The Ion and NASA are hosting NASA Day at the Ion, a full day spotlighting Artemis II, deep space exploration, and international space innovation. Attendees can begin the day with NASA Stories at the Ion, a new, family‑friendly series inviting the community to hear first‑hand from NASA experts, and return in the evening for NASA Tech Talks, a continuation of NASA’s long‑running series at the Ion.
At the morning NASA Stories at the Ion session, Branelle Rodriguez, Artemis II Orion Vehicle Manager, will share what it took to ready Orion, the only spacecraft capable of crewed deep space flight and high‑speed reentry from the vicinity of the Moon. Families are encouraged to bring their kids to ask questions and hear how Orion carried humans around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, traveled 694,481 miles, and returned the crew safely home after reentering Earth's atmosphere at nearly 35 times the speed of sound. The program will also cover how the Artemis II crew evaluated Orion's systems in deep space, what the astronauts observed as they orbited the Moon, and what is next for Orion on upcoming Artemis missions, with complimentary breakfast and networking kicking off the event.
In the evening, NASA Tech Talks will highlight the Texas–France Space Hub and its second cohort of French space startups, including 3IPK, Watt&Well, and Infinity Space Providers, presented in collaboration with the Rice Space Institute, Business France, CNES, and the French Consulate in Houston. The session will feature insights from Montgomery B. Goforth, Acting Director of the Business Development & Technology Integration Office and JSC Chief Technologist, and will explore how Houston's founders and researchers can plug into NASA's toughest technology challenges, followed by a networking social at Second Draught.
Attendees are also invited to extend their time at the Ion with a FREE coworking day at Industrious at the Ion. Guests can enjoy a complimentary workday with space to focus, room to meet, coffee to keep things moving, and an opportunity to experience what a day at Industrious actually feels like. Space is limited.
Event Venue
The Ion, 4201 Main St, Houston, TX 77002, United States
