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USA House presents

Path to Space for the Americas

The United States and the nations of the Western Hemisphere, building the ground and the space economy together.

Organized with the U.S. Mission to the OAS

About the working day

How this hemisphere builds the space economy

The United States and the nations of the Western Hemisphere share one geography that matters for the next economy: the equator, the ranges, the energy, and the partners who can actually build. Path to Space for the Americas is a practical working day on how this hemisphere builds the space economy, and who is positioned to take part as access to space opens.

The U.S. Mission to the OAS program is Space Industry Forum: Advancing Cooperation in the Americas. USA House presents the page at the Hall of the Americas, Organization of American States, Washington, D.C., just before UNGA week. Organized with the U.S. Mission to the OAS.

Schedule

Space Industry Forum: Advancing Cooperation in the Americas

Hall of the Americas, OAS · Thursday, September 17, 2026 · 1:00pm–5:00pm Forum · 5:00pm–7:00pm reception. Times as published by the U.S. Mission to the OAS.

Afternoon program

Hall of the Americas

1:00 – 1:20 PM

Welcome & Introductory Remarks

Welcome
Ambassador Leandro Rizzuto, Ambassador to the U.S. Mission to the OAS
Paolo Zampolli, Special Envoy for Global Partnerships
Assistant Secretary General OAS, Laura Gil
NASA **
1:20 – 2:00 PM

The Case for Space in the Americas

Panel: State/OES, Office of Space Affairs & NASA

Panel
Moderator: Michael Ashby
Valda Vikmanis, Director, DOS/OES
Kathleen Karika, Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations, NASA
2:00 – 2:40 PM

The Americas in Action: Leadership through the Artemis Accords

Panel: Latin American Artemis Accords signatories

Panel
Moderator: David Reinecke
Ambassador Ana Irene Delgado, Permanent Mission of Panama to the OAS
Ambassador Rodolfo Coronado, Permanent Mission of Perú to the OAS
Ambassador Carlos Bernardo Cherniak, Permanent Mission of Argentina
2:40 – 3:20 PM

Latin American Market: What the Region Needs, Future Goals

Focus: Regional space policy direction and ecosystem development needs

Panel
Moderator: Barbara Kotschwar
Dr. Gustavo Medina-Tanco, Head of Laboratory of Space Instrumentation (LINX), Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, UNAM
Dr. Michael King, Florida Institute of Technology
Dr. Héctor Jirau, Director Ejecutivo de Parallel18, Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust
3:20 – 3:40 PM

Break

Break
3:40 – 4:50 PM

Launching Space for the Americas: Funding, Infrastructure, Partnerships, and Opportunities

Panel: Engagement and Action: Shared Space Opportunities and Spaceports

Panel
Moderator: Dr. John Olson, Chairman and CEO of AXIONS Corp, retired USAF / USSF General, former OSTP and NASA Executive
Dr. George C. Nield, Chairman of the Global Spaceport Alliance
Dr. Jennifer Rochlis, Commercial Space and NASA Executive Leader
Ms. Danica Vallone, President of Making Space, Space and Sport Expert
Mr. Tom Marotta, CEO of the Spaceport Company
4:50 – 5:00 PM

Closing Remarks

Close
Ambassador Leandro Rizzuto, Ambassador to the U.S. Mission to the OAS

Close

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Reception

Light drinks & food; informal networking.

Reception

This Agenda is subject to modifications

Featured participants

Speakers

Named speakers from the Mission program as published.

Amb. Leandro Rizzuto
Amb. Leandro Rizzuto
Ambassador to the U.S. Mission to the OAS
Paolo Zampolli
Paolo Zampolli
Special Envoy for Global Partnerships
Laura Gil
Laura Gil
Assistant Secretary General, OAS
NASA ** welcome seat
NASA **
Welcome seat — title/placeholder only
Michael Ashby
Michael Ashby
Moderator, Case for Space
Valda Vikmanis
Valda Vikmanis
Director, DOS/OES
Kathleen Karika
Kathleen Karika
Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations, NASA
David Reinecke
David Reinecke
Moderator, Artemis Accords
Amb. Ana Irene Delgado
Amb. Ana Irene Delgado
Permanent Mission of Panama to the OAS
Amb. Rodolfo Coronado
Amb. Rodolfo Coronado
Permanent Mission of Perú to the OAS
Amb. Carlos Bernardo Cherniak
Amb. Carlos Bernardo Cherniak
Permanent Mission of Argentina
Barbara Kotschwar
Barbara Kotschwar
Moderator, Latin American Market
Dr. Gustavo Medina-Tanco
Dr. Gustavo Medina-Tanco
LINX / UNAM
Dr. Michael King
Dr. Michael King
Florida Institute of Technology
Dr. Héctor Jirau
Dr. Héctor Jirau
Parallel18 / PRSTRT
Dr. John Olson
Dr. John Olson
AXIONS / moderator, Launching Space block
Dr. George C. Nield
Dr. George C. Nield
Global Spaceport Alliance
Dr. Jennifer Rochlis
Dr. Jennifer Rochlis
Commercial Space and NASA Executive Leader
Danica Vallone
Danica Vallone
Making Space
Tom Marotta
Tom Marotta
The Spaceport Company

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Ways to take part at the Hall of the Americas.

Attend

Request an invitation to the working day at the Hall of the Americas.

1:00–5:00pm Space Industry Forum
5:00–7:00pm reception at the Hall of the Americas
Working access with hemispheric counterparts
Attendance is by invitation only

Speak

Apply to participate as a speaker, panelist, or moderator.

1:00–5:00pm Space Industry Forum
Artemis Accords and Latin American Market sessions
Launching Space for the Americas session
Curated sessions

The venue

Hall of the Americas

Organization of American States Main Building, Washington, D.C.

OAS Main Building (House of the Americas), 17th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW. The Hall of the Americas is the ceremonial hall inside. Photo: Joshua Sherurcij / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY).

USA House presents Path to Space for the Americas at the Hall of the Americas, Organization of American States, Washington, D.C. Organized with the U.S. Mission to the OAS.

Date

Thursday, September 17, 2026 — just before UNGA week.

Hall of the Americas

Organization of American States Main Building, Washington, D.C.

Address

17th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Getting there

Metro: Farragut West (Blue, Orange, Silver) and Farragut North (Red), a short walk to 17th and Constitution.

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