is an NSS Space Ambassador and a Stardust Ambassador. He joins Stardust 2026 on the stream from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Mariam MetaweeFounder, Project Spaceak for Knowledge, Stardust EgyptMariam Metawee brought Project Spaceak for Knowledge to Stardust in autumn 2025 and with it the door to Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports. She joins Stardust 2026 on the stream from Cairo to tell the story of Spaceak: what it is, who it reaches, and what she learned building it.
Dianea Carroll PhillipsAnalog astronaut, Crew 321 Mars Desert Research Station, Science Yourself! No G's About ItDianea Carroll Phillips is a Crew 321, Mars Desert Research Station analog astronaut. She devotes her time to providing STEM/STEAM programs in her role as aerospace educator, space advocate and storyteller. She is CEO of Science Yourself! No G's About It and Canadian Principal Investigator for the ExoLab Plants in Space programme. Her work connects science, exploration and creativity to inspire curiosity and lifelong learning. Bio and photograph supplied by Dianea herself, WhatsApp, 14 Oct 2026.
Sharon EgglestonFounder, Space Day Maine, Maine Space Grant ConsortiumFounder of Space Day Maine, which she started in 1997 and has run every year since. Northeast Regional Coordinator for Space Day and an Affiliate at Large of the Maine Space Grant Consortium. A retired project manager from Lockheed Martin, she has spent nearly three decades putting astronauts, engineers and scientists in front of Maine classrooms.
Arshleen Kaur SahniFounder and CEO, Space Architect, ArkasaFounder and CEO of Arkasa, a space architecture design and research lab. A space architect, researcher, analog astronaut and TEDx speaker whose work is on human-centred habitats for the Moon and Mars — the psychology of living in extreme environments, and why a habitat has to feel like somewhere people can live.
Steve JonesAstronomy and physics teacher, ExoLab 8 and 9 principal investigator, FCS Innovation Academy, GeorgiaSteve Jones has spent 20 years teaching students from preschool through 12th grade. He holds a BA in Psychology from Berea College and an MA in Teaching from Brenau University. He currently teaches Astronomy, Physics, and Scientific Research at FCS Innovation Academy in Alpharetta, GA.
Steve served as a Principal Investigator with Magnitude.io for Exolab 8 & 9, sending experiments to the International Space Station. His students have participated in notable projects, including Exolab6, Exolab7, the Leguminaut Challenge, Tomatosphere, and The Space Chile Pepper Challenge. An avid astrophotographer, he founded Stellar Visions to showcase his art and broaden his outreach. In 2025, Steve collaborated with researchers at Caltech through NITARP to study the Beta Pictoris Moving Group of stars; the resulting research is forthcoming.
Steve was named Teacher of the Year at Abbotts Hill Elementary (2012) and received the 2023 ISS National Lab Tony So Excellence in Education Award. Beyond the classroom, Steve is a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, Space Foundation Teacher Liaison, Stardust Ambassador, and served on the NASA eClips Educator Advisory Board, sharing science with the broader community.Website
Dr Joshua ChouChief Science Officer, Stardust Inc.Dr Joshua Chou is Chief Science Officer of Stardust Inc. and Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of XELGEN.
Dr Joshua Chou is a pioneer in space biology and medicine. He designed and built the world's first cell-biology microgravity simulator, a platform now used by NASA, JAXA and the Australian Space Agency, and by leading research institutions around the world, to study how human cells behave without gravity.
That work has helped show how cells sense mechanical forces. It revealed how six different types of cancer detect mechanical stimuli and how that sensing can be disrupted. It also showed how the blood-brain barrier can be opened to deliver treatment to the brain. Dr Chou has flown automated cell-culture systems to the International Space Station. He then took the science out of the lab: his company was the first to use microgravity to biomanufacture cell therapies, turning space biology into treatments for patients on Earth.
His research has been published in Cell, alongside more than 60 peer-reviewed papers. He is a Dean's Scholar at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and a JSPS Fellow, with research affiliations at the Harvard Medical School Bioinformatics Core and the University of Tokyo. His work has been recognised with the Charlie Teo Fellowship for advancing brain cancer research and an Australian Good Design Award for Best in Engineering. He serves on the Australian Space Agency's Space Medicine and Life Science Committee and co-founded the Australian Space Biology Symposium. Today he is Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of XELGEN, which applies cellular intelligence to regenerative and longevity medicine.
