The best word I can use to describe my time at ASCEND is immersive. I was captivated by every session, every conversation, and every booth I saw at the Expo Hall. I was in the city of monuments, the district, the capital of the United States.
There was no better place I could be in, and it was definitely worth skipping the last day of school. I was here, once again, at AIAA ASCEND for the second year in a row, ready to continue the story.
Hi y’all! I’m Eva, and I’m here to tell you about my two transformative days at AIAA ASCEND 2026 in Washington, D.C. As I mentioned, I attended ASCEND last year for the first time in Las Vegas, which was my first conference ever. After that, I attended one more conference at UT Austin in February before coming back.
ASCEND exposed me to what would become my own little corner of space, that being space medicine and space biosciences. This year, I entered ASCEND with more experience, more confidence, and a clearer view of my future after going through my first year of high school. However, nothing could have prepared me for the out-of-this-world event that I would experience.
Conferences are such an exciting opportunity to learn about the cutting edge of the space industry. It’s the one place where I meet both the fascinating idea and the equally fascinating person who came up with it. In other words, one unique aspect of a conference is the chance to meet face-to-face with the people making incredible leaps in the industry. The diversity, camaraderie, and curiosity are contagious. This year, I took advantage of this unique hub of professionals to network and ask questions. I felt immensely proud when I found myself asking a question at almost every session, something that would have seemed daunting not so long ago. I wrote down notes for every session and had meaningful conversations with panelists. The most important change was that I stopped underestimating myself, and I stopped shutting myself down. I began to recognize that no matter how young or inexperienced I was, I had the ability to speak with a professional, just like anyone else. That realization elevated my experience at ASCEND and enabled me to immerse myself fully in every session. As a byproduct of my newfound confidence, I also noticed that my conversations were warmer and more productive than last year. I ended up exchanging business cards with many industry professionals, and I am glad to say that my follow-up conversations with them through email have been equally fruitful.
As you may know from my past blog, my family and I decided to stay a few days before the conference in D.C to explore the area. We went on a quest through the National Mall, starting at the Washington Monument and ending a few days later at the U.S Capitol, with visits to the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. It is only fitting that D.C granted me the patriotism and pride of America’s 250th birthday deep in my veins (I’m not even from the U.S). Regardless, it was heartwarming to see the remnants of a country's history that has given me so much. But of course, I could not leave Washington without entering the world-class museums and galleries. My first full day in D.C began with a visit to the National Air and Space Museum, and it certainly did not disappoint. Hundreds of pictures and memories later, I stepped into the Museum of Natural History. Many monkeys, elephants, t-rexs, and otters later, we walked to the National Art Gallery. Here, my dad and I scouted for any paintings by Monet and Van Gogh, which was likely the most relaxing part of the trip. After purchasing as much merch as we could fit in our hands, I ate the best lemon ice cream that I’ve ever tasted in the gallery cafe. Not long after, I ate some more ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s with my cousins and family who visited us from Maryland.
Looking back… I ate ice cream at nearly every spot in D.C.
But don’t worry… because the food is only beginning! On Monday night, we had our traditional Higher Orbits dinner with Michelle, my parents, fellow student Ava and her mother Wella, and Jamie from the Space Force. Not long after, at 5 AM the next morning, I woke up, got dressed, added my Higher Orbits pins to my blazer, and went down the elevator just in time for the students-only breakfast. After grabbing some pancakes and yogurt, I headed down to the International Ballroom for the opening session. We kicked off the day with a monologue from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who reminded us that NASA, at its core, was always meant to get us to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. He emphasized going all in and maintaining the momentum from Artemis II to the next mission, as soon as humanly possible. No distractions, no sidequests, and no going back to long breaks between missions.
Artemis II had been the catalyst - the spark - we just had to work to keep the flame alive. After a motivating opening session, Ava and I spent the majority of the day together exploring as many space medicine sessions as possible.
