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SUMMARY:NASA Stories at the Ion: A Conversation with NASA’s Artemis II Orion Vehicle Manager Branelle Rodriguez
DESCRIPTION:Join us for “NASA Stories at the Ion” featuring NASA’s Artemis II Orion Vehicle Manager Branelle Rodriguez\, who will share what it took to ready the spacecraft that recently carried humans around the Moon for the first time in over half a century\, returned them home safely\, and ultimately brought humanity farther from Earth than ever before. \nOrion\, the only spacecraft capable of crewed deep space flight and high-speed reentry from the vicinity of the Moon\, recently completed its Artemis II crewed test flight to confirm its systems performed as designed in the real environment of deep space. Learn how the team prepared Orion for this historic mission\, what the Artemis II crew evaluated during their 694\,481mile journey — including the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth — and how they piloted a deep space vehicle for the first time in more than 50 years. \nHear insights on the spacecraft’s high-speed reentry at nearly 35 times the speed of sound\, the incredible views of the Moon and Earth witnessed through the eyes of the crew\, and what’s next for Orion on NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions in 2027 and 2028. \nThis speaker series is designed to inspire anyone curious about what it takes to push the boundaries of human potential. Complimentary breakfast and networking kicks off each event. \nAbout the Speaker \nBranelle Rodriguez currently serves as the manager of program integration and Artemis II vehicle manager for the Orion Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Rodriguez focuses on overseeing the end-to-end development and production of the Artemis II Orion spacecraft and providing program leadership for integration and mission execution. \nRodriguez leads other various integration efforts within Orion\, working to solve programmatic and technical issues through assessments and trade studies. She also supports Artemis program integration activities\, helping to coordinate Orion’s efforts with larger Artemis long-duration goals of returning humanity back to the lunar surface. Additionally\, she collaborates with international partners and handles financial matters including external audits and inquiries. \nSince joining NASA in 2004\, Rodriguez has had significant human spaceflight experience leading integration efforts and development projects. Prior to joining the Orion Program\, she was the International Space Station (ISS) On-Orbit Engineering Manager in the ISS Program Office\, leading the ISS Mission Evaluation Room (MER). In this role she provided key leadership and integration of the ISS MER with the ISS mission management chair\, ISS program management\, and vehicle office management on ISS operations and anomaly resolution. Throughout her ISS MER career\, she has led several on-orbit flight investigation teams to resolve real time on-orbit anomalies\, led subsystem and technical disciplines through various Visiting Vehicle integration efforts\, and coordinated with multiple organization and international partners for day-to-day ISS operations. \nPrior to her work in the ISS MER\, Rodriguez has had notable flight hardware development experience from her time in Johnson’s Engineering Directorate\, leading several projects involving multiple NASA centers and contractor teams through all phases of design and hardware certification\, including managing schedules\, budgets\, and contracts. \n 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-stories-at-the-ion-2/
LOCATION:Ion – Forum Stairs\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community,Keynote,Networking
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/NASA-Stories-May-2026_Newsletter_JF_v2-1.jpg?ver=1779132402
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T170000
DTSTAMP:20260519T174102Z
CREATED:20260519T174025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T174102Z
UID:10005019-1779957000-1779987600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Industrious Coworking Summer Series!
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://luma.com/m96miftt​ \n​Spend the day working from Industrious at the Ion. \n​Join us for a free coworking day and experience what a better workday can feel like. Bring your laptop\, settle in\, enjoy coffee and refreshments\, and get your work done in a space designed for focus\, comfort\, and connection. \n​Whether you’re working solo\, meeting a colleague\, or looking for a new home base for your team\, this is an easy way to experience Industrious firsthand. \n​During the day\, you’ll have access to: \n​• Thoughtfully designed shared workspace • Coffee\, breakfast\, and snacks • Comfortable common areas • On-site support from our local team • Opportunities to connect with other professionals in the space \n​As well as our NASA Day Programming within the Ion building. \n​Industrious offers coworking\, private offices\, suites\, meeting rooms\, and flexible workplace options for individuals and teams. With 250+ locations across 80+ cities globally\, we make it easier to find a workspace that works for you. Space is limited. RSVP to reserve your spot. \n​Parking:\nParking is free for the first 3 hours\, then $10 for the remainder of the day. \n​We look forward to welcoming you!
