National Space Society

Join us for the next NSS Virtual Space Forum: “The Space Launch System (SLS): An Early Career Engineer’s Perspective” with Brandon Burroughs, Project Manager on Boeing’s Space Launch System team at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, this Thursday, June 18th!

The Space Launch System is NASA’s most powerful rocket and the launch vehicle that carried the Artemis II crew on humanity’s first voyage around the Moon in more than 50 years. Brandon will share an insider’s look at preparing this rocket for flight, insights from Artemis II, and how NASA and industry teams work together to enable mission success.

He’ll also discuss his journey from intern to project manager, offer advice for students and young professionals, and share his perspective on the future of Artemis and human exploration beyond Earth orbit.

RSVP today: tinyurl.com/mbpf5rvw

(If you have difficulty registering, please email [email protected])

Each year, students from around the world come together to explore humanity’s future in space at ISDC!

This group photo captures some of the incredible students who joined us this year — young leaders, thinkers, scientists, engineers, and explorers who may one day help build permanent communities beyond Earth.

Dr. Pascal Lee joined the group following a fascinating presentation on his research at Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic, one of the most Mars-like environments on Earth. His work continues to help scientists better understand how humans may one day live and work on other worlds.

The energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm from these students are always remarkable.

To all of the students who participated in ISDC 2026: congratulations on your hard work, your passion, and your commitment to the future. We can’t wait to see where your journeys take you!

The energy around our Young Professionals (YP) initiative was on full display at ISDC!

A true highlight was the Young Professionals breakfast, which drew a large turnout of attendees who connected in person and built relationships. NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain joined us for photos with the participants.

That energy carried into the Rising Stars sessions, which brought together students and early-career professionals to present bold new ideas across space policy, law, technology, and innovation. The sessions emphasized not just technical insight but the importance of stepping up, taking risks, and contributing to the broader space community.

The momentum continued with a Speed Mentoring session, co-hosted by NSS and Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), in which participants connected with mentors from NASA, industry, startups, and academia. The fast-paced format created meaningful conversations and real insight into navigating careers in space.

This year's conference also marked the official launch of the NSS 30 Under 30 program — a new initiative recognizing emerging leaders, both domestic and international, who are actively shaping the future of space exploration, development, and settlement.

Each year, NSS will recognize 30 individuals under the age of 30 who are making meaningful contributions across the space ecosystem. More than an award, the program is designed to elevate voices, create visibility, and connect the next generation of space leaders to the broader NSS community.

The YP initiative continues to grow as a unique venue for early-career professionals to connect, learn, and contribute to the future of the space industry. Together, we are building the next generation of leaders in the space community.

Learn more, register for upcoming sessions, and nominate someone for the 30 under 30 award: nss.org/young-professional

There are NASA Administrators, and then there are NASA Administrators—all are very accomplished individuals, but some stand out for their unique backgrounds and on-the-job successes, and Jim Bridenstine is one of the latter. Entering service as the new NASA Administrator in 2017 with a background as a Navy pilot, Congressman, and museum director, he was an unconventional choice, and faced some headwinds in the appointment—but Jim turned out to be exceptional in the job. Join us to hear his experiences with our favorite space agency and what he's doing today.

This Week in Space: Moon Man | TWiT.TV There are NASA Administrators, and then there are NASA Administrators—all are very accomplished individuals, but some stand out for their unique backgrounds and on-the-job

Recorded live at the International Space Development Conference in McLean, Virginia, Ad Astra Editor-in-Chief Rod Pyle and Space.com EiC Tariq Malik are joined by Apollo legend and former Johnson Space Center director Gerry Griffin. Griffin takes us on a journey through his extraordinary career, from his appointment as a flight director in the wake of the Apollo 1 fire, through the audacious decision to send Apollo 8 around the moon, all the way to the nail-biting rescue of Apollo 13. We also venture behind the scenes of Ron Howard's Apollo 13 film, where Griffin reveals the real story behind some of Hollywood's most famous dramatic spaceflight moments. It's a rare, firsthand account of the golden age of human spaceflight — from one of the few people who was there for all of it. https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/213?autostart=false

This Week in Space: Live From ISDC With Gerry Griffin | TWiT.TV Recorded live from the International Space Development Conference in McLean, Virginia, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik are joined by Apollo legend and former Johnson Space Center

NSS congratulates the four-person prime crew and backup astronaut selected for the upcoming Artemis III mission!

The prime crew includes three NASA astronauts and one representative from the European Space Agency (ESA). The crew Commander is Randy Bresnik of NASA and the Pilot is Luca Parmitano of ESA. They will fly with Mission Specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio, both of NASA, with Robert Hines as backup crew.

Karlton Johnson, NSS CEO, said, “Every generation is called to advance the frontier. The crew of Artemis III now carries that responsibility. By helping to validate the systems and partnerships that will enable future exploration, they are helping to write the next chapter of human spaceflight. The National Space Society congratulates them on this historic assignment.”

Targeted for launch as soon as late 2027, Artemis III will fly for approximately two weeks. The primary objective of Artemis III is to test the Artemis lunar landing system, including one or both of the Human Landing System (HLS) candidates, SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon, in low-Earth orbit (LEO).

Dale Skran, NSS COO and SVP, said, “We applaud Administrator Isaacman’s re-envisioning of Artemis III as an engineering test mission. His clear-headed leadership has put America on a realistic path to a permanent lunar base.”

The crew will pilot the Orion spacecraft into orbit, where they will conduct a highly choreographed series of maneuvers to rendezvous and test docking capabilities with the HLS contenders.

According to NASA, the technical parameters of the mission are designed to mitigate risks before sending astronauts back to the Moon. By demonstrating integrated hardware, software, propulsion, and communication interfaces closer to Earth, NASA aims to secure operational baselines for the subsequent Artemis IV mission, which is currently scheduled for 2028 and aims to land Americans in the lunar south pole region for the first time in over 50 years.

Are you early in your space career and looking for your community?

We’ve launched our Young Professionals initiative -- where early-career space professionals can find their path, build connections, and create opportunities!

NSS members who are graduate students, early-career professionals, career switchers, and emerging leaders in the space industry are all encouraged to join. Benefits include monthly interactive community sessions, skill-building workshops, access to the NSS Career Center, discount registration for our annual International Space Development Conference, and more! This program prioritizes real conversations and real connections to founders, professionals, and peers across the industry.

Get 50% off Regular and Student NSS memberships with code YOUNG-PROFESSIONAL

Learn more today and sign up today: nss.org/young-professional