The road here was not easy. There were rejections and doubts, and at the start only one researcher in all of Australia believed in this work. That researcher backed Dr Chou and worked alongside him. From that partnership, his collaborator has gone on to lead space biology research, with support from the United States Space Force and beyond.
Dr Chou was part of the founding group behind the idea for Japan's Martian Moons eXploration mission, MMX, which aims to bring back the first-ever samples from Phobos, a moon of Mars.
Stephan ReckieExecutive Director, GEN Space, Global Entrepreneurship NetworkStephan Reckie is Executive Director of GEN Space, part of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which operates in 200 countries. His work brings together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, and partners to advance innovation and create opportunities in the growing space economy.
With a global perspective and a passion for connecting people, Stephan helps innovators build relationships, explore commercial opportunities, and turn ambitious ideas into practical ventures. He champions international collaboration and broader participation in shaping humanity’s future beyond Earth.
Stephan is particularly interested in the role entrepreneurship plays in building a sustainable space economy and translating advances in space into benefits here on Earth. He enjoys encouraging students and emerging entrepreneurs to recognize how their talents in business, science, technology, policy, and other fields can contribute to the next chapter of space exploration.linkedin.comgenspace.coWebsiteX
Gary L Gilbert, Jr.Publisher, Flying Goddess PublishingPublisher, Flying Goddess Publishing. Public speaking, STEM education, logistics.linkedin.comlinkedin.com
Carlo VizziAstronaut Trainer, ALTECCarlo trains astronauts for a living. He is a Ground Segment, Payload and Robotic instructor at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, where the Columbus module you see in photographs of ISS training is where he works, and he is also involved in Mission Control operations and space experiments. He leads XR initiatives and innovation at ALTEC, and whenever he can he contributes to STEM outreach with students and professionals. At Stardust he is the trainer on the Astronaut Foundations Program: three weeks on the mindset, consistency and judgement that come before the hardware.Instagram
Colleen McLeod GarnerDirector of Growth, Voyager TechnologiesColleen McLeod Garner is Director of Growth at Voyager Technologies, where she helps shape strategic partnerships and commercial growth for the next generation of human space exploration. She is a PhD student in Space Studies researching neurogastronomy, how the brain experiences flavour, applied to performance, well-being and quality of life on long-duration flights, and a member of the Space Sensory Lab. She holds an Executive Master in Space Leadership, Business and Policy and an MBA in Global Innovation from Thunderbird, after twenty years in hospitality, food and beverage. She has spoken at ISDC, the NSS Space Settlement Summit and Humans to Mars, and has been a Stardust Ambassador since February 2026.
Martina DimoskaProgram Human Systems Integrator, NASA Johnson Space CenterMartina Dimoska is a Program Human Systems Integrator at NASA Johnson Space Center, under the Human Health and Performance Contract, supporting the JSC Health and Medical Technical Authority: governance and standards compliance to NASA-STD-3001, coordination across Human Health and Performance, and engagement with programmes including HLS, Gateway and the Commercial LEO Destinations Program, so that human systems integration stays embedded in NASA's human spaceflight architecture. She is also the founder and president of the International Space Alliance and has served as NASA Internal Lead Representative for the NASA Space Apps Challenge across Ames, Glenn and Johnson. She is a Stardust Ambassador in North Macedonia.
Laura GranadosStardust AmbassadorSince the age of 15, Laura Granados has been drawn to the world of space and the possibilities that lie beyond our planet. What began as an interest has gradually become a journey of seeking opportunities to engage with the space sector and move closer to a world that has long fascinated her. With an international background and previous studies in aerospace engineering in Canada, Laura believes that some ambitions are not simply about reaching a destination, but about finding the courage to keep moving towards it. Becoming a Stardust Ambassador represents another step in that journey: an opportunity to connect with people who share a passion for space, become part of a community that inspires her, and contribute to a field that continues to expand the boundaries of what we imagine possible. For Laura, the stars no longer feel quite as far away as they once did.