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/industrious-coworking-summer-series/
LOCATION:Industrious\, 4201 Main St\, Houston\, TX\, 77002
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Industrious-Coworking-Summer-Series.jpeg?ver=1779212405
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260528T190000
DTSTAMP:20260428T202326Z
CREATED:20251215T174428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T202326Z
UID:10004381-1779991200-1779994800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Tech Talks: Texas-France Space Hub Business Accelerator Initiative (Spring 2026 Cohort)
DESCRIPTION:We want HOU! Join us to discover NASA’s toughest tech challenges—and apply your skills and expertise to solve them. \nThis month NASA Tech Talks is once again partnering with the Rice Space Institute (RSI) in their efforts to fuel startup growth\, drive research\, and forge international partnerships.  Last year\, RSI joined with Business France\, the French Space Agency CNES and the French Consulate in Houston to launch the Texas-France Space Hub\, aiming to unite academic institutions and private enterprises to expand commercial space presence in both countries. \nThe second cohort of French space companies will be in Houston May 4 to June 12\, and we are looking forward to hearing from them at our NASA Tech Talk on May 28. \n3IPK: Advancing Trusted Data for Aerospace and Defense \nWatt&Well: Pioneering High-Performance Power Electronics for Critical Applications \nInfinity Space Providers (ISP): Enabling Scalable Hybrid Propulsion for the Next Generation of Space Mobility \nJoin us to learn more about the Texas-France Space Hub\, and to hear from each of these companies. \nPlease join us after the talk for drinks and networking at Second Draught! \n  \nAbout the Speakers \nMontgomery B. Goforth  has more than 40 years of experience as both Engineer and Manager in a variety of highly technical space and defense-related efforts.  After working for a small defense contractor specializing in anti-submarine warfare\, he joined NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1990.  He has held leadership positions in multiple JSC Directorates and Program Offices. In his previous role as Assistant Director of the JSC Engineering Directorate\, he established a framework to better focus Engineering’s efforts towards Human Spaceflight technology and systems development consistent with JSC and Agency goals for exploration. Mr. Goforth is now serving as Acting Director of the Business Development & Technology Integration Office at JSC\, and as the JSC Chief Technologist.  In these capacities he will be helping to expand the Houston Aerospace Community through the identification of opportunities to develop space/terrestrial technologies of interest to JSC and Human Space Exploration.  Mr. Goforth was born in East Texas\, raised in Southern California and Arizona\, and graduated from Rice University (BSME 1982\, MSME 1987). \nAbout the Rice Space Institute \nThe Rice Space Institute (RSI) at Rice University is an interdisciplinary coordinating hub that fosters collaboration in space science\, technology\, and policy. Formed in 2000\, it builds on Rice’s deep history in space exploration\, which includes opening the first space science department in the U.S. in 1963 and hosting JFK’s famous 1962 “Moon Speech”. \nPrimary Missions \nInterdisciplinary Research: RSI supports research into the origins of planetary habitability and sustaining human life beyond Earth. \nEducation & Leadership: The institute trains future leaders in space science and advocacy through programs like the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) in Space Studies. \nPublic Outreach: RSI maintains an international reputation for public engagement\, including public lecture series and managing the Rice Campus Observatory. \nAbout NASA Tech Talks \nIn these presentations\, occurring the fourth Thursdays of the month\, Mr. Montgomery Goforth and other aerospace subject matter experts will discuss the technology development challenges faced by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the surrounding Aerospace community in our ongoing efforts as the hub of human spaceflight. Presentations will focus on the ways in which these challenges\, and the associated opportunities\, can be leveraged by Houston’s innovation community. We will continue to identify potential space/terrestrial technologies of interest to Human Spaceflight.  Past NASA Tech Talks have included topics such as: \n\nFrom Space to Startup: Leveraging NASA Technology and Innovation to Propel Your Growing Enterprise\nDisruptive Filter Technology for Spacecraft Water Treatment:  The New Promise of Graphene\nLunar dust capture using novel multiplexed inertial filter\nLunar Passive Fuel Cell Technologies:\nMicrobes in Space
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-tech-talks-18/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/DSC_0352-scaled.jpg?ver=1765820213
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260605T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260605T120000
DTSTAMP:20260514T163226Z
CREATED:20260514T163226Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T163226Z
UID:10004997-1780653600-1780660800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:NASA is bringing its expertise to Houston’s innovation hub! Every other Friday\, join us for NASA’s office hours\, designed to bridge the gap between Houston’s innovators\, entrepreneurs\, and startups with NASA’s elite experts\, capabilities\, and technology.  \n\nLicense the Future: Discover how to utilize NASA-developed technologies and intellectual property for your own projects.\nPartner for Growth: Explore how to grow your own goals and NASA’s mission together by leveraging unique human spaceflight capabilities and expertise from NASA Johnson Space Center.\nBuild the Sector: Help us grow Houston’s commercial space ecosystem.\n\nCome with a vision\, leave with a partnership. \nJust come walk up and say hello\, or sign up in advance here.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-office-hours-7/2026-06-05/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:3rd Party Registration,Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community,Networking,Office Hours,Start Here
