Beyond the Cradle

MIT Media LabWednesday April 8, 2026Co-presented by Aurelia Institute, the MIT Space Exploration Initiative (SEI), and the MIT Media Lab. This is a private, ticketed, invitation-only event. Tickets are non-transferable. MIT Community Members are invited to join at no cost. If you are requesting to register as a MIT Community Member please use your @mit.edu address so that we can verify you. April 8, 2026 marks the 10th annual Beyond the Cradle: Envisioning a New Space Age—MIT’s flagship event exploring humanity’s future beyond Earth. For a decade, Beyond the Cradle has brought together space industry leaders, researchers, and visionaries to advance the shared mission of democratizing this new frontier. This milestone invites us to celebrate ten years of impact—new projects, spin-off companies, partnerships, and bold ideas—while also reflecting on 250 years of exploration and technological progress shaped by the United States. In 2026, we turn our gaze to the founding ideals of exploration, independence, and innovation that launched a nation—and now propel us beyond our home planet. How will this era of exploration be different? What opportunities and responsibilities await us as stewards of the anthropocosmos? What lessons guide us as we build new worlds?Agenda (more names to be announced soon!)8:00 AMRegistration, coffee 8:30We are Go for LaunchMIT President Sally Kornbluth Opening RemarksAriel Ekblaw, Founder & CEO, Aurelia Institute; Founder, MIT Media Lab Space Exploration InitiativeJessica Rosenworcel, Executive Director, MIT Media Lab Keynote Presentation Our SciFi Space FutureKen Liu, Author & Futurist, Translator for The Three Body ProblemMary Robinette Kowal, Author 10:30Break 11:00Next Generation Space Stations and the Future of Low Earth OrbitKam Ghaffarian, Founder & Executive Chairman of X-energy, Intuitive Machines, Axiom Space, & Quantum SpaceSaleem Miyan, CEO, Max SpaceMarshall Smith, CEO, Starlab SpaceVast SpaceModerated by Ariel Ekblaw 11:45Lunch 12:30 PMAurelia Prize in Design for Space Urbanism Democratizing Access to SpacePhil Frank, Co-Founder & CEO, Rendezvous RoboticsCody Paige, Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Columbia UniversityRaphael Roettgen, Founding Partner, E2MCModerated by Mehak Sarang, Director of Industry Integration, Open Lunar Foundation Cosmic MetabolismXin Liu, Artist & EngineerOrbital BioLab and Biotech Entrepreneurship in SpaceWill Bruey, Co-Founder & CEO, Varda Space IndustriesGeorge Church, Harvard & MIT ProfessorKate Rubins, Founding Director, Trivedi Institute for Space and Global BiomedicineNicole Wagner, Co-Founder, President & CEO, LambdaVisionModerated by Stephanie Sjoblom, VP of Strategy and Business Development, Aurelia Institute 3:00Break 3:30Workshops1. Perfecting Air in Space2. Expanding the Drake Equation3. Aurelia Prize in Design for Space Urbanism Lightning TalksRodrigo Diez, Novo SpacePhil Frank, Rendezvous RoboticsPaul Jaffe, Overview EnergyShaurya Luthra, NorthwoodJeffrey Montes, Different SystemsDevon Papandrew, Stoke SpaceAndrew Rush, Star CatcherNicole Wagner, LamdavisionRyan Westerdahl & Axel Garcia, Turion 4:45Astronaut AuguryKatya Echazarreta, Citizen Astronaut, Blue Origin NS-21; Founder, Fundacion EspacialMike Fincke, NASA AstronautJasmin Moghbeli, American U.S. Marine Corps Test Pilot; Astronaut, NASA's SpaceX Crew-7Sian Proctor, Visionary Artists, Futures, Explorer; Pilot, SpaceX Inspiration4Moderated by Cady Coleman, Chemist, Engineer, Former United States Air Force Colonel; Retired NASA astronaut Closing RemarksAriel Ekblaw 5:45Closing Reception Visit https://beyond.media.mit.edu/ for more information. Requesting a ticket does not guarantee attendance. Your card will only be charged if your request is approved. Please contact us at beyondthecradle@aureliainstitute.org with any questions.