Don’t just look up, Look down!
That’s where the $1.8-trillion space economy is being built, in and around our cities. Be part of our inaugural launch event in Washington D.C. on February 27, 2026.
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Space is limited to 100 leaders
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The trillion-dollar space economy is entering its next phase of extraordinary growth—and this time, the impacts will reach cities, regions, companies and people worldwide. The inaugural ORBIT: Space Cities Strategies convenes the leaders shaping the strategies, investments and opportunities emerging right here on the ground, accessible to everyone.
Event Agenda
February 27, 2026 | Washington DC
[Agenda: Subject to change. Chatham House Rules Apply.]
MORNING
8:00 AM | Registration Open
9:00 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
The commercialization of space is underway, creating a wide spectrum of opportunities here on Earth for our cities, urban regions, and the companies and people who live in them.
Karen Jones, Senior Space Policy Analyst and Economist, The Aerospace Corporation
9:10 AM | President Trump’s Space Superiority Executive Order and Practical Economic Strategies During Uncertain Times
Largely under-reported, President Trump has outlined a vision and investment strategy arguably the biggest since Apollo. Two world leaders in the space economy explain what it means and how to develop space strategies for cities, regions, and those building the space sector on the ground.
Charles Miller, Co-Founder and former CEO, Lynk Global, Inc.; Head, NASA Landing Team for Trump-Vance Transition Team
Karen Jones, Senior Space Policy Analyst and Economist, The Aerospace Corporation
9:40 AM | How to Build a Spaceport & Space Tourism
There’s a race across North America and the world to build spaceports and space economy hubs. What’s happening is about much more than rockets. Plus: why space tourism and other far-out ideas are closer than you think.
Daniel Inocente, Principal Architect and Founder, Daniel Inocente Architecture
Steven Wolfe, President and Co-Founder, Beyond Earth Institute; Deputy Executive Director, Global Spaceport Alliance
Moderator: Allison Dollar, Co-Founder, Space Tourism Conference
10:20 AM — Coffee Break
10:35 AM | Space-Based Solar, Orbiting Data Centers & the Earth Observation Data Explosion
From orbit to here on the ground, what the future really holds.
Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Space Economy Strategist
Moderator: Manuel Pimenta, Founder and CEO, Virtual Moon, LLC
11:15 AM | Why We Need to Go Solar and Nuclear in Space
Power, propulsion, and why it all begins—and will help all of us—here on the ground before it goes to orbit, the Moon, and beyond.
Jim Keravala, CEO & Chief Architect, OffWorld
Jeffrey Phillips, Director, Infrastructure Capital Projects Climate Advisory, KPMG
11:45 AM | Keynote- How Spaceports Can Enable the Space Economy
George Nield, President of Commercial Space Technologies, LLC, and Former Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation of the Federal Aviation Administration
12:15 PM — Lunch & Networking
AFTERNOON
1:00 PM | Fairfax County: A Global Example of Space Economy Development
The space sector is becoming one of the most exciting growth opportunities. Fairfax County has become a global example of how this can be done. Fresh off their SpaceNext international symposium, we’ll hear how they did it and what the future holds.
John Yesawich, VP, Federal Government, Connected DMV
Moderator: Miro Cernetig, CEO and Publisher, CityAge
1:20 PM | The Real Space Numbers
Big numbers are floating around about the size of the future Space Economy. There is no doubt it’s a massive opportunity. But we offer a grounded view from a top space economist.
Karen Jones, Senior Space Policy Analyst and Economist, The Aerospace Corporation
1:40 PM | How to Build Your Own Space Sector
Who gets the space jobs and how to find the space talent for the future? There’s enough opportunity to go around, but focusing on what you do best is essential.
Kris Kimel, Founder, Humanity In Deep Space; Co-Founder, Space Tango
Naashom Marx, Advanced Mobility Program Director, Woolpert
2:15 PM | Space Strategy for Cities, Regions, and States
A report from two states—Colorado and Ohio—that are building their own space economies at the local, national, and global level.
Dale Anderson, Senior Vice President, Economic & Defense Development & Government Affairs, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC
Ryan Blackburn, Senior Manager, Military and Federal, JobsOhio
2:45 PM | Re-Energizing the Space Story for the Next Generation
With the United States going back to the Moon and plans for a permanent lunar base with nuclear power, space has become one of the most exciting opportunities for the next generation. But are we telling them the right story?