I stepped into my first jaw-dropping session: Using the ISS to Outwit Cancer. I had talked about going to this session in my last blog, and even if I had to run across the entire hotel (which I did), I would not miss it. I was fascinated to learn about the cutting-edge research behind identifying metastatic and potentially metastatic cancer cells by harnessing the microgravity environment. Turns out, cancerous cells in zero-g that are either metastatic or potentially metastatic move differently than others, making them identifiable, a phenomenon that does not occur on Earth. After the session, I excitedly approached the presenter, asked a few questions, and exchanged my contact information. I repeated this ritual with the sessions that inspired me or fascinated me the most throughout the next two days. Not long after, we walked over to our first technical paper session. This unique session explored the idea of making parabolic flight entertaining for the public, using themes and interactive technology to elevate the user experience. Later in the day, I attended a few sessions from ISS National Lab. One of them specifically focused on spotlighting the trailblazers in space biosciences, who are currently working on increasing access for the next generation. Eventually, I realized that these sessions on human health and performance usually had a similar group of people, so by the end of the second day, it felt like we all knew each other. We spoke with each other about the panels and sessions we attended, or even complimented someone’s question and expanded into very thought-provoking conversations. This pleasant surprise solidified even further my sense of belonging within the space industry and the space medicine community.
However, the highlight of the day was the quintessential Higher Orbits panel at the Hub. Going into it, I felt calm and steady. I was happy to see that we had a decently-sized audience, but more so an abundance of encouraging smiles and familiar faces. I was intrigued by everyone’s speeches and journeys, and when my turn came, I delivered my speech with enthusiasm and confidence. Ava and I received many compliments afterward and plenty of exposure. A few sessions later, we headed over to Michelle’s panel with ISS National Lab all about the future of microgravity research once the ISS leaves the picture. After hearing some interesting perspectives from people at the frontier of ISS research, I attended a few more sessions and walked back to the hotel room. There, I snacked, napped, recharged my social battery, and went downstairs for the reception to connect with even more people. I spent some time talking to other students, notably a group from Puerto Rico who had presented their research at a technical paper session earlier. That night, I spent a few hours trying to build my schedule for the next day to include as many sessions as possible. Now, it was time to sleep and wait to see how my plans would translate to real life.
On day two of ASCEND, I started off with technical paper sessions from ISS National Lab relating to biology and medicine. I was fascinated by a research paper that explored how space caused neural senescence: a deterioration of brain cells often associated with aging. After that, I ventured into nuclear radioisotope systems in my next panel and learned about the technological, social, and political bottlenecks behind nuclear power in space. My next few sessions centered around the growth of biomanufacturing, microgravity research, and the strategies necessary to ensure progress in commercial space stations. Then, I attended a session that discussed innovative approaches to astronaut health and how trauma medicine changes in microgravity. In the end, I quickly went next door and stepped into my last session at AIAA ASCEND… the Astrodebates. Hosted by the sparkly Michelle Lucas, along with industry professionals as debaters and a renowned panel of judges. This year, the debate topic was Moon vs. Mars: where should we build first? And let me tell you, it was a very heated argument. At the end, it was a tough decision… so tough that it was undecided. In my opinion, I agree with the fact that we should go to the Moon before Mars… but honestly, the Mars team argued their points best.
Regardless, both teams were extremely brave and did an amazing job. After saying goodbye to Michelle and Ava, I headed back to my room and slept for only a few hours before catching my next flight back to the great state of Texas.
My experience at ASCEND this year was once again unforgettable. I built upon the knowledge I gathered last year and made connections like never before. As I said in my speech, I come out of every Higher Orbits event or conference a better person. AIAA ASCEND 2026 was no exception. I have left D.C with endless memories, new friends, and new perspectives of the future. Thank you so much, Michelle, for granting me this wonderful opportunity and for supporting me throughout these (almost) two years. As always, I encourage you to take inspiration from this blog and chase your next life-changing experience. Believe in yourself, and apply for what you want. I’m excited to see what the future will hold for all of us.
Written By Stellar Student Eva Estrada