The National Space Society invites you to two Space Forums
Scroll down for the second Forum with Astronaut Greg Chamitoff
Separate registrations for each Forum
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm EST
A Conversation with Tory Bruno
Tory Bruno
President of National Security, Blue Origin
Former President and CEO, United Launch Alliance
Few leaders in the modern space industry have had a front-row seat to its technical, strategic, and business evolution quite like NSS member Tory Bruno.
Over a career spanning decades, Tory has helped shape some of the nation’s most critical space and defense programs, with deep experience in launch systems, missile defense, strategic deterrence, and advanced aerospace technologies. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of United Launch Alliance, where he guided the company through a period of significant transition while maintaining an unmatched record of mission success.
In this Space Forum, Tory will reflect on the lessons learned from a lifetime in the space business—what it takes to deliver reliability at scale, how technical decisions intersect with policy and national security, and how leadership and culture matter in an industry where the stakes are always high.
He will also offer an introduction to his new role as President of National Security at Blue Origin, where he is now focused on advancing next-generation capabilities to support U.S. and allied national security missions. Attendees will gain insight into how Blue Origin is approaching this mission space, and how innovation, speed, and resilience are shaping the future of defense and space operations.
This conversation will be of particular interest to professionals, students, and space advocates who want to better understand how the space industry really works—from engineering to execution to long-term strategy—and where it may be headed next. Few voices are better positioned to connect the history of modern rocketry with the future now taking shape. Don’t miss this important look back—and an insider’s view of what comes next. Register for the Space Forum today.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tory Bruno is President of National Security at Blue Origin, where he leads the development of advanced products, services, and technologies designed to support U.S. and allied national security missions.
Before joining Blue Origin in January 2026, Tory served as President and CEO of United Launch Alliance, guiding the company through a period of major technical and organizational transition while maintaining an exceptional record of mission success. Over the course of his career, he has championed dozens of highly complex and critical defense and space programs, with deep expertise in space launch, missile defense, strategic deterrence, and advanced rocketry and hypersonic technologies. He also holds multiple patents in these areas.
A tireless advocate for the space industry, Tory frequently shares his passion for space technology and his long-standing vision of a self-sustaining human presence beyond Earth. He is an AIAA Honorary Fellow, has advised senior U.S. leadership on space policy and technology, and is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Von Braun Trophy and the von Kármán Medal.
Register today to reserve your seat and ask your questions. Use the link below.
Register no later than February 19 at 8 pm EST
The National Space Society invites you to another Space Forum
MONDAY, February 23, 2026, 8:00 pm to 9:15 pm EST
Note unusual day and time!
From Orbit to the Classroom
with Astronaut Greg Chamitoff
Greg Chamitoff
Astronaut, Engineering Professor, and Space Education Innovator
Join the National Space Society for a Space Forum with Greg Chamitoff, former NASA astronaut, educator, and NSS member.
During the forum, Greg will discuss his career in human spaceflight, including flying aboard the space shuttle and living and working on the International Space Station. He will share insights into daily life on orbit, operating spacecraft systems, and working as part of an international crew in a demanding and highly technical environment.
Greg will also talk about his work today as a professor at Texas A&M University, where he focuses on engineering education and student engagement. Drawing on his experience as an astronaut, he will describe how real-world mission experience can inform how engineers are trained and prepared.
A portion of the discussion will focus on Space Teams Academy, a virtual engineering experience that gives students the opportunity to work in teams to design their own space missions. Participants address challenges such as defining mission objectives, designing spacecraft, and making operational decisions, mirroring many of the considerations faced in actual space programs.
This Space Forum connects firsthand experience in spaceflight with current efforts to educate and prepare the next generation of engineers and space professionals. Register today to explore how lessons from orbit inform how we prepare the next generation.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Greg Chamitoff is a former NASA astronaut, aerospace engineer, and professor whose career bridges human spaceflight and engineering education. He flew two missions to space, including a long-duration expedition aboard the International Space Station (Expeditions 17 and 18) and a space shuttle mission (STS 134), where he worked on spacecraft operations, robotics, and scientific research while living and working in orbit.
Following his astronaut career, Greg joined the faculty at Texas A&M University, where he is a professor of aerospace engineering. His teaching and research focus on spacecraft systems, human spaceflight, and innovative approaches to engineering education. Drawing on his operational experience, he emphasizes experiential learning, teamwork, and systems thinking—skills essential for modern aerospace engineers.
Greg is also a co-founder of the Space Teams Academy, an immersive virtual engineering program that gives students the opportunity to work in teams to design and operate simulated space missions. The program mirrors real-world mission environments, helping students develop technical, leadership, and decision-making skills while gaining insight into how space missions are planned and executed.
Register today to reserve your seat and ask your questions. Use the link below.
Register no later than February 23 at 7 pm EST
1 thought on “Two Space Forums: Feb 19 with Tory Bruno and Feb 23 with Astronaut Greg Chamitoff”
I still think the best architecture for BOTH Lunar and Mars development is the “Mars Superhighway”. Even Von Braun switched to lunar orbit rendezvous! The big SpaceX Starship should always stay in deep space where no heavy thermal protection system is required! Non-Hohmann orbit transfers are way faster! Starship CYCLERS should be a hybrid of Plasma Magnet Drive, Q-Drive for lateral force and mars return, and Magnetoshell Aerocapture in low mars orbit. And the first two payloads should be the fully reusable 2-stage Stoke Space Novas! The second stages strictly for SHUTTLE of 15 astronauts to the surfaces, and the first stages for the first 20 ton payloads to the lunar surface and mars surface. The big deal is using the solar wind! It gets you up to 400 km/s in a day at .5 g! And Q-drive can provide lateral force for course corrections, and operate in MHD mode against the solar wind for the return trip from mars! It gives you a 2 week round-trip to mars all year long! It destroys the 26 month mars launch window myth! It’s an architecture that requires 98% less fuel for the starships and knocks decades off the development timeline for the moon and mars! Houbolt’s Lunar Orbit Rendezvous was an idea way ahead of its time!