Join us for “NASA Stories at the Ion” featuring NASA’s Artemis II Orion Vehicle Manager Branelle Rodriguez, who will share what it took to ready the spacecraft that recently carried humans around the Moon for the first time in over half a century, returned them home safely, and ultimately brought humanity farther from Earth than ever before.
Vision by Starlight - Space Walk Visions by Starlight Presenter: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries — A Global Space & Defense Giant Plants Its Flag in Houston. That MHI recently opened its new North American headquarters in Houston — celebrated with a city proclamation designating April 14, 2025, as "Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Day" — is no accident. MHI's participation in Space Walk III as a Visions by Starlight presenter signals something important: space is a global market, Texas is becoming a gateway to the galaxy, and even the most established players are seeing new opportunities for international cooperation blossom in Houston's commercial space ecosystem!
Space Center Houston makes a special announcement about an exciting new exhibit.
Capital Factory Startup Showcase featuring ICON Technology, Mantis Space, and Casimir
Capital Factory Challenge Coin Presentation - Last year, Capital Factory presented a challenge coin to Apollo 16 moonwalker Charlie Duke.
Innovation Expo featuring rising "stars" of the TX ecosystem, including Intuitive Machines, Persona AI, and Lunar Outpost. Plus, more than a dozen promising startups supported by Capital Factory.
World Cup Themes - Get into the spirit of the World Cup by sporting your favorite soccer jersey!
Good Eats - Chef-prepared small bites and beverages included (including craft beer selections from Starbase Brewing).
And thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, there is no charge for our 400+ guests!
Ecosystem Space will be joined by a very special speaker: Walt Ugalde, the Industry & Entrepreneurial Engagement Lead at NASA Johnson Space Center. Walt Ugalde is a key figure within NASA’s Business Development & Technology Integration Office, specifically serving as the Technology Transfer Entrepreneurial & Industry Engagement Lead at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston Texas. He acts as a bridge between NASA's vast portfolio of early-stage innovation programs and the private sector, with a heavy focus on commercialization and stimulating regional economic growth while enabling the commercial space ecosystem.
For decades, the Johnson Space Center has been the heart of human space exploration. Today, the NASA JSC Front Door serves as a streamlined portal designed to bridge the gap between NASA’s unparalleled expertise and the rapid innovation of the private sector. Whether you are a startup, a legacy aerospace firm, or a non-traditional industry partner, the Front Door is your direct line to the resources needed to solve the toughest challenges in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) economy and beyond.
The Spaceflight Human Optimization and Performance Summit 2026 (SHOP-26) is the leading global event dedicated to enhancing human capability in space and other extreme environments. This summit brings together experts across human performance, aerospace innovation, and space medicine to address one central mission:
Optimizing astronaut readiness—physically, mentally, and operationally—for long-duration and deep-space missions.
Through research presentations, hands-on workshops, and high-level collaborative sessions, SHOP-26 explores emerging science, technologies, and methodologies that strengthen astronaut performance, resilience, and recovery.
These are the early days of our future.
