George Mason Space Day
Ever wondered what it’s like to live and work in space?
Hear a keynote address from Brigadier General Nick Hague, U.S. Space Force leader and NASA astronaut, who has completed three spaceflights, amassing 374 days in space performing operations aboard the International Space Station, including four spacewalks.
Join Us for Liftoff
Saturday, September 26, 2026
1 to 5 p.m.
Johnson Center on George Mason's Fairfax Campus
View all speaker bios
*all minors must be accompanied by an adult
Getting Here and Parking
Free parking* will be available in Lot A with overflow parking available in Lot L. Bus transportation is also available. There is a main bus terminal on campus for the Cue bus system. There are also Metro bus stops near campus, including the 176, 306, 17G and 29K lines.
*You must register your vehicle the day of the event. You can register your vehicle nowor scan the QR code at the registration desk. Enter your license plate number which serves as your parking permit for the day. Failure to register may result in a parking violation.
Lectures and Lightening Talks
Hear engaging lectures and fast-paced lightning talks from experts at the forefront of aerospace and space discovery, featuring the latest breakthroughs shaping the future of exploration. View full speaker bios.
Keynote Speaker:
- Brigadier General Nick Hague
Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Headquarters United States Space Force
Mission and Engineering Talks:
- Dominic Benford, Program Scientist, Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
- Steve Dam, President and Founder of the Systems and Proposal Engineering Company (SPEC Innovations)
- Michael Summers, Professor, Physics and Astronomy, College of Science
- Colleen Kardasz, Director, Fairfax City Economic Development and CEO, Fairfax City Economic Development Authority
- Phillip M. Cunio, Professor of Practice, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason University
- Guiping Hu, Chair, Systems Engineering and Operations Research, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason University
- George Rankin, Mission Operations Director, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- Piotr Pachowicz, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University
Science & Policy Talks:
- Keiichi Wada, Director, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
- Eileen Kragie, Founder, Dark Sky Friends
- Tom Reinert, Board Member and Former President, DarkSky International
- Samantha Thompson, Astronomy Curator Air & Space Museum
- Hina Kazmi, Adjunct Faculty, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University
- Mike French, Founder and Principal, Space Policy Group; Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
- Zack Hester, Head of U.S. Office, Novaspace
- Zachary G. Pirtle, Deputy Director, Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes (CSPO); Professor of Practice, Arizona State University
George Mason Space Collaborative Panel
- Leslie A. Frieden, Associate Director for Research Development, Office of Research Innovation and Economic Impact (ORIEI)
- JK Aier, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Global Engagement, Costello College of Business
- Anamaria Berea, Associate Professor, Computational and Data Sciences, College of Science, George Mason University
- Hina Kazmi, Adjunct Faculty, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University
- Leigh McCue, Chair and Professor, Mechanical Engineering George Mason University
- Ferah Munshi, Associate Professor, Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University
- Anne Ostermann, Dean of Libraries, George Mason University
- Laura Sauls, Assistant Professor, Global Affairs, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, George Mason University
Tours and Shows
Tours and Shows
- George Mason Observatory Tour: Tours will start every 20 minutes and last 25 minutes. On a tour of the observatory, you will have the opportunity to view George Mason’s campus telescope and learn about its history. You will also see student-produced astronomy images and hear an overview of the research topics studied using the telescope. Sign ups available on-site.
- Planetarium Shows: Shows will start every 20 minute and last 15 minutes. During a planetarium show, you will watch a tour through space and learn about celestial objects as you pass by them. This show is not suggested for guests with sensitivity to flashing lights, dark environments, or enclosed spaces.
- Radio Dish Tours: Tours start every 40 minutes and last 30 minutes.
Kid Space Zone Activities
Calling all future astronauts! Explore the wonders of space through hands-on activities designed primarily for elementary-aged children and older. Younger children are welcome to participate as well, though some activities may be more engaging for older explorers.
🚀 Inflatable Planetarium
Step inside and explore the night sky without the glow of city lights.
🪂 Parachute Demonstration
Learn how astronauts safely return to Earth after their missions in space.
✈️ Paper Airplane Challenge
Design, build, and test your own paper airplane to see how far it can fly.
⭐ Create Your Own Constellation
Enjoy arts and crafts activities, including constellation-making and space-themed coloring.
🔭 Cosmic Secrets
Discover how astronomers use light to learn what stars, planets, and other celestial objects are made of.