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/6H1A1559-HDR-Edit-scaled.jpg?ver=1715034396
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260625T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260625T190000
DTSTAMP:20260617T225851Z
CREATED:20251215T174545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T225851Z
UID:10004382-1782406800-1782414000@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Tech Talks: NASA Education Highlights
DESCRIPTION:We want HOU! Join us to discover NASA’s toughest tech challenges—and apply your skills and ex-pertise to solve them.This month we’re going to focus on educational opportunities offered by NASA for high school\, undergraduate\, and graduate students\, plus partnership opportunities for colleges and universities!Information booths and activities for younger students will be available starting at 5pm\, so please join us to learn more about the Education opportunities offered by NASA and how you can get in-volved!Grownups – please join us after the talk for drinks and networking at Second Draught! \nAbout the Speakers \nA Louisiana native\, Dr. Elicia “Dynae” Fullwood was the valedictorian of her senior high school class. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Houston main campus in Houston\, Texas and a Master of Education degree with specialties in Secondary Education and Education Administration from the University of St. Thomas in Houston\, Texas.  She earned an Education Specialist degree from Nova Southeastern University in Miami\, FL while studying Instructional Technology and Distance Education.  She earned a Doctoral degree in Education from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater\, Oklahoma.  She holds a Principal certificate for K-12 School Administration in the state of Texas\, an Online Teaching certificate\, and a Classroom Teacher certificate for Secondary Biology in Texas. \nDynae is currently working at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston\, TX where she is the Team Lead for the Office of STEM Engagement\, the organization responsible for STEM education and outreach in support of NASA’s missions. Prior to this\, Dr. Fullwood led national K12 STEM Education activities related to NASA’s Artemis program. Dr. Fullwood worked as an Education Specialist with NASA’s Teaching from Space Office. Her career also lends experience as an Aerospace Education Specialist at NASA Headquarters\, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and NASA Langley Research Center. Earlier on\, she taught high school science in the Houston Independent School District of Houston\, Texas at James Madison High School and the School for Meteorology and Space Science. \nDr. Fullwood completed the 2011 Shamrock Marathon and the 2006 Honolulu Marathon. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority\, Inc. Her personal hobbies include singing\, telling funny stories\, crocheting\, learning French and being the best at taking care of her school-aged son\, golden-aged parents\, and the cutest Yorkshire terrier on planet Earth. \nKeya T. Briscoe is the Director of JSC University Engagements within NASA’s University Partnerships & Collaboration Office. With over 20 years of professional experience\, Keya brings deep expertise in program management\, stakeholder engagement\, and strategic relationship building across academic\, government\, and technical communities.  Keya plays a pivotal role in strengthening academic partnerships and supporting initiatives that connect leading academic talent with NASA’s mission needs. Known for a collaborative\, people‑centered approach\, Keya is committed to creating pathways that expand opportunity\, elevate institutional partnerships\, and enhance NASA’s broader engagement strategy. Born and raised in Baltimore\, Maryland\, Keya earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Loyola University Maryland and a Master’s degree in Human Resources Development from Towson University. \nJennifer Scott Williams is the Deputy Director of the Business Development and Technology Integration Office (BDTI) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC)\, where she helps lead strategic planning\, workforce oversight\, and integration of technical\, mission support\, and communications activities across key areas including open innovation\, partnership formulation\, technology integration\, technology transfer\, and business integration. Born in Oklahoma and raised as an Air Force dependent\, Jennifer is a dual graduate of Spelman College and Georgia Tech with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and electrical engineering.  She began her NASA career as a Space Shuttle INCO flight controller\, earning eight certifications and supporting 24 missions. She later completed a Master of Electrical Engineering at the University of Houston and went on to serve in a variety of leadership roles\, including managing MUREP programs in the JSC Office of Education\, leading communications operations for Boeing’s Commercial Crew Starliner\, and overseeing research portfolios and payload integration for the International Space Station (ISS) Program. Selected as Branch Chief of the Applications Client Support Office in 2020\, she led teams enabling technology demonstrations\, STEM initiatives\, commercial payloads\, and external payload operations aboard the ISS. Most recently\, she served a year-long detail as Technical Assistant for Integration supporting Center Director Vanessa Wyche. Today\, she continues advancing human exploration through capability development\, technology integration\, and collaborative innovation with both traditional and emerging space partners. \nGlenn Johnson has 22 years of experience at Johnson Space Center training astronauts for the Space Shuttle and the ISS and helping develop equipment for the space program.  