Space Calendar

2026 ASCEND Conference: Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration and New Discovery
2026-05-19 - 2026-05-21 | Washington DC, USA
Commercial Space Policy Summit runs concurrently with ASCEND visionary sessions, inspiring speakers, and a community spirit that welcomes everyone who loves space. Emphasis on 5 space areas: economy, law, exploration, technology, security. At the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave NW.
This year’s Policy and Law programming is more relevant than ever and includes a session on Legal and Policy Frameworks for Lunar Nuclear Power.
It is recommended that AIAA attendees follow the suggested channels for booking accommodation within the conference block by following the instructions at https://www.ascend.events/attend/hotel-travel/
If you receive solicitations from other companies, please forward them to AIAA.

Launch Solid-Fuel SLV (Space Launch Vehicle) / Test Flight
2026-05-19 | Offshore Launch Platform near Jeju Island, South Korea
South Korea’s solid‑fuel space launch vehicle, commonly abbreviated GYŪB (Korean: Goche Yeonlyo Uju Balsache or 고체연료 우주발사체), is an orbital booster developed by the state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD). It is based on solid propellant stages, with a liquid-fuel post‑boost stage (PBS), designed to deploy small satellites—particularly synthetic aperture radar (SAR) reconnaissance payloads—into low Earth orbit as part of the country’s independent space-based surveillance capability.

Talk: Telescopes on the Moon, the Future of Astronomy
2026-05-19 | Online
Prof. Joe Silk to discuss the Moon as the next great frontier for astronomy. Terrestrial telescopes are facing a crisis as our night skies become increasingly crowded and bright. The solution? Looking upward—and staying there.
Join IAU Commission C2 (Communicating Astronomy with the Public) on 19 May 2026 for a fascinating talk by the world-renowned Prof. Joseph Silk (Johns Hopkins / Oxford / CNRS). We won’t just be talking about lunar missions; we’ll be exploring how the Moon’s surface offers a unique sanctuary for the future of science.From the radio-quiet “Far Side” probing the Dark Ages of the universe to optical interferometers searching for biological tracers on Earth-like exoplanets, the Moon is about to become our most important laboratory.Key Highlights:The Dark Ages: Probing the universe 50 million years after the Big Bang.Gravitational Waves: Capturing the history of merging massive black holes.Are We Alone? Using ultrahigh resolution to image nearby exoplanets.

Launch Vega-C / Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)
2026-05-19 | Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, ~5°N, French Guiana
Set for 00:52 French Guiana Time UTC-3 | 17:52 HST May 18 to send astrophysics satellite to elliptical orbit. Joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to investigate the interaction between Earth’s protective shield – the magnetosphere – and the supersonic solar wind.

IAU Symposium 406: Future landscape of astrophysical transients: novel approaches in theory and observations
2026-05-18 - 2026-05-22 | Turku, Finland
At University of Turku; expecting up to 200 participants. Look at events page for the welcome reception on Monday and the Astronomy on Tap event on Tuesday, and at the “things to do while in Turku” page for other ways to spend your time.

IAU Symposium 405: Traversing the Galactic Center in Space and Time
2026-05-18 - 2026-05-22 | Brno, Czech Republic
Galactic Center of the Milky Way is instrumental in mapping and understanding galaxies since it is the closest galactic nucleus to us. At Brno Observatory and Planetarium, Kraví hora 522/2.
Despite many detailed, multiwavelength studies of the central regions of our Galaxy, we still have many open questions concerning its history and future evolution. This symposium will bring together experts working on both observational and theoretical studies of the Galactic Center so that they can “traverse” this exciting region and look at details of its past processes and potential future. We will explore the remarkable progress made since the last major meeting of the community—the Galactic Center Workshop in Granada, April 24–28, 2023. We will examine exciting new results, including those from JWST and GRAVITY/ERIS at the VLT, as well as insights from ALMA and MeerKAT.

Meet Astronaut Norm Thagard
2026-05-17 | Kennedy Space Center FL, USA
Mission Specialist, space shuttle Challenger (STS-7); Mission Specialist, space shuttle Challenger (STS-51-B); Mission Specialist, space shuttle Atlantis (STS-30); Payload Commander, space shuttle Discovery (STS-42); Researcher, Soyuz TM-71 / Mir 18. “Astronaut Encounter” and autograph signing included with admission; can purchase “Chat with an Astronaut.”
Licensed physician; former Marine Corps Reserve Captain; naval aviator with over 2,200 flight hours.

Launch Falcon 9 / 9 x Globalstar 2-R
2026-05-17 | SLC-40 (~28°N), Cape Canaveral SFS FL, USA
Launch window 08:50-09:04 EDT | 02:50-03:04 HST for mobile communications network satellites to LEO, replacing MDA existing ones with new ones built by Globalstar. Rocket Lab constructed the satellite buses and launch dispensers.

