Tag: from AIAA SciTech Forum 2026

Space Funding Picture Mixed Heading into 2026

FROM THE INSTITUTE
The future of U.S. research funding was debated Tuesday at AIAA SciTech Forum, where academic, industry, and startup space leaders expressed cautious optimism for America’s science and technology innovation pipeline. The budget picture for NASA and the U.S. Space Force in 2025 saw yearlong continuing resolutions and DOGE canceling or pausing contracts, which together “make it difficult to talk about 2026 relative to 2025,” said Carissa Christensen, founder and CEO of BryceTech.

In the Race Against China, U.S. AI Leadership Depends on High-Quality Data, the Right Use Cases, and People Owning Validation of AI Output

FROM THE INSTITUTE
In today’s race with China for AI superiority, the United States must use quality data, lean into the right use cases, and keep humans front and center when validating results, urged Craig Martell, vice president and chief technology officer at Lockheed Martin, at AIAA SciTech Forum on Wednesday. “The Department [of Defense] is right in pushing hard for AI,” said Martell, referring to the latest memos calling for Pentagon-wide adoption of AI.