Most of this training and equipment development has been in relation to habitability for the crew–sleep quarters\, food prep\, cleaning\, toilet. He is currently working in the HUNCH (High schools students United with NASA to Create Hardware) program for the Design and Prototype program where he gets high school students to design and build equipment for the space program as we move to returning to the moon and prepare for missions to Mars.  Before working for the space program he was a high school physics teacher and an engineer on a high-speed passenger project. \nAlli Westover is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering in 1996.   After graduation started working at NASA as an integration engineer for life science research on the Space Shuttle and for the astronauts aboard the MIR (Russian Space Station).  Performed biomedical flight readiness and training of many astronauts while working in the Cardiovascular Lab.  When my children\, who are now 27 and 24\, were little I left NASA for a little bit and wrote a children’s book\, called ‘My Daddy Works at NASA’.  I would go into the schools and do small science experiments with the students.  I then went and taught Engineering Design at a local high-school and started working on NASA HUNCH projects in my class.  After 5 years\, I joined the NASA team again and started working for the NASA HUNCH (High-school students United with NASA to Create Hardware) program.  I began the NASA HUNCH Culinary and Nutrition Science Program 11 years ago and this program has grown by leaps and bounds.  The NASA Program and the Astronauts are loving the unique foods that the students are making.   I have also been our certification engineer for all of our hardware that flies to the ISS.  In 2022 I started a new program for Health and Biomedical Engineering projects.  This program is taking real problems that our NASA flight surgeons and engineers are facing with our future endeavors to the moon and beyond.  I have been with the NASA HUNCH program now for 13 years.  \nDonald M. Bennett has more than 38 years of experience as an educator in Industrial Technology. Born in East Texas\, he graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1981 before building a career at the intersection of classroom instruction and real-world engineering. \nBeginning in 2004\, Mr. Bennett began participation in NASA’s HUNCH program which engages high school students in building\, designing\, and building hardware for the International Space Station with his students creating training UOP’s. \nHe joined the NASA HUNCH team as Flight Configuration Manager in 2019\, overseeing student-designed projects with CAD prototypes and the creation of drawings needed for the manufacture of hardware. This included on-orbit projects such as the Galley Table Systems\, Tape Dispenser\, EVA tools\, HUNCH Utility Bracket\, an ARISS Fan Cover\, and the Ball Clamp monopod. \nDonald now brings this blend of educational leadership and NASA HUNCH program experience to engineering design programs to teachers and students in the Flight Configuration program. \nMontgomery B. Goforth   has more than 40 years of experience as both Engineer and Manager in a variety of highly technical space and defense-related efforts.  After working for a small defense contractor specializing in anti-submarine warfare\, he joined NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1990.  He has held leadership positions in multiple JSC Directorates and Program Offices. In his previous role as Assistant Director of the JSC Engineering Directorate\, he established a framework to better focus Engineering’s efforts towards Human Spaceflight technology and systems development consistent with JSC and Agency goals for exploration. Mr. Goforth is now serving as Acting Director of the Business Development & Technology Integration Office at JSC\, and as the JSC Chief Technologist.  In these capacities he will be helping to expand the Houston Aerospace Community through the identification of opportunities to develop space/terrestrial technologies of interest to JSC and Human Space Exploration.  Mr. Goforth was born in East Texas\, raised in Southern California and Arizona\, and graduated from Rice University (BSME 1982\, MSME 1987). \nAbout NASA Tech Talks \nIn these presentations\, occurring the fourth Thursdays of the month\, Mr. Montgomery Goforth and other aerospace subject matter experts will discuss the technology development challenges faced by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the surrounding Aerospace community in our ongoing efforts as the hub of human spaceflight. Presentations will focus on the ways in which these challenges\, and the associated opportunities\, can be leveraged by Houston’s innovation community. We will continue to identify potential space/terrestrial technologies of interest to Human Spaceflight.  Past NASA Tech Talks have included topics such as: \n\nFrom Space to Startup: Leveraging NASA Technology and Innovation to Propel Your Growing Enterprise\nDisruptive Filter Technology for Spacecraft Water Treatment:  The New Promise of Graphene\nLunar dust capture using novel multiplexed inertial filter\nLunar Passive Fuel Cell Technologies:\nMicrobes in Space\nExtra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Systems\nVirtual/Augmented Reality in Human Spaceflight Training & Execution\nHuman Health & Performance / Human Systems Research\nNASA Intellectual Property suitable for commercialization by small/start-up companies\nOrion’s parachutes and risk identification and mitigation strategies\nLeveraging Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long-lived wireless sensors
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-tech-talks-19/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/DSC_0352-scaled.jpg?ver=1765820213
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260717T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260717T120000
DTSTAMP:20260610T202351Z
CREATED:20260514T164836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T202351Z