2026 American Rocketry Challenge National Finals
2026-05-16 | The Plains VA, USA
At Great Meadow equestrian center and conservation park. Student teams who have designed, built and launched their rockets into the Top 100 will compete for the title of National Champion and have a chance to represent the USA at the International Rocketry Challenge, whether held at the Farnborough Air Show in England or Paris Air Show.
National Finals is open to the public and is an opportunity for aerospace enthusiasts and families to see these young innovators in action, connect with aerospace organizations, and join in some hands-on fun.

A Conversation with 'Why Space? The Purpose of People' Author Rick Tumlinson
2026-05-15 | Online
First in a series of live webinars with EarthLight Founder Rick Tumlinson, exploring the ideas in his book “Why Space? The Purpose of People”. 06:00 HST | 09:00 PDT | 12:00 EDT | 16:00 UTC. This is more than a conversation about rockets or exploration. It is about the future of humanity: resilience, possibility, innovation, and the expansion of life itself! Big futures require big vision, and space is one of the boldest frontiers we can choose. If you care about civilization, progress, and what comes next, this webinar is for you. Via Zoom, no cost, registration required. Tumlinson won the 2014 Robert & Virginia Heinlein Prize.

Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 17-37
2026-05-15 | SLC-4E (~35°N), Vandenberg SFB CA, USA
Launch window 07:00-11:00 PDT | 04:00-08:00 HST for 24 internet satellites. Booster B1097 expected to land on ASDS OCISLY after this 9th flight. These 24 will add to the 10,000+ Starlink satellites currently operational.

Psyche Spacecraft Uses Mars for Gravity Assist
2026-05-15 | Mars Orbit
On its way to the asteroid Psyche, the Psyche spacecraft will pass within 4,500 km of Mars and will harness the planet’s gravitational pull to speed up and adjust its trajectory toward the metal-rich asteroid. The spacecraft was launched October 13, 2023, and by August 2029, the spacecraft will begin to orbit the 173-mile-wide (279-kilometer-wide) asteroid – the only metal-class asteroid ever to be explored. Because of Psyche’s high iron-nickel metal content, scientists think it may be the partial core of a planetesimal, a building block of an early planet. The goal is a 26-month science investigation. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-psyche-spacecraft-optical-comms-demo-en-route-to-asteroid/

U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Gala 2026
2026-05-14 - 2026-05-16 | Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex FL, USA
With many NASA Astronauts, including Bob Cabana, Bernard Harris, Joan Higginbotham, Barbara Morgan, Tom Akers and Joe Tanner; Induction Ceremony & Gala at Kennedy Space Center; talks, panel discussions, and receptions in celebration of all things space exploration. Associated events include a May 15 evening reception, May 14 dinner.

Inside the Dome
2026-05-14 | Washington DC, USA
Subjects on the agenda include: The New Age of Missile Defense, The Hype for Hypersonics, Space-Based Interceptors, Connectivity and Comms, Command and Control, The role of the Golden Dome Caucus. At Waldorf Astoria.

AIAA Los Angeles Section Annual Awards Dinner 2026
2026-05-14 | Los Angeles CA, USA
Keynote speaker TBA. Awards for Technical Excellence, Best Paper, Membership Advancement, James Wertz Scholarship and other awards will be featured. 17:00-22:00 PDT, Cambria Hotel LAX, 199 Continental Blvd. Online presence available.

5th Anniversary: China's First Mars Landing (Tianwen-1)
2026-05-14 | Utopia Planitia, 25.1°N 109.9°E, Mars Surface
Tianwen-1 Lander and Zhurong Rover celebrated today for China’s first successful landing on Mars; craft landed on this day in 2021 in Utopia Planitia, Mars Surface.

11th International Conference on Recent Advances in Air and Space Technologies (RAST2026)
2026-05-13 - 2026-05-15 | Istanbul, Türkiye
A forum for the exchange of recent research results and ideas in air and space technologies, it should be of interest to a wide range of participants from government agencies, relevant international institutions, universities, research organizations, and air and space companies, as well as media and the general public. Presentations are encouraged by international space agencies as well as the private sector. At National Defense University (Yenilevent Campus-Istanbul) in honor of the 75thanniversary of the establishment of NDU Turkish Air Force Academy.

1st IAA Planetary Sunshade Workshop
2026-05-13 - 2026-05-15 | Nottingham, United Kingdom
The workshop will bring together engineers, scientists and policy experts to advance the field of planetary sunshades. At University of Nottingham.

48th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium 2026
2026-05-13 - 2026-05-15 | Huntsville AL, USA
At Von Braun Center. The Thursday night banquet will be held in the Space & Rocket Center, under a Saturn V launch vehicle. Pre-event courses on May 11-12 are available with separate registration: Fundamentals of Space Vehicle Mechanisms, Compliant Mechanism Design Course, Rolling-Element Bearings.
Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium is concerned with the problems of design, fabrication, testing and operational use, with emphasis on hardware development. The symposium provides both a social and technical forum for personnel active in the field of mechanisms technology, as well as providing a source of information for others with an interest in this field. The symposium is sponsored by the Mechanisms Education Association in co-operation with NASA Marshall and Lockheed Martin Space. The symposium site rotates among eight NASA centers and the symposium attracts papers and attendees internationally.