🛰️ How Satellites Turn in Space
Experience how engineers control the orientation of satellites as they travel through space.
Raffle Prizes
Participating Organizations
Analemma Society
Because Science
College of Science
Dark Skies
DarkSky International
George Mason Costello College of Business
George Mason Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
George Mason Department of Engineering and Computing
George Mason J. Shukla Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences
George Mason Department of Physics and Astronomy
George Mason Schar School of Policy and Government
George Mason Observatory
George Mason Chemistry Club
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
High Power Rocket Club
NASA
Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC)
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
SPEC Innovations
U.S. Space Force
Organizing Committee
Gabriele Belle, Committee Chair, College of Science
Rob Parks, Co-chair, College of Science
Tracy Mason, Co-chair, College of Science
Phillip Cunio, College of Engineering and Computing
S Falgiano, College of Science
Natasha Gilliam, College of Science
Hina Kazmi, Schar School of Policy and Government
Ferah Munshi, College of Science
Laura Powers, College of Science
Steven Robeson, College of Science
George Mason Space Day Agenda
*subject to change
| 12:30 p.m. | Doors open |
| 1 p.m. | Event begins (Dewberry Hall) |
| 1 to 1:20 p.m. | Opening Remarks by City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine S. Read, College of Science Dean Cody W. Edwards, and Space Day Chair Gabriele Belle |
| 1:20 to 2 p.m. | Event Keynote: Brigadier General Nick Hague, U.S. Space Force leader and NASA astronaut |
| 2 to 2:10 p.m. | Q&A with Brigadier General Nick Hague A meet and greet will take place in the Gold room* immediately following General Nick Hague’s talk. Exit the right side of Dewberry Hall where a queue will form for all interested in photos with the astronaut. |
Beginning at 2:15 p.m., Space Day will feature two concurrent presentation tracks: Mission & Engineering in Dewberry Hall and Science & Policy in the Cinema. Attendees are welcome to attend whichever sessions interest them most and may move between tracks throughout the afternoon to create their own Space Day experience. Both tracks will conclude with panel discussions featuring experts from across academia, industry, government, and the nonprofit sector.
| Mission & Engineering (Dewberry Hall) | Science & Policy (Cinema) | ||
| 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. | Keynote and Q&A: Dominic Benford (NASA) | 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. | Keynote and Q&A: Keiichi Wada (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) |
| 2:45 to 3 p.m. | Steve Dam (SPEC Innovations) | 2:45 to 3 p.m. | Eileen Kragie (Dark Sky Friends) and Tom Reinert (DarkSky International) |
| 3 to 3:15 p.m. | Michael Summers (George Mason University) | 3 to 3:15 p.m. | CANCELED: Samantha Thompson (Air & Space Museum) |
| 3:15 to 3:30 p.m. | Colleen Kardasz (Fairfax City Economic Development Authority) | 3:15 to 3:30 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30 to 3:35 | Break | 3:25 to 4:15 p.m. | Policy Panel: Moderator Hina Kazmi (George Mason University) |
| 3:35 to 4:15 p.m. | Engineering Panel: Moderator Phillip Cunio (George Mason University) | ||
Following the concurrent tracks and panel discussions, all attendees are invited to gather in Dewberry Hall for the Mason Space Center Panel, moderated by Leslie A. Frieden, before concluding the day with a raffle drawing.
| 4:15 to 4:20 p.m. | Break (Gather in Dewberry Hall) |
| 4:20 to 4:50 p.m. | Mason Space Collaborative Panel: Moderator Leslie A. Frieden |
| 4:50 to 5 p.m. | Raffle |
Join us for a special film screening
After George Mason Space Day, keep the exploration going with a 6 p.m. screening of Cosmic Dawn in the Johnson Center Cinema, the inspiring story of the James Webb Space Telescope and its mission to uncover the origins of the universe. All George Mason Space Day attendees are welcome to join. Photo by NASA.
A special thank you to the Department of Physics and Astronomy; Welcome to Mason; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Paul So, Affiliate Faculty, Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University; Mason Space Exploration Center (MSEC); and the George Mason Space Collaborative. We appreciate your support!
The health and well-being of our event community is important to us. If you (or someone in your group) are experiencing symptoms of illness or are feeling unwell, we ask that you please stay home and help us protect the health of fellow Space Day attendees.