Cosmic Origins
Location
Pasadena, California
Dates
14-18 June 2026
Community
Cosmic Origins
Type
Meeting
All times Pacific
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Summary
The opportunity to conduct focused science programs with small missions has increased as access to space becomes easier and more cost effective. This expansion opens the door to greater community participation in space missions, including by early-career scientists and those who may not have prior experience in building and designing such missions. This session seeks to bring together experts from the suborbital and low cost access to space community to hare their mission design process and experience launching missions for dedicated science.As we approach the Astro2030 decadal survey it is timely to start discussions on innovative ways to perform science observations cheaper and faster by leveraging commercial capabilities for missions of all sizes.
NASA’s Big Science, Small Missions Session Agenda
TimeTopicSpeaker10:00am ‑ 10:05amWelcomeSwara Ravindranath (NASA GSFC)10:05am ‑ 10:15amFORTIS Sounding RocketEmily Witt (Johns Hopkins University)10:15am ‑ 10:25amBlackCAT CubeSatAbe Falcone (Pennsylvania State University)10:25am ‑ 10:35amSunRISE CubeSat ConstellationJoseph Lazio (University of Michigan)10:35am ‑ 10:45amSPHEREx Medium Explorer MissionRoberta Paladini (IPAC/Caltech)10:45am ‑ 10:55amLandolt Pioneer MissionPeter Kurczynski (NASA GSFC)10:55am ‑ 11:05amNon‑Traditional Path to MissionsSanchayeeta Borthakur (Arizona State University)11:05am ‑ 11:10amBreak11:10am ‑ 11:30amPanel DiscussionPanel Moderator: Swara Ravindranath (NASA GSFC)Drew Miles (Caltech)Pablo Saz Parkinson (NASA HQ)Joseph Lazio (University of Michigan)Abe Falcone (Pennsylvania State University)David Ardila (JPL)
Thursday, 18 June 2026
ASTRA Initiative Special Session
TimeTopicSpeakerPresentation10:00am ‑ 10:10amIntroduction from the NASA Astrophysics Division DirectorShawn Domagal‑Goldman10:10am ‑ 10:25amThe ASTRA Initiative: Overview & Path ForwardJessica Gaskin, NASA HQ10:25am ‑ 10:40amInnovation for Astrophysics Workshop: Initial FindingsKendra Short, JPL10:40am ‑ 10:55amAd ASTRA Community Science WorkshopPeter Kurczynski, NASA/GSFC10:55am ‑ 11:30amPanel DiscussionFrancesca Civano, NASA/GSFC
Other Cosmic Origins Related Sessions
DaySession TitleTimeLocationsMonday, 15 JuneEverything but Exoplanets: The Transformative General Astrophysics of the Habitable Worlds Observatory10:00am ‑ 11:30amBallroom GNancy Grace Roman Space Telescope 12:45pm ‑ 1:45pmBallroom A(Town Hall)NASA Update12:45pm ‑ 1:45pmBallroom DE(Town Hall)The PRobe Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA)2:00pm – 3:30pmBallroom GWednesday, 17 JuneThe NASA Astrophysics ROSES Program11:00am ‑ 12:00pmSplinter 204NASA Infrared Telescope Facility – The Next Decade12:45pm ‑ 1:45pmTown Hall Ballroom F
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