At this year’s riveting Arizona Space Congress, I witnessed firsthand how Arizona is working to connect the gaps between space, policy, sustainability, technology, and people, and I was so excited to be part of that experience as a Higher Orbits student. Despite not knowing what to expect at first, it became one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
The conference brought together professionals in the industry, academia, government officials, business owners, students, and several others. Talks not only about space, but about Arizona’s talented collective and its future, filled every room and made my goals feel more tangible. The people I met, the conversations we had, and the tangible ideas we created together were incredibly eye-opening.
My two days at the conference began with the pre-conference, where the Space Innovation Ramp Hub’s hands-on simulation showed me how people in the space industry have to make difficult decisions, consider budgets, think about different audiences, and work together to turn separate ideas into a stronger plan. I loved how the small-group activities allowed us to hear everyone’s ideas and personalities while working through real decisions. I was also grateful to speak with Rick Tumlinson, a space entrepreneur and author whose book and presentation, Why Space?, explored the origins of space exploration and human curiosity while leaving me with memorable advice.
We later met many others at the first Welcome Mixer. Zahra, a fellow Higher Orbits student and Arizonan, and I had the opportunity to experience the event together while sharing the experiments our teams sent to be conducted on the ISS. We also met with Michelle Lucas and Alice Carruth, the founder and COO of Higher Orbits, whom I want to thank for making this opportunity possible. The following day was officially the start of Arizona Space Rising. Within my first ten minutes, I met so many smiling faces, people who work in the health sector, entrepreneurs, and, of course, the woman who started it all, Taryn Struck. She shared how Arizona Space Congress began, and it was inspiring to see an idea that started with just a few people grow into something I had the honor of experiencing.
A common theme that resonated with me throughout this experience was that space is all around us, from the Internet to planning your next vacation, and the “Human Frontiers” talk with Michelle as a speaker and many others showed how their journeys in science and ideas for the future can help youth like me become involved. Several other amazing students asked thought-provoking questions, and I was glad to see everyone become genuinely involved in what is happening in their own town, as that is often where it starts, like it did for me through Higher Orbits.
One of my favorite presentations was from Angelica Sirotin, CEO of Sirotin Ventures, who spoke about communication and the importance of making words meaningful. Her presentation made a lasting impression on me because it showed that effective communication is essential to progress. Across industries, there are many ideas, people, and resources, but the real challenge is learning how to connect them. This tied back to my interests in the environment, sustainability, and space medicine, where collaboration is needed to protect both people and the planet. Arizona has many valuable resources; now we need to connect them into a stronger, more unified system.
Following the talk, all the attendees gathered as Arizona Space Marshalls were announced and Space Tank awards were given at the gala. We ended the night with a silent auction supporting Higher Orbits, which was very enjoyable to help with and take part in. I am forever grateful for the people I met and look forward to what lies ahead for Arizona’s future in space and how I can, alongside other passionate youth, contribute.
Written by Stellar Student Alexis Simon