UID:10005009-1784282400-1784289600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:NASA is bringing its expertise to Houston’s innovation hub! Every other Friday\, join us for NASA’s office hours\, designed to bridge the gap between Houston’s innovators\, entrepreneurs\, and startups with NASA’s elite experts\, capabilities\, and technology.  \n\nLicense the Future: Discover how to utilize NASA-developed technologies and intellectual property for your own projects.\nPartner for Growth: Explore how to grow your own goals and NASA’s mission together by leveraging unique human spaceflight capabilities and expertise from NASA Johnson Space Center.\nBuild the Sector: Help us grow Houston’s commercial space ecosystem.\n\nCome with a vision\, leave with a partnership. \nJust come walk up and say hello\, or sign up in advance here.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-office-hours-13/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/32-Image-Placeholder.png?ver=1777486289
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260723T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260723T190000
DTSTAMP:20260717T184413Z
CREATED:20251215T174738Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260717T184413Z
UID:10004383-1784829600-1784833200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Tech Talks: Optimizing Sensorimotor Performance During Space Exploration
DESCRIPTION:We want HOU! Join us to discover NASA’s toughest tech challenges—and apply your skills and expertise to solve them. \nLiving in an altered gravity environment\, such as microgravity or the lunar surface\, drives adaptative changes in how the brain utilizes sensory information to maintain spatial awareness and control of movement. Dr. Scott Wood will describe how these challenges may impact critical mission tasks astronauts are required to complete\, and some of the technology that has been developed to optimize their performance while mitigating these sensorimotor risks. The development of assessment and interventional tools has benefitted from clinical developments to support patient populations. The need for more autonomous operations during exploration missions will also motivate future opportunities for technology sharing with terrestrial medicine. \nPlease join us after the talk for drinks and networking at Second Draught! \nAbout the Speakers \nScott Wood is a neuroscientist for NASA’s Human Health and Performance Directorate at the Johnson Space Center in Houston\, TX. He has been the Co-Lead for the Crew Health Countermeasures portfolio for the Mars Campaign Office charged with developing technologies and countermeasures for exploration missions. He is also the Sensorimotor Discipline Lead for the Health and Countermeasures Element with the Human Research Program (HRP). As part of the Neuroscience Laboratory\, he has participated in numerous flight studies and supports neurological functional tests used for medical assessments. Dr. Wood began his research career at NASA while completing his doctorate at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston\, TX. In addition to his spaceflight research\, he has also conducted research in clinical and military aerospace laboratories. \nMontgomery B. Goforth   has more than 40 years of experience as both Engineer and Manager in a variety of highly technical space and defense-related efforts.  After working for a small defense contractor specializing in anti-submarine warfare\, he joined NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1990.  He has held leadership positions in multiple JSC Directorates and Program Offices. In his previous role as Assistant Director of the JSC Engineering Directorate\, he established a framework to better focus Engineering’s efforts towards Human Spaceflight technology and systems development consistent with JSC and Agency goals for exploration. Mr. Goforth is now serving as Acting Director of the Business Development & Technology Integration Office at JSC\, and as the JSC Chief Technologist.  In these capacities he will be helping to expand the Houston Aerospace Community through the identification of opportunities to develop space/terrestrial technologies of interest to JSC and Human Space Exploration.  Mr. Goforth was born in East Texas\, raised in Southern California and Arizona\, and graduated from Rice University (BSME 1982\, MSME 1987). \nAbout NASA Tech Talks \nIn these presentations\, occurring the fourth Thursdays of the month\, Mr. Montgomery Goforth and other aerospace subject matter experts will discuss the technology development challenges faced by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the surrounding Aerospace community in our ongoing efforts as the hub of human spaceflight. Presentations will focus on the ways in which these challenges\, and the associated opportunities\, can be leveraged by Houston’s innovation community. We will continue to identify potential space/terrestrial technologies of interest to Human Spaceflight.  Past NASA Tech Talks have included topics such as: \n\nFrom Space to Startup: Leveraging NASA Technology and Innovation to Propel Your Growing Enterprise\nDisruptive Filter Technology for Spacecraft Water Treatment:  The New Promise of Graphene\nLunar dust capture using novel multiplexed inertial filter\nLunar Passive Fuel Cell Technologies:\nMicrobes in Space
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-tech-talks-20/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/DSC_0352-scaled.jpg?ver=1765820213
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260730T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260730T100000
DTSTAMP:20260721T161310Z
CREATED:20260706T210118Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T161310Z
UID:10005172-1785400200-1785405600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Stories at the Ion: Building the Moon Base: Challenges and Opportunities at the Lunar South Pole