Global Space Technology Convention & Exhibition (GSTCE) 2026
2026-05-13 - 2026-05-14 | Singapore
Global companies, investors, and policymakers come together to explore how space technologies are being commercialised — and what it takes to translate capability into adoption, ROI, and growth. At Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands.

Launch Zhuque-2E / Unknown Payload
2026-05-13 | Jiuquan Space Launch Center, ~41°N, Gansu, China
Launch window 11:00-13:08 China Time | HST 17:00-19:08 May 12, expected to be the 4th for the Zhuque-2E medium-sized LOX / methane rocket with capacity 6,000 kg to LEO / 4,000 kg to SSO at altitude 500 km, ~49m x ~3m. Expected to be 7th launch from Area 96A and 284th from Jiuquan.
Private company LandSpace of Beijing was founded in 2015 by Zhang Changwu, a graduate of Tsinghua University.

3rd ESA Earth Observation Commercialisation Forum
2026-05-12 - 2026-05-14 | Seville, Spain
ESA CommEO brings together global leaders, innovators, and decision-makers across the Earth observation ecosystem. Discover the latest market trends through keynote sessions, engage in thought-provoking panel discussions, and explore cutting-edge solutions from exhibitors. With dedicated matchmaking opportunities, ESA CommEO is designed to spark collaboration and accelerate commercial growth.
At Hotel Meliá Lebreros.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and shape the future of Earth observation. Secure your place today at philab.esa.int/CommEO/ and be part of this dynamic gathering.

Electron Backscatter Diffraction of Planetary Materials Workshop
2026-05-12 - 2026-05-14 | Tempe AZ, USA
At Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, participants will receive theoretical and practical training in preparation of samples, EBSD data acquisition, and data processing for planetary samples. This training opportunity is limited to approximately 10 participants who want to increase their skills in planetary materials research.

Launch Long March 6A / Unknown Payload
2026-05-12 | Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC), ~39°N, Shanxi, China
Launch window 19:55-20:09 China Time | 01:55-02:09 HST for the 24th launch from Launch Complex 9A, and 154th launch from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The Long March 6A has solid rocket boosters.

Launch Falcon 9 / Dragon CRS-2 SpX-34
2026-05-12 | SLC-40 (~28°N), Cape Canaveral SFS FL, USA
Launch time set for 19:16 EDT | 13:16 HST | 23:16 UTC for 34th Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station under the Second contract between SpaceX and NASA. First stage booster is expected to return to launch site, Landing Zone 40, after a sonic boom.
Courtesy of Space Launch Schedule: “In addition to food, supplies, and equipment for the crew onboard the station, Dragon will deliver several new experiments, including a project to determine how well microgravity simulators mimic microgravity conditions, a bone scaffold made from wood that could produce new treatments for fragile bone conditions like osteoporosis, and equipment to help researchers evaluate how red blood cells and the spleen change in space. The Dragon spacecraft also will carry a new instrument to monitor charged particles around the Earth that impact power grids and satellites, and an investigation that could provide a fundamental understanding of how planets form.”

2 Aerospace Mechanisms Courses: Fundamentals and Compliant Design
2026-05-11 - 2026-05-12 | Huntsville AL, USA
Fundamentals of Space Vehicle Mechanisms with instructor Scott Christiansen, and Compliant Mechanism Design with instructor Todd G Nelson, are both being offered live and on-site to the public prior to the 48th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium (AMS) May 13-14 in Huntsville. Each course runs all day, both days, with Certificate of Completion and complete set of course notes provided.
Fundamentals of Space Vehicle Mechanisms: https://ap2.a68.myftpupload.com/
Compliant Mechanism Design:https://ap2.a68.myftpupload.com/cmd-reg/
For further Information Contact:
Launchspace Services
info@launchspace.com
+1.202.258.6133

Launch Falcon 9 / NROL-172
2026-05-11 | SLC-4E (~35°N), Vandenberg SFB CA, USA
Launch window 15:28-19:28 PDT | 12:28-16:28 HST for 13th batch of satellites built by Northrop Grumman and SpaceX for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Meet Astronaut Steve Frick
2026-05-10 | Kennedy Space Center FL, USA
Pilot, space shuttle Atlantis (STS-110); Commander, space shuttle Atlantis (STS-122). Astronaut Encounter and autograph sessions free with admission; can purchase Chat With an Astronaut.

Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 17-37
2026-05-09 | SLC-4E (~35°N), Vandenberg SFB CA, USA
Launch window 07:00-11:00 PDT | 04:00-08:00 HST for 24 internet satellites. Booster B1103 expected to land on ASDS OCISLY after this 2nd flight.

Rocketry Organization of California (ROC) High Power Launch
2026-05-09 | Lucerne Valley CA, USA
Sport Launch, with FAA waiver to 7,000′ AGL, 07:00-14:00 PDT, Lucerne Dry Lake Launch Site (34.496343, -116.958720), Cambria Road https://rocstock.org/lucerne-dry-lake-launch-site/. See organization knowledge base for instructions.