Izzy House, Children’s Book Author and Director of Marketing Strategy, Global Spaceport Alliance, Content and Media Director Space.com
Julia Black, Vice President, Advanced Programs, Space Florida
Moderator: Abi Scott, Former Senior Advisor to the Chief of Personnel, U.S. Space Force; Partner, TASCON Advisors
3:15 PM | Space Law and Strategy: Building the Framework
The frameworks we need to build the space future here on the ground, in orbit, and beyond.
James Anthony Wolff, Partner, Greenspoon Marder LLP
Peter Garretson, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies, American Foreign Policy Council
3:45 PM | Closing — The Long Game
Where this all goes and what to do Monday morning.
Karen Jones, Senior Space Policy Analyst and Economist, The Aerospace Corporation
Miro Cernetig, CEO and Publisher, CityAge
4:00 PM | Event Close
Here’s a small sample of who you can meet at ORBIT
Fairfax County Economic Development
Anna Nissinen
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
TASCON Advisors
Abi Scott
PARTNER
Space Florida
Julia Black
VP ADVANCED PROGRAMS, FORMER SPACE X DIRECTOR RANGE OPS
Brownsville Texas
Jorge Cardenas
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
Space Tourism Conference
Allison Dollar
CO-FOUNDER
Virtual Moon, LLC
Manuel Pimenta
FOUNDER & CEO
The Aerospace Corporation
Karen Jones
SR. SPACE POLICY ANALYST & ECONOMIST
Sierra Space
John Wagner
VICE PRESIDENT STRATEGY, GROWTH & BUSINESS DEV
Connected DMV
George Thomas
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Global Spaceport Alliance
Dr. George Nield
CHAIRMAN
DIA
Daniel Inocente
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT & FOUNDER
Office of the Mayor
(Calgary)
John Larsen
CHIEF OF STAFF
DIA
Émeline Inocente
CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
Kansas Great Plains Authority
Brad Reams
INDUSTRIAL PARK DIRECTOR
OffWorld
Jim Keravala
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CHIEF ARCHITECT
Explore Mars, Inc.
Chris Carberry
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
University of Central Florida
Greg Autry
ASSOCIATE PROVOST SPACE
COMMERCIALIZATION & STRATEGY
Kelli Kedis Ogborn
SPACE ECONOMY STRATEGIST
Global Spaceport Alliance
Izzy House
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING STRATEGIES
Space Tourism Society
John Spencer
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Greenspoon Marder, LLP
James Anthony Wolff
PARTNER
Beyond Earth Institute
Steven Wolfe
PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER
ThinkOrbital
Nicholas Francoeur
SR. DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT BD & STRATEGY
U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation
Emily Pietrzyk
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DONOR & ALUMNI RELATIONS
CityAge
Miro Cernetig
CEO & PUBLISHER
KPMG
Jeffrey Phillips
DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE ADVISORY
U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation
Brenda Carr
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
World Innovation Network
Robert S. Katz
CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BECOME A KNOWLEDGE PARTNER
ORBIT and CityAge work with leading organizations to create influence at the intersection of space economy and terrestrial impact. Our knowledge partnerships offer opportunities to sponsor events, participate as speakers, contribute content, and co-create ongoing campaigns that position your organization at the forefront of this emerging sector.
News & Blog
Our Purpose
Don’t just look up. Look down and all around. That’s where the new space economy is being built.
SpaceCities is the new initiative from CityAge to bring together the leaders, investors and visionaries who are building the space future. We’ll look at where and how cities can take part in the wide spectrum of opportunities that are being developed in the trillion-dollar space economy:
We often look to the stars when we think about space, but we can all be part of it in and around us. Our cities, right here on Planet Earth, is where it all begins.
The Opportunity
Why Space Cities Matter Now
Space is no longer just the domain of science fiction—it’s the next great economic frontier. With the space economy set to surpass $2 trillion in the coming decades, we’re at the cusp of a revolution. From asteroid mining and orbital construction to space tourism and interplanetary living, the possibilities are endless. Now is the time to stake your claim in humanity’s future among the stars.
Space City Opportunities
Space Infrastructure
The Space Supply Chain
Private & Public Space Partnerships
The Booming Space Data AI and Sensor Economy
Talent and Job Creation for the Space Race
New Innovations in Life and Material Sciences
Future Space Mining
Spaceports
Sub-Orbital Travel
Space Tourism
Space Cyber Security
Space Investments
Orbit News
Space News Live Feed
- Firefly increases vehicle production even as launches lag
- U.S. expands missile production as Army seeks more depth in its arsenal
- Golden Dome faces 2027 funding cliff
- National lab visit boosts NASA’s confidence in space nuclear propulsion mission
- Golden Dome money starting to reach contractors, but long-term funding still unclear