DESCRIPTION:Building the Moon Base: Challenges and Opportunities at the Lunar South Pole \nIn this presentation\, Moon Base Principal Systems Engineer Shatel Bhakta shares the many challenges NASA must overcome to realize an enduring presence in the lunar South Pole region. He’ll also talk about his journey at NASA\, the importance of human space exploration\, and what NASA needs from the next generation of aerospace engineers. \nAbout the Speaker \nShatel Bhakta serves as the principal systems engineer for NASA’s Moon Base. In that role\, he takes a system-of-systems view of Moon Base infrastructure\, ensuring that all components work together to support NASA’s goal of an enduring human presence in the lunar South Pole region. \nPrior to working on the Moon Base\, Bhakta served as NASA’s lunar architecture lead\, guiding a multidisciplinary team across NASA centers to develop a roadmap for crewed exploration of the Moon. This included developing associated conceptual reference missions\, concept of operations\, site planning guidance\, trades and analysis\, system element conceptualization\, and system-of-systems integration. \nBhakta earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and his graduate degree in space architecture from the University of Houston. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas. \n 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-stories-at-the-ion-building-the-moon-base-challenges-and-opportunities-at-the-lunar-south-pole/
LOCATION:Ion – Forum Stairs\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community,Keynote,Networking
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/26-ION_NASAStories_July-2026_V2_PowerPoint-1920x1080@2x-scaled.jpg?ver=1784650378
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260731T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260731T120000
DTSTAMP:20260721T181006Z
CREATED:20260721T181006Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T181006Z
UID:10005206-1785492000-1785499200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:NASA is bringing its expertise to Houston’s innovation hub! Every other Friday\, join us for NASA’s office hours\, designed to bridge the gap between Houston’s innovators\, entrepreneurs\, and startups with NASA’s elite experts\, capabilities\, and technology.  \n\nLicense the Future: Discover how to utilize NASA-developed technologies and intellectual property for your own projects.\nPartner for Growth: Explore how to grow your own goals and NASA’s mission together by leveraging unique human spaceflight capabilities and expertise from NASA Johnson Space Center.\nBuild the Sector: Help us grow Houston’s commercial space ecosystem.\n\nCome with a vision\, leave with a partnership. \nJust come walk up and say hello\, or sign up in advance here.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-office-hours-18/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/32-Image-Placeholder.png?ver=1777486289
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T120000
DTSTAMP:20260610T202506Z
CREATED:20260610T202506Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T202506Z
UID:10005119-1786701600-1786708800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:NASA is bringing its expertise to Houston’s innovation hub! Every other Friday\, join us for NASA’s office hours\, designed to bridge the gap between Houston’s innovators\, entrepreneurs\, and startups with NASA’s elite experts\, capabilities\, and technology.  \n\nLicense the Future: Discover how to utilize NASA-developed technologies and intellectual property for your own projects.\nPartner for Growth: Explore how to grow your own goals and NASA’s mission together by leveraging unique human spaceflight capabilities and expertise from NASA Johnson Space Center.\nBuild the Sector: Help us grow Houston’s commercial space ecosystem.\n\nCome with a vision\, leave with a partnership. \nJust come walk up and say hello\, or sign up in advance here.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-office-hours-15/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/32-Image-Placeholder.png?ver=1777486289
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T120000
DTSTAMP:20260616T201435Z
CREATED:20260616T201435Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T201435Z
UID:10005135-1786701600-1786708800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:NASA is bringing its expertise to Houston’s innovation hub! Every other Friday\, join us for NASA’s office hours\, designed to bridge the gap between Houston’s innovators\, entrepreneurs\, and startups with NASA’s elite experts\, capabilities\, and technology.  \n\nLicense the Future: Discover how to utilize NASA-developed technologies and intellectual property for your own projects.\nPartner for Growth: Explore how to grow your own goals and NASA’s mission together by leveraging unique human spaceflight capabilities and expertise from NASA Johnson Space Center.\nBuild the Sector: Help us grow Houston’s commercial space ecosystem.\n\nCome with a vision\, leave with a partnership. \nJust come walk up and say hello\, or sign up in advance here.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-office-hours-16/2026-08-14/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:3rd Party Registration,Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community,Networking,Office Hours,Start Here
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/6H1A1559-HDR-Edit-scaled.jpg?ver=1715034396
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260814T120000
DTSTAMP:20260721T181022Z
CREATED:20260721T181022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T181022Z
UID:10005207-1786701600-1786708800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Office Hours
DESCRIPTION:NASA is bringing its expertise to Houston’s innovation hub! Every other Friday\, join us for NASA’s office hours\, designed to bridge the gap between Houston’s innovators\, entrepreneurs\, and startups with NASA’s elite experts\, capabilities\, and technology.  \n\nLicense the Future: Discover how to utilize NASA-developed technologies and intellectual property for your own projects.\nPartner for Growth: Explore how to grow your own goals and NASA’s mission together by leveraging unique human spaceflight capabilities and expertise from NASA Johnson Space Center.\nBuild the Sector: Help us grow Houston’s commercial space ecosystem.\n\nCome with a vision\, leave with a partnership. \nJust come walk up and say hello\, or sign up in advance here.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-office-hours-19/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/32-Image-Placeholder.png?ver=1777486289