See the full programme & who you can meet
The conference site: agenda, speakers, abstracts →
LIVESTREAM · Stardust event
Stardust 2026
Five days of talks, panels, poster presentations and Challenge abstracts, 2 to 6 November. Free and streamed worldwide, with the Stardust 2026 team on the road in the Seattle area.
When
Monday 2 November-Friday 6 November 2026
2 Nov, 10:00 am → 6 Nov, 8:00 pm PST · 2 Nov 18:00 → 7 Nov 04:00 UTC
Where
Online worldwide, and in …
Online worldwide, and in person at a different place each day in the Seattle area.
Access
Free · open to all
Sign up with a free Stardust account to get the stream link and a seat in the chat.
Who's coming
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Who you'll hear from
Jason MichaudCEO and Founder, StardustFounder and CEO of Stardust Inc., a Canadian company based in Iroquois Falls, Ontario, and the host of Stardust 2026. Stardust runs Odyssey, the free space education platform open at any age, the Stardust Challenge, and Stardust Ascend, its civilian astronaut training and interplanetary readiness program. Canada's National Coordinator for World Space Week.
Dr. Olav KrigolsonProfessor, Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience Laboratory, University of VictoriaProfessor at the University of Victoria and director of the Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience Laboratory. His work is mobile neuroimaging with EEG and fNIRS, human performance and decision-making, with more than 85 peer-reviewed publications and 250 conference presentations.
Taylour MillsSTEAM Advisor and Board of Advisors, SEDS USATaylour Mills sits on the Board of Advisors of SEDS USA, the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, and is an aerospace engineer at Crane Aerospace & Electronics in the Seattle area. Founding president of SEDS at the University of Washington, where the chapter grew to more than 120 students across the Seattle and Bothell campuses; University of Washington Aeronautics & Astronautics, class of 2021.Website
Paola RodríguezCEO, Neko Aerospace EngineeringCEO of Neko Aerospace Engineering, an aerospace engineering firm in Houston, Texas, and a Stardust ambassador.
David BavarescoPresident and Chief Aerospace Engineer, Neko Aerospace EngineeringPresident and Chief Aerospace Engineer of Neko Aerospace Engineering in Houston, Texas, and a Stardust ambassador.
Dr. Danny JaquesFounder, Danny's Rocket RanchDr. Danny Jaques is an educator and a space food and drink entrepreneur. Danny’s Rocket Ranch manufactures a line of dehydrated food and drinks. Ten percent of the company’s profits are dedicated to help deserving students attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.InstagramWebsiteX
Osho PriyaNASA Lucy Mission Ambassador, STEM outreach and ethical AIFull-time STEM outreach as an ambassador for NASA's Lucy mission, and building a community for ethical AI. Until May 2026 a software engineer at AWS and Amazon, on network infrastructure for EC2 and AI-driven products. NASA L'SPACE Academy ambassador, from the 2020 NPWEE cohort and the 2021 Mission Concept Academy. In SEDS she raised the funds that took her chapter to SpaceVision at Johnson Space Center and to the IREC rocketry competition at Spaceport America, and she organised a week of World Space Week talks with speakers from Virgin Orbit and NASA Marshall. BS in Computer Science and Engineering, SUNY Buffalo, 2023.linkedin.comWebsiteX
Frank WhiteAuthor, The Overview Effect, Human Space ProgramAuthor of The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, the 1987 book that named the shift astronauts describe when they see Earth from space, and a framework space psychology still works from. Founder of the Human Space Program and convener of the Overview Round Table. Harvard College, then Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar; his books span space, climate and artificial intelligence, including work with Isaac Asimov. He taught Introduction to Space Studies at Harvard Extension School and is bringing that course, and an Overview Effect course, to the Stardust platform. He joins Stardust 2026 on the stream.Website
Andrew ParrisPresident and Co-founder, The Inspired 24Andrew Parris is a three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcast television engineer who spent thirteen years at NASA supporting Space Shuttle and International Space Station operations, and astronaut crew training at the WETF and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and aboard Zero-G flights. He is President and co-founder of the non-profit The Inspired 24, which exists to democratise space and help its members reach spaceflight and the Overview Effect. He is an award-winning Space Center Houston volunteer, a Zero-G flyer, a spaceflight crew trainer, a World View Stratonaut and a mentor.
Caroline ClarkAnalogue Astronaut & Space Psychology Researcher, ExpansumCaroline Clark is an analogue astronaut and space psychology researcher. In 2025 she completed an analogue space mission at LunAres Research Station, where she and six crew members were sealed inside a habitat simulating life on the Moon, experiencing first-hand the psychological impact of isolation and confinement. Through Expansum, she studies leadership, team dynamics and psychological resilience in extreme environments, and applies that work to developing leaders on the ground. Her TEDx talk makes the evidence-based case for why women should be the first humans on Mars.youtube.comliftoff.carolineclark.spaceWebsite
Dr. Alexandra (Sandra) WhitmireLead Scientist, Human Factors and Behavioral Performance, NASA Human Research ProgramDr. Alexandra (Sandra) Whitmire is the lead scientist for the Human Factors and Behavioral Performance element of NASA’s Human Research Program at Johnson Space Center, where she helps lead research on the effects of prolonged isolation and confinement as NASA prepares to voyage to the Moon and on to Mars. She joined the Human Research Program in 2006 and played a key role in establishing NASA’s behavioral health and performance research group, which led to the creation of HERA, the Human Exploration Research Analog, in 2013 and a Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory in 2016. Her background is in experimental and occupational health psychology: a bachelor’s in English and psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s in psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a doctorate in psychology. Source: nasa.gov, People of Johnson.Website
Dr. Gretchen GreenPhysician and Blue Origin astronaut, NS-32At 12, Dr. Gretchen Green graduated Space Camp dreaming of space while also pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a doctor. Decades later, she became the first woman physician commercial astronaut on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket's 12th human mission to space. Today, she speaks worldwide to students and adults of all ages, inspiring them to “Raise Your Hand (Before You’re Ready),” create confidence through action, and keep moving toward their highest purpose and potential. Source: Dr. Green's own Odyssey profile.Website
Oscar O'FarrillPsychologist and High-Performance Coach, Astronaut Training Agency for México and Latin AméricaOscar Iván O'Farrill Cobo is a psychologist, high-performance coach and educator with more than 18 years of practice, and is with the Astronaut Training Agency for México and Latin América. He founded The Future Academy and a postgraduate programme in therapeutic accompaniment, studied cognitive and learning psychology at FLACSO Argentina and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and sits on the Psychology Proto Task-Force of the Overview Round Table and The Human Space Program. Before psychology he played and coached for Mexico's national rugby and ice hockey teams across 13 World Cups. At Stardust 2026 he joins the fireside and the session for the students. Sources: his own signature (28 Sep 2026), his own Instagram message of 15 Oct 2026 asking for this affiliation, linkedin.com/in/oscarofarrill, ecosistemaconsciencia.com.Website
Ashley LewellingDirector and producer, World's Biggest Analog film · Coordinator, GOWME, GOWMEAshley Lewelling directs and produces a film about the World’s Biggest Analog, the record-scale Moon and Mars analog mission, working with a co-lead and a crew, and is a coordinator with GOWME. She works in medical sales and does human factors research alongside it. She grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Cal State LA while taking pre-med prerequisites. She is working towards her Wilderness First Responder and W-EMT certifications and is drawn to rescue, wilderness, austere, emergency and space medicine. At Stardust 2026 she brings the WBA film and the human side of an analog mission. Roles corrected by Ashley herself, 14 Oct 2026.gowme.orgWebsite
Dr. Fernando De La Peña LlacaFounder and CEO, Aexa Aerospace and Aexa Tech, Aexa AerospaceFounder and CEO of Aexa Aerospace and Aexa Tech. For nearly three decades we have worked at the intersection of aerospace operations, immersive systems, and AI. Our team developed HoloConnect AI, a device-agnostic holographic and AI platform that has been demonstrated in orbit aboard the International Space Station and is now expanding into aerospace medicine, mission operations, and commercial applications. Our focus has been simple but ambitious: bringing immersive presence and intelligent systems into high-stakes environments where human performance, cognition, and decision-making truly matter.aexa.comlinkedin.com
Shinul PaulChief Operating Officer, StardustShinul Paul is an Aerospace Engineer and Astrophysicist whose career bridges hard science with a passion for human progress. With over a decade of experience in aerospace technologies, space systems, and UAV/RPAS, Shinul serves as COO of Stardust Inc., where he leads innovation in astronaut training, space research, and the development of next-generation infrastructure for humanity’s future in space.Instagram
Zain TawanaChief Impact and Partnership Officer, Stardust Inc.Zain Tawana is a psychonaut: an explorer of inner space, who believes the journey to the stars begins within. At Stardust Inc., he leads global impact and relationship strategies, while advancing research into space psychology and mental well-being for analog astronauts and future interplanetary missions.Instagram
Shifa ZahraDirector of Space Biology and Strategic Partnerships, Stardust Inc.Shifa Zahra is a biotechnologist working at the frontier of Space Biology and Astrobiology, driven by one central question: how does life originate, adapt, and survive beyond Earth? Her research focuses on developing non-Earth-centered life-detection strategies by integrating molecular biology, extremophile systems, and stress-adaptation mechanisms relevant to Mars and lunar exploration. By studying biological resilience under extreme conditions, Shifa aims to redefine how we search for life and how we sustain it beyond our planet.Instagram
Robert AillonFounder and CEO, Leviathan Space IndustriesRobert Aillon is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Space Society. He is the founder and CEO of Leviathan Space Industries LLC, which is leading the initiative to develop a private spaceport in Ecuador. Robert serves as President of the Guayaquil Space Society, a chapter of the National Space Society, and as Executive Director of the Ecuador Space Society. He is a graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, with a Master's in Space Leadership, Policy and Law.linkedin.comecuador-space.comWebsite
Rafael KargrenChief Strategy Officer, StardustRafael Kargren is a space entrepreneur, strategist, and educator with over three decades at the forefront of the global space industry. His career has spanned extreme environment astronaut training, space entrepreneurship, and national space strategy development, making him a pivotal figure in advancing humanity’s reach beyond Earth. Rafael has played a central role in bridging international space agencies, governments, and private companies, fostering collaborations that have redefined the landscape of space exploration. He has worked with agencies including NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO, and the Australian Space Agency, while supporting commercial giants such as Rocket Lab, OneWeb, SpaceX, and Maxar.
Michael J. SmithCenter Opportunity Manager, Marshall Space Flight Center, NASAMichael J. Smith is the Center Opportunity Manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in the Partnerships, Analysis, Communications, and Engagement Office. He is the front door for organisations that want to work with Marshall: Space Act Agreements, collaborative opportunity announcements, technology transfer and the use of Marshall’s facilities. He hosted the Stardust team at Marshall in August 2025 and joined The Human Side of Space fireside in February 2026. At Stardust 2026 he speaks on how Marshall does business with the outside world, and what a student or a small company should know before they knock.nasa.govWebsite
Rocky SinghChief Revenue Officer, StardustRocky Singh is Chief Revenue Officer at Stardust, leading international growth across MENA and ASEAN. Fifteen years across aerospace, defence, transportation and IT: former Company Security Officer on the Royal Canadian Navy’s AJISS programme, and Principal of Third Rock Consulting, where his work spans cybersecurity readiness, ITB and offset frameworks, and R&D. A NewSpace advocate committed to humanity’s future in space. At Stardust 2026 he speaks on the unglamorous end of aerospace: how the industry actually buys, and what a student or a small company should know before they sell.linkedin.com
Eddie GonzalesStardust Advisory Board, NASA, retiredAn avid music lover and sneakerhead, Edward Gonzales has built a life walking the walk from street smart to business-savvy, first at one of Los Angeles’s prestigious law firms, then to “student-whisperer” at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory working with interns and underserved, underrepresented populations. Most recently, as NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility lead for Heliophysics, he brought his unique blend of experience to one of NASA’s most prestigious missions.
Edward has been honored by many NASA awards and recognition and has made it his personal mission to ensure that the agency’s future workforce is more diverse and equitable than when he started his career there two decades ago.
Having lost his father as a young teen, experienced police profiling and gang violence, he can relate to the struggles that many students face as they embark on their college and career journeys. He is eager to share that all paths to NASA aren’t linear and emphasizes the critical importance of creating a workforce pipeline that starts in school.
This led to an exciting project called “Permission to Dream,” collaborating with Christopher Gardner (The Pursuit of Happyness) to present inspirational talks at one thousand high schools across the United States.
Robert S. KatzFounder and CEO, World Innovation Network; NASA Space Apps Local Lead, Cape Canaveral, WINRobert S. Katz is the founder and CEO of World Innovation Network (WIN), a consultancy working across space, cybersecurity and innovation, and the NASA Space Apps Challenge Local Lead for Cape Canaveral, Florida. He has spent years watching what a team can build in a single weekend. At Stardust 2026 he tells his own story: the road that took him into this work, and what he would say to someone standing where he started.
Girinath AnandhanAnalog Astronaut and Founder, CosmoBuzz Space, CosmoBuzz LimitedGirinath Anandhan is an analog astronaut and founder of CosmoBuzz Space, a podcast and networking platform for people entering the space sector. He trained at AATC in Krakow, presented on emerging space economies at IAC in Antalya, gave a TEDx talk, and wrote “Networking in Zero Gravity.” He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Sciences from Kaunas University of Technology, mentors students there, and is based in Vilnius. He joins Stardust 2026 on the stream.Instagram
Dorra SaidiLead, Quasar Nexus, Université Centrale, TunisiaDorra Saidi is a NASA citizen scientist through her membership in the OSDR Analysis Working Groups (AWG), as well as a Stardust Ambassador, Virtual Moon Ambassador, and Research Fellow at the Advanced SpaceLife Research Institute. An Industrial Chemistry graduate with experience in science communication, open science, and STEM education, she has also served as an Open Science Ambassador and led her team at the NASA Space Apps Hackathon 2024. She led an international summit on space accessibility in Tunisia, featuring retired NASA astronaut Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman, author Andrew Chaikin, Stardust CEO Jason Michaud, and Virtual Moon CEO Manny Pimenta. The event was completely free and open to all and included an interactive VR workshop and a telescope observation session. Dorra brings a scientific eye and an educator's perspective, championing ideas that are rigorous, creative, and accessible. Source: her own email of 17 Oct 2026.
Ken RuffinSpace Communicator; President, NSS of North Texas, National Space SocietyKen Ruffin is a space communicator, consultant and engineer, founder and CEO of Didymos Consulting, and President of the National Space Society of North Texas, which has been named NSS Chapter of the Year seven times. He serves on the NSS Board of Strategic Advisors and Chapters Committee and is an NSS Space Ambassador and a Stardust Ambassador. He joins Stardust 2026 on the stream from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Mariam MetaweeFounder, Project Spaceak for Knowledge, Stardust EgyptMariam Metawee brought Project Spaceak for Knowledge to Stardust in autumn 2025 and with it the door to Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports. She joins Stardust 2026 on the stream from Cairo to tell the story of Spaceak: what it is, who it reaches, and what she learned building it.
Dianea Carroll PhillipsAnalog astronaut, Crew 321 Mars Desert Research Station, Science Yourself! No G's About ItDianea Carroll Phillips is a Crew 321, Mars Desert Research Station analog astronaut. She devotes her time to providing STEM/STEAM programs in her role as aerospace educator, space advocate and storyteller. She is CEO of Science Yourself! No G's About It and Canadian Principal Investigator for the ExoLab Plants in Space programme. Her work connects science, exploration and creativity to inspire curiosity and lifelong learning. Bio and photograph supplied by Dianea herself, WhatsApp, 14 Oct 2026.
Sharon EgglestonFounder, Space Day Maine, Maine Space Grant ConsortiumFounder of Space Day Maine, which she started in 1997 and has run every year since. Northeast Regional Coordinator for Space Day and an Affiliate at Large of the Maine Space Grant Consortium. A retired project manager from Lockheed Martin, she has spent nearly three decades putting astronauts, engineers and scientists in front of Maine classrooms.
Arshleen Kaur SahniFounder and CEO, Space Architect, ArkasaFounder and CEO of Arkasa, a space architecture design and research lab. A space architect, researcher, analog astronaut and TEDx speaker whose work is on human-centred habitats for the Moon and Mars — the psychology of living in extreme environments, and why a habitat has to feel like somewhere people can live.
Steve JonesAstronomy and physics teacher, ExoLab 8 and 9 principal investigator, FCS Innovation Academy, GeorgiaSteve Jones has spent 20 years teaching students from preschool through 12th grade. He holds a BA in Psychology from Berea College and an MA in Teaching from Brenau University. He currently teaches Astronomy, Physics, and Scientific Research at FCS Innovation Academy in Alpharetta, GA.
Steve served as a Principal Investigator with Magnitude.io for Exolab 8 & 9, sending experiments to the International Space Station. His students have participated in notable projects, including Exolab6, Exolab7, the Leguminaut Challenge, Tomatosphere, and The Space Chile Pepper Challenge. An avid astrophotographer, he founded Stellar Visions to showcase his art and broaden his outreach. In 2025, Steve collaborated with researchers at Caltech through NITARP to study the Beta Pictoris Moving Group of stars; the resulting research is forthcoming.
Steve was named Teacher of the Year at Abbotts Hill Elementary (2012) and received the 2023 ISS National Lab Tony So Excellence in Education Award. Beyond the classroom, Steve is a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, Space Foundation Teacher Liaison, Stardust Ambassador, and served on the NASA eClips Educator Advisory Board, sharing science with the broader community.Website
Dr Joshua ChouChief Science Officer, Stardust Inc.Dr Joshua Chou is Chief Science Officer of Stardust Inc. and Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of XELGEN.
Dr Joshua Chou is a pioneer in space biology and medicine. He designed and built the world's first cell-biology microgravity simulator, a platform now used by NASA, JAXA and the Australian Space Agency, and by leading research institutions around the world, to study how human cells behave without gravity.
That work has helped show how cells sense mechanical forces. It revealed how six different types of cancer detect mechanical stimuli and how that sensing can be disrupted. It also showed how the blood-brain barrier can be opened to deliver treatment to the brain. Dr Chou has flown automated cell-culture systems to the International Space Station. He then took the science out of the lab: his company was the first to use microgravity to biomanufacture cell therapies, turning space biology into treatments for patients on Earth.
His research has been published in Cell, alongside more than 60 peer-reviewed papers. He is a Dean's Scholar at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and a JSPS Fellow, with research affiliations at the Harvard Medical School Bioinformatics Core and the University of Tokyo. His work has been recognised with the Charlie Teo Fellowship for advancing brain cancer research and an Australian Good Design Award for Best in Engineering. He serves on the Australian Space Agency's Space Medicine and Life Science Committee and co-founded the Australian Space Biology Symposium. Today he is Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of XELGEN, which applies cellular intelligence to regenerative and longevity medicine.
The road here was not easy. There were rejections and doubts, and at the start only one researcher in all of Australia believed in this work. That researcher backed Dr Chou and worked alongside him. From that partnership, his collaborator has gone on to lead space biology research, with support from the United States Space Force and beyond.
Dr Chou was part of the founding group behind the idea for Japan's Martian Moons eXploration mission, MMX, which aims to bring back the first-ever samples from Phobos, a moon of Mars.
Stephan ReckieExecutive Director, GEN Space, Global Entrepreneurship NetworkStephan Reckie is Executive Director of GEN Space, part of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which operates in 200 countries. His work brings together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, and partners to advance innovation and create opportunities in the growing space economy.
With a global perspective and a passion for connecting people, Stephan helps innovators build relationships, explore commercial opportunities, and turn ambitious ideas into practical ventures. He champions international collaboration and broader participation in shaping humanity’s future beyond Earth.
Stephan is particularly interested in the role entrepreneurship plays in building a sustainable space economy and translating advances in space into benefits here on Earth. He enjoys encouraging students and emerging entrepreneurs to recognize how their talents in business, science, technology, policy, and other fields can contribute to the next chapter of space exploration.linkedin.comgenspace.coWebsiteX
Gary L Gilbert, Jr.Publisher, Flying Goddess PublishingPublisher, Flying Goddess Publishing. Public speaking, STEM education, logistics.linkedin.comlinkedin.com
Carlo VizziAstronaut Trainer, ALTECCarlo trains astronauts for a living. He is a Ground Segment, Payload and Robotic instructor at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, where the Columbus module you see in photographs of ISS training is where he works, and he is also involved in Mission Control operations and space experiments. He leads XR initiatives and innovation at ALTEC, and whenever he can he contributes to STEM outreach with students and professionals. At Stardust he is the trainer on the Astronaut Foundations Program: three weeks on the mindset, consistency and judgement that come before the hardware.Instagram
Colleen McLeod GarnerDirector of Growth, Voyager TechnologiesColleen McLeod Garner is Director of Growth at Voyager Technologies, where she helps shape strategic partnerships and commercial growth for the next generation of human space exploration. She is a PhD student in Space Studies researching neurogastronomy, how the brain experiences flavour, applied to performance, well-being and quality of life on long-duration flights, and a member of the Space Sensory Lab. She holds an Executive Master in Space Leadership, Business and Policy and an MBA in Global Innovation from Thunderbird, after twenty years in hospitality, food and beverage. She has spoken at ISDC, the NSS Space Settlement Summit and Humans to Mars, and has been a Stardust Ambassador since February 2026.
Martina DimoskaProgram Human Systems Integrator, NASA Johnson Space CenterMartina Dimoska is a Program Human Systems Integrator at NASA Johnson Space Center, under the Human Health and Performance Contract, supporting the JSC Health and Medical Technical Authority: governance and standards compliance to NASA-STD-3001, coordination across Human Health and Performance, and engagement with programmes including HLS, Gateway and the Commercial LEO Destinations Program, so that human systems integration stays embedded in NASA's human spaceflight architecture. She is also the founder and president of the International Space Alliance and has served as NASA Internal Lead Representative for the NASA Space Apps Challenge across Ames, Glenn and Johnson. She is a Stardust Ambassador in North Macedonia.
Laura GranadosStardust AmbassadorSince the age of 15, Laura Granados has been drawn to the world of space and the possibilities that lie beyond our planet. What began as an interest has gradually become a journey of seeking opportunities to engage with the space sector and move closer to a world that has long fascinated her. With an international background and previous studies in aerospace engineering in Canada, Laura believes that some ambitions are not simply about reaching a destination, but about finding the courage to keep moving towards it. Becoming a Stardust Ambassador represents another step in that journey: an opportunity to connect with people who share a passion for space, become part of a community that inspires her, and contribute to a field that continues to expand the boundaries of what we imagine possible. For Laura, the stars no longer feel quite as far away as they once did.
Stardust 2026 is our flagship event and the finale of the Stardust Challenge 2026. It runs from Monday 2 to Friday 6 November, it is free, and every day is streamed worldwide. Nobody needs a flight or a visa to be part of it.
HOW IT WORKS
Everything linked on this page is the stream. Talks, panels, poster presentations, the Challenge abstracts and the career fair all happen online, and the career fair has breakout rooms where employers who are hiring talk to people directly. Our speakers are talking to the whole room and to classrooms watching together from around the world.
While that runs, the Stardust 2026 team is on the road. A different school or community each day, a few talks about careers and what the work is actually like, then on to the next one. No hall to hire and no tickets, and we come to the room rather than asking a school to fill ours.
On Friday 6 November we are at STEM 360, the tradeshow at Cleveland STEM High School, and the career fair runs in that room as well as on the stream.
JOINING IN PERSON
The in-person days are deliberately small, mostly the presenters taking part, so those places are limited and have to be registered. Everyone else joins the stream, from anywhere, free.
THE WEEK
Career fair with employer breakout rooms. Panels. Poster presentations. Challenge abstracts, presented by the teams themselves. Motivational talks. The Stardust Awards. Streamed worldwide, every day.
PARTICIPATING
Club for the Future, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Virgin Galactic, ESTES, Space Foundation, and more.
The Stardust team opens the event live. Speaker names are posted here as they are confirmed.
Volunteer to help run this event →
Setup, streaming, translation, hosting: tell us what you're good at.
Call for abstracts
Propose a talk or poster for this event. Deadline: Oct 19, 2026.
Sign in to submit.
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