By 2040, the space economy will reach a projected value of $1 trillion. As the leader of the industry, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) recognized that its 50-year-old event, Space Forum, was at an inflection point. To meet the future needs of the space industry and humanity, AIAA partnered with 360 Live Media to develop a bold new experience called ASCEND.

ASCEND stands for Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery. It is a first-of-its-kind event convening the entire space ecosystem—not just traditional players like defense, commerce, policymakers, and universities, but also non-traditional industries like mining, pharmaceutical, and hospitality, which have an equally vital role to play in advancing humanity’s off-world future.

The ASCEND story exemplifies the power of an event to serve as a catalyst to change the trajectory of an association and to become an enduring platform for innovation and growth.