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260827T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260827T190000
DTSTAMP:20251219T210930Z
CREATED:20251215T174830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T210930Z
UID:10004384-1787853600-1787857200@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Tech Talks
DESCRIPTION:We want HOU! Join us to discover NASA’s toughest tech challenges–and apply your skills and expertise to solve them.In these presentations\, occurring the fourth Thursdays of the month\, Mr. Montgomery Goforth and other aerospace subject matter experts will discuss the technology development challenges faced by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the surrounding Aerospace community in our ongoing efforts as the hub of human spaceflight. Presentations will focus on the ways in which these challenges\, and the associated opportunities\, can be leveraged by Houston’s innovation community.Join us after the talk for drinks and networking at Second Draught!Past NASA Tech Talks have included: Montgomery B. Goforth discussing NASA Intellectual Property suitable for commercialization by small/start-up companies; Jared Daum discussing Orion’s parachutes and risk identification and mitigation that are showstoppers for the spaceflight parachute industry; Kevin Kobylka discussing current Guidance\, Navigation\, and Control (GNC) capabilities and needs; and Nick Skytland\, Chief Technologist at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Director of the Business Development and Technology Integration Office. Future NASA Tech Talks will include: dual-use (space/terrestrial) technologies in the areas of: \n\n\n\nAvionics / Communication / Sensors\nRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long lived wireless sensors\nPower Storage and Distribution\nAutonomous & Robotics Systems\nExtra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Systems\nVirtual/Augmented Reality in Human Spaceflight Training & Execution\nHuman Health & Performance / Human Systems Research\n\nAbout the Speakers \nMontgomery B. Goforth has more than 40 years of experience as both Engineer and Manager in a variety of highly technical space and defense-related efforts.  After working for a small defense contractor specializing in anti-submarine warfare\, he joined NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1990.  He has held leadership positions in multiple JSC Directorates and Program Offices. In his current role as Assistant Director of the JSC Engineering Directorate\, he has established a framework to better focus Engineering’s efforts towards Human Spaceflight technology and systems development consistent with JSC and Agency goals for exploration. He has used this framework to guide Engineering’s internal investments and external partnerships supporting Lunar and Mars Exploration. Mr. Goforth was born in East Texas\, raised in Southern California and Arizona\, and graduated from Rice University (BSME 1982\, MSME 1987). \nNASA Tech Talks topics include dual-use (space/terrestrial) technologies and focus areas in:\n\n\n\nAvionics / Communication / Sensors\nRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long-lived wireless sensors\nPower Storage and Distribution\nAutonomous & Robotics Systems\nExtra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Systems\nVirtual/Augmented Reality in Human Spaceflight Training & Execution\nHuman Health & Performance / Human Systems Research\nNASA Intellectual Property suitable for commercialization by small/start-up companies\nOrion’s parachutes and risk identification and mitigation strategies\nLeveraging Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long-lived wireless sensors
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-tech-talks-21/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/DSC_0352-scaled.jpg?ver=1765820213
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260924T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260924T190000
DTSTAMP:20251219T211015Z
CREATED:20251215T174853Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T211015Z
UID:10004385-1790272800-1790276400@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Tech Talks
DESCRIPTION:We want HOU! Join us to discover NASA’s toughest tech challenges–and apply your skills and expertise to solve them.In these presentations\, occurring the fourth Thursdays of the month\, Mr. Montgomery Goforth and other aerospace subject matter experts will discuss the technology development challenges faced by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the surrounding Aerospace community in our ongoing efforts as the hub of human spaceflight. Presentations will focus on the ways in which these challenges\, and the associated opportunities\, can be leveraged by Houston’s innovation community.Join us after the talk for drinks and networking at Second Draught!Past NASA Tech Talks have included: Montgomery B. Goforth discussing NASA Intellectual Property suitable for commercialization by small/start-up companies; Jared Daum discussing Orion’s parachutes and risk identification and mitigation that are showstoppers for the spaceflight parachute industry; Kevin Kobylka discussing current Guidance\, Navigation\, and Control (GNC) capabilities and needs; and Nick Skytland\, Chief Technologist at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Director of the Business Development and Technology Integration Office. Future NASA Tech Talks will include: dual-use (space/terrestrial) technologies in the areas of: \n\n\n\nAvionics / Communication / Sensors\nRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long lived wireless sensors\nPower Storage and Distribution\nAutonomous & Robotics Systems\nExtra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Systems\nVirtual/Augmented Reality in Human Spaceflight Training & Execution\nHuman Health & Performance / Human Systems Research\n\nAbout the Speakers \nMontgomery B. Goforth has more than 40 years of experience as both Engineer and Manager in a variety of highly technical space and defense-related efforts.  