Space Day 2026

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.

Keynote Speaker:

• Brigadier General Nick Hague
  Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Headquarters United States Space Force

Mason Space Day Speakers:

• Anamaria Berea, Associate Professor, Computational and Data Sciences, College of Science, George Mason University
• Phillip M. Cunio, Professor of Practice, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason University
• Steve Dam, President and Founder of the Systems and Proposal Engineering Company (SPEC Innovations)
• Cheryl Druehl, Interim Dean, Costello College of Business, George Mason University
• Guiping Hu, Chair, Systems Engineering and Operations Research, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason University
• Hina Kazmi, Adjunct Faculty, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University
• Eileen Kragie, Founder, Dark Sky Friends
• Anne Ostermann, Dean of Libraries, George Mason University
• Andrew Pace, GECO Fellow, University of Virginia
• Piotr Pachowicz, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University
• George Rankin, Mission Operations Director, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• Tom Reinert, Board Member and Former President, DarkSky International
• Caelus Rocketry
• Laura Sauls, Assistant Professor, Global Affairs, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, George Mason University
• Michael Summers, Professor, Physics and Astronomy, College of Science
• Samantha Thompson, Astronomy Curator Air & Space Museum

View full speaker bios. 

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 Tour: Tours start every 40 minutes and last 30 minutes. On the radio dish tour, you will get to see George Mason’s 30-foot satellite communications dish. 

Other Activities

• Arts and Crafts: Our youngest future astronauts are invited to get creative with space-themed arts and crafts.
• Paper Plane contest: Mason Observatory Showcase (link up with an Mason Observatory tour guidance to the showcase.

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
Audrey Kelaher, College of Science
Ferah Munshi, College of Science
Laura Powers, College of Science
Steven Robeson, College of Science