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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
The Inspired 24
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, Ecosistema Consciencia (EDHEC)Oscar Iván O'Farrill Cobo is a psychologist, high-performance coach and educator with more than 18 years of practice, and the Director General of the Ecosistema de Desarrollo Humano y Estudios de la Consciencia (EDHEC) in Mexico City, where psychotherapy, transformative education and ancestral wisdom meet. 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), linkedin.com/in/oscarofarrill, ecosistemaconsciencia.com.Website
Ashley LewellingPR Coordinator, World’s Biggest Analog · Guide, GOWME, GOWMEAshley Lewelling is PR Coordinator for the World’s Biggest Analog, the record-scale Moon and Mars analog mission, and a guide with GOWME. She grew up in Tucson, Arizona, graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Cal State LA while taking pre-med prerequisites, and is applying to clinical psychology graduate programs on the way to medicine. 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. Source: gowme.org.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.
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.
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.
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. A Stardust partner since August 2026, he co-hosts the Space Apps Local Leads session with Stardust and works the partner and outreach side of what the Odyssey platform runs. At Stardust 2026 he speaks on what Space Apps teaches a city about itself, and what he has seen teams build in a weekend, told to students who are about to try.
See the full programme & who you can meet
The conference site: agenda, speakers, abstracts →
LIVESTREAM · Stardust event
Stardust 2026
Two days in Seattle and on a worldwide stream. Career fair, panels, poster presentations, Challenge abstracts, talks. The Stardust Gala, a Roaring Twenties evening: open bar and hors d'oeuvres. Conference days location TBA.
When
Monday 2 November-Tuesday 3 November 2026
2 Nov, 10:00 am → 3 Nov, 8:00 pm PST · 2 Nov 18:00 → 4 Nov 04:00 UTC
Where
Seattle, USA, and online …
Seattle, USA, and online worldwide. The address is whispered to registered guests first.
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
Just announced
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Be there
Signing up is not required to watch, but it means we can remind you and tell you the moment we go live.
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
The Inspired 24
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, Ecosistema Consciencia (EDHEC)Oscar Iván O'Farrill Cobo is a psychologist, high-performance coach and educator with more than 18 years of practice, and the Director General of the Ecosistema de Desarrollo Humano y Estudios de la Consciencia (EDHEC) in Mexico City, where psychotherapy, transformative education and ancestral wisdom meet. 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), linkedin.com/in/oscarofarrill, ecosistemaconsciencia.com.Website
Ashley LewellingPR Coordinator, World’s Biggest Analog · Guide, GOWME, GOWMEAshley Lewelling is PR Coordinator for the World’s Biggest Analog, the record-scale Moon and Mars analog mission, and a guide with GOWME. She grew up in Tucson, Arizona, graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Cal State LA while taking pre-med prerequisites, and is applying to clinical psychology graduate programs on the way to medicine. 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. Source: gowme.org.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.
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.
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.
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. A Stardust partner since August 2026, he co-hosts the Space Apps Local Leads session with Stardust and works the partner and outreach side of what the Odyssey platform runs. At Stardust 2026 he speaks on what Space Apps teaches a city about itself, and what he has seen teams build in a weekend, told to students who are about to try.
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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
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Dorra SaidiLead, Quasar Nexus, Université Centrale, TunisiaDorra Saidi leads Quasar Nexus, the university space club at Université Centrale in Tunisia. In May 2026 the club ran the Sommet International sur l'Accessibilité à l'Espace, a free hybrid conference built to make space science and technology more accessible, inclusive and open. It was planned for 100 to 150 people and overflowed: registrations passed 200 and filled the form entirely, after which people wrote in directly asking to attend.
Stardust 2026 is our flagship event and the finale of the Stardust Challenge 2026. It runs in person in Seattle and is streamed worldwide, so you can be in the room or attend from wherever you are. Nobody needs a flight or a visa to be part of it.
The awards reception is at the Stardust Gala: open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and the Stardust Awards. The main conference days are in the Seattle area. That location is confirmed here once it is booked.
MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER
Career fair. Panels. Poster presentations. Challenge abstracts, presented by the teams themselves. Motivational talks. Streamed worldwide.
TUESDAY 3 NOVEMBER
Career fair continues. Panels, posters, abstracts. Judges sit down with the winning teams. Evening: the Stardust Awards at the Stardust Gala, with open bar and hors d'oeuvres.
PARTICIPATING
Club for the Future, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Virgin Galactic, United Nations, 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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