After working for a small defense contractor specializing in anti-submarine warfare\, he joined NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1990.  He has held leadership positions in multiple JSC Directorates and Program Offices. In his current role as Assistant Director of the JSC Engineering Directorate\, he has established a framework to better focus Engineering’s efforts towards Human Spaceflight technology and systems development consistent with JSC and Agency goals for exploration. He has used this framework to guide Engineering’s internal investments and external partnerships supporting Lunar and Mars Exploration. Mr. Goforth was born in East Texas\, raised in Southern California and Arizona\, and graduated from Rice University (BSME 1982\, MSME 1987). \nNASA Tech Talks topics include dual-use (space/terrestrial) technologies and focus areas in:\n\n\n\nAvionics / Communication / Sensors\nRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long-lived wireless sensors\nPower Storage and Distribution\nAutonomous & Robotics Systems\nExtra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Systems\nVirtual/Augmented Reality in Human Spaceflight Training & Execution\nHuman Health & Performance / Human Systems Research\nNASA Intellectual Property suitable for commercialization by small/start-up companies\nOrion’s parachutes and risk identification and mitigation strategies\nLeveraging Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long-lived wireless sensors
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-tech-talks-22/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/DSC_0352-scaled.jpg?ver=1765820213
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261022T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261022T190000
DTSTAMP:20251219T211109Z
CREATED:20251215T174927Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T211109Z
UID:10004386-1792692000-1792695600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:NASA Tech Talks
DESCRIPTION:We want HOU! Join us to discover NASA’s toughest tech challenges–and apply your skills and expertise to solve them.In these presentations\, occurring the fourth Thursdays of the month\, Mr. Montgomery Goforth and other aerospace subject matter experts will discuss the technology development challenges faced by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the surrounding Aerospace community in our ongoing efforts as the hub of human spaceflight. Presentations will focus on the ways in which these challenges\, and the associated opportunities\, can be leveraged by Houston’s innovation community.Join us after the talk for drinks and networking at Second Draught!Past NASA Tech Talks have included: Montgomery B. Goforth discussing NASA Intellectual Property suitable for commercialization by small/start-up companies; Jared Daum discussing Orion’s parachutes and risk identification and mitigation that are showstoppers for the spaceflight parachute industry; Kevin Kobylka discussing current Guidance\, Navigation\, and Control (GNC) capabilities and needs; and Nick Skytland\, Chief Technologist at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Director of the Business Development and Technology Integration Office. Future NASA Tech Talks will include: dual-use (space/terrestrial) technologies in the areas of: \n\n\n\nAvionics / Communication / Sensors\nRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long lived wireless sensors\nPower Storage and Distribution\nAutonomous & Robotics Systems\nExtra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Systems\nVirtual/Augmented Reality in Human Spaceflight Training & Execution\nHuman Health & Performance / Human Systems Research\n\nAbout the Speakers \nMontgomery B. Goforth has more than 40 years of experience as both Engineer and Manager in a variety of highly technical space and defense-related efforts.  After working for a small defense contractor specializing in anti-submarine warfare\, he joined NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1990.  He has held leadership positions in multiple JSC Directorates and Program Offices. In his current role as Assistant Director of the JSC Engineering Directorate\, he has established a framework to better focus Engineering’s efforts towards Human Spaceflight technology and systems development consistent with JSC and Agency goals for exploration. He has used this framework to guide Engineering’s internal investments and external partnerships supporting Lunar and Mars Exploration. Mr. Goforth was born in East Texas\, raised in Southern California and Arizona\, and graduated from Rice University (BSME 1982\, MSME 1987). \nNASA Tech Talks topics include dual-use (space/terrestrial) technologies and focus areas in:\n\n\n\nAvionics / Communication / Sensors\nRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long-lived wireless sensors\nPower Storage and Distribution\nAutonomous & Robotics Systems\nExtra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Systems\nVirtual/Augmented Reality in Human Spaceflight Training & Execution\nHuman Health & Performance / Human Systems Research\nNASA Intellectual Property suitable for commercialization by small/start-up companies\nOrion’s parachutes and risk identification and mitigation strategies\nLeveraging Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for ultra-long-lived wireless sensors
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/nasa-tech-talks-23/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Aerospace,Founders & Startups,General Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://iondistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/DSC_0352-scaled.jpg?ver=1765820213
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR