The details: Technical sessions will run the gamut from nuclear propulsion research and development to lunar power systems, touching on the legal and safety considerations of space nuclear, future missions to Mars and beyond, developments in americium-241 radioisotope power systems, and much more.
Several exciting speakers already have been announced for the conference. A talk by Thomas Lockhart, director of the Capability and Resource Integration Directorate at the United States Space Command, is one highlight on the agenda.
Other notable speakers include Aaron Miles, the coordinator for strategic capabilities at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Nigel Bannister, deputy director of Space Park Leicester at the University of Leicester; Megan Dillon, a population geneticist at North Carolina State University; Bhavya Lal, a policy analysis professor at the RAND School of Public Policy; and Rian Bahran, deputy assistant secretary for nuclear reactors at the Department of Energy.
As for tours, on May 1, the day after the conference concludes, attendees will have the opportunity to tour UDRI’s facilities, which support research into aerospace, materials, sustainment, and defense technologies. The tour will cover the following:
- The organization’s headquarters, where UDRI’s vice president will present a strategic overview highlighting the institute’s mission, scale, and role in supporting developing technologies.
- The ATTC East River Road Facility, which showcases UDRI’s manufacturing and repair capabilities for both aerospace and defense systems.
- The Shroyer Park Center, where visitors will learn more about the institute’s structural engineering, materials characterization, and dynamic testing.
To learn more and register for the event, visit ans.org/meetings/nets2026.
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