Massachusetts Space Day

Overview

Kicking off Massachusetts Space Week, Massachusetts Space Day is the full-day flagship event of the week, centered on this year’s theme, “Reaching the Sky.” Designed to be accessible to all, it offers a full day of expert panels, discussions, and keynote talks, creating a rich and engaging space for dialogue across disciplines.

Throughout the day, attendees will explore how we reach the sky from multiple perspectives, from cutting-edge aerospace engineering and the growth of the Massachusetts space economy, to regional collaboration across the Northeast and the role of education and public outreach. The program features contributions from leading voices across academia, industry, and public institutions, as well as a dedicated brainstorming session inviting collective reflection on the region’s space future.

At the heart of the day, astronaut Al Sacco, Jr. will deliver a keynote on “What the sky teaches us,” offering a personal and inspiring perspective on human spaceflight. The program also includes the flagship Space Ethics Workshop, “Who Reaches the Sky?”, a central moment of reflection on access, representation, and responsibility in the space sector.
As the inaugural Massachusetts Space Day, this event sets the tone for a new annual tradition, one that celebrates not only technological achievement, but also the shared human questions that drive us to explore beyond our planet.

Schedule

• 10-10.30am: Welcome Remarks
• 10.30-11am: Panel: “How we reach the sky”, Highlighting advances in aerospace engineering
  Kim Blair (Re:Build Manufacturing), Luke Colby (Triton Space), Corrie Smeaton (MIT Lincoln Labs). Moderator: Francesca Scire-Scappuzzo (IEEE Boston)
• Coffee Break
• 11.15-11.45am: Space Economics Panel: “How to grow the Space Economy in Massachusetts”
  James Byrnes (Mass Tech), Olivier de Weck (MIT), Matthew Weinzierl (HBS). Moderator: Frans von der Dunk (U. Nebraska Lincoln)
• 11.45-1pm: Northeast Space Initiatives Panel + Brainstorming Lunch
  Supriya Chakrabarti (U. Mass. Lowell), Alissa J. Haddaji (The Space Consortium), John Karp (Maine Space Corporation), Randall Makee (NHADC), Jeff Mitchell (SFA). Moderator: Matthew Weinzierl (HBS)
• 1-1.45pm: Astronaut Keynote: “What the sky teaches us”
  Al Sacco, Jr.
• 2-2.45pm: Space Ethics Panel + Discussion: “Who Reaches the Sky?”
  Kyle Horn (AstroAccess), Hilding Neilson (Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador), Erika Nesvold (JustSpace Alliance). Moderator: Alissa J. Haddaji (The Space Consortium)
• Coffee Break
• 3-3.45pm: Space Outreach Panel: “How MA Educates and Communicates About the Sky”
  Jessie Aucoin (John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum), Dani LeBlanc (Museum of Science, Boston), Jenny Powers (Springfield Science Museum), Robert Powers (Massachusetts Executive Office of Education). Moderator: Lisa Simmons (Mass Cultural Council)

Directions & Parking
Located on Columbia Point in Dorchester, the JFK Library is accessible by car, approximately one mile from I-93.
Free parking is available for visitors in front of the Library.
The Library is also accessible via the MBTA. A free shuttle (Paul Revere Bus Company, Route 1) runs between the JFK/UMass station on the Red Line and the Library. Bus routes 8 and 16 also serve the area, with stops located about a half-mile walk from the Library.

Making Space Week accessible to all
While some events require tickets, Massachusetts Space Week is designed to remain welcoming and accessible to all. Massachusetts Space Day complimentary tickets are made available through The Space Consortium Accessibility Fund for low-income households eligible through the EBT program. Eligible participants may request tickets by completing the Space Week 2026 Ticket Assistance Request Form before April 19, 2026.

ASL (American Sign Language)
Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs before April 15, 2026 through the Space Week Attendee Information Form.

Security and Safety
Due to security concerns, all visitors to the Kennedy Library must undergo a security screening upon entry. Additionally, only one bag per person is allowed, (bags must be no larger than 17 × 26 inches [43 × 66 centimeters] in size and will be searched by Security Officers during the security screening.
Firearms and other dangerous weapons are prohibited in the building. It is a violation of federal law and punishable by fine and/or imprisonment to knowingly possess, cause, or attempt to introduce them in a federal facility. For additional information on specific items, please review the “Prohibited Items in Federal Facilities”  from the National Archives and Records Administration.