By Space Rising | Rose Law Group Reporter
As the global space economy accelerates toward a projected $1 trillion by 2040, regions across the United States are establishing themselves as critical hubs for aerospace innovation, manufacturing, and launch infrastructure to advance the nation’s position in the global space economy.
Arizona already possesses many of the core assets required to become a major U.S. space industrial powerhouse. The state offers year-round testing environments, vast industrial land, a large aerospace and defense manufacturing base, top-tier engineering universities, and a rapidly growing commercial space presence.
Arizona Space Congress™ 2026, taking place April 29 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Phoenix, will bring those assets together and chart a coordinated path forward.
“We’re building a local space community that drives human ingenuity, purposeful innovation, and economic growth,” said Taryn Struck, Co-founder, Space Rising. “A strong space community ensures that the future we build is not only prosperous but shared across all sectors of Arizona’s growing space ecosystem.”
The working congress will take place as a single-session sprint, bringing together leaders from industry, government, academia, investment, entrepreneurship, and students to align priorities and collaborate on a coordinated blueprint for Arizona’s role in the global space economy. The session will directly inform Arizona Space 2030, a statewide initiative designed to align strategy, partnerships, and execution across the state.
Unlike a traditional conference, the Congress is structured for execution — moving participants from alignment to action in a single day.
A Mobilization Method Built for Impact
Arizona Space Congress™ convenes leaders across sectors to create a shared vision and actionable blueprint for Arizona’s space future.
Using a structured Mobilization Method, the Congress transforms cross-sector intelligence into an operational framework:
1. Information: Context for global-to-local alignment
2. Investigation: Deep dives into priority focus solutions
3. Ideation: Rapid development and prioritized tactics
4. Innovation: Commercialization of emerging space tech
5. Implementation: Actionable blueprint for execution
6. Impact: Space-for-Earth solutions
The one-day process culminates in the development of the Space Action Blueprint™, an acceleration framework guiding Arizona’s leadership across technology, infrastructure, power systems, and human frontiers.
Space Rising Scholars Embedded in Statewide Solutions
A defining feature of Arizona Space Congress™ is the integration of the Space Rising Scholars—18 high-performing university students—into the Congress’s solution-development process.
Rather than simply observing, Scholars actively facilitate large-scale Solutioneering Sprints aligned with the Congress’s four strategic pillars, guiding collaborative ideation and prioritizing actionable tactics.
Following the Congress, Scholars will:
• Capture and synthesize stakeholder input
• Identify top strategic priorities
• Support the development of the Arizona Space Action Blueprint™
The 2026 cohort spans disciplines including aerospace engineering, astronomy, political science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering from Arizona universities and community colleges, along with one high-performing high school participant.
Congress Finale: Space Tank™ – Arizona Edition
The Congress culminates in Space Tank™: Arizona Edition, the live, on-stage and virtual ASTROpreneurial collaboration-competition created and produced by Robert S. Katz, CEO & Executive Director of World Innovation Network (WIN).
Space Tank™ is an international innovation competition designed to accelerate commercialization of emerging space technologies and dual-use innovations. The Arizona edition brings together founders, investors, government leaders, universities, and aerospace companies in a statewide effort to advance Arizona’s position as a leading U.S. space innovation hub. A distinguished panel of industry leaders will evaluate the competing ventures, bringing expertise from venture capital, aerospace, government, and philanthropy. The panel will be officially announced in April.
Learn more about Space Tank™ participation in the official press release and competition flyer.
Evening Supernova Gala Supports Future Space Leaders
The day concludes with the Supernova Gala, a formal evening dedicated to supporting space-focused STEM nonprofits, including Arizona Science Center, High Orbits, and the Space Force Association – Space Professional Society.
Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction benefiting these organizations. The Gala highlights Arizona’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of space-ready talent while strengthening collaboration across the statewide space ecosystem.
Attendees will also enjoy a keynote address from Robert S. Katz, CEO and Executive Director of the World Innovation Network (WIN), a leader in building global innovation ecosystems for critical technologies. The evening will culminate with the presentation of Space Tank™ Awards, honoring visionary founders driving innovation in emerging space technologies.
Join the Mobilization – Event Registration
Arizona Space Congress™ 2026 is more than a convening — it is a coordinated mobilization of Arizona’s space leadership across sectors.
Be part of shaping Arizona Space 2030 and contribute to the state’s Space Action Blueprint™. Registration and full program details are available at https://spacerising.org/agenda2026
