Washington, D.C. — Meridian International Center today announced the return of its Space Diplomacy Forum: Shared Horizons (https://diplomacyforum.meridian.org/space), a half-day forum dedicated to advancing cooperation in outer space at a time of rapid transformation and intensifying global competition.
Meridian’s second Space Diplomacy Forum will bring together diplomats, international space agency representatives, U.S. government officials, and space industry executives from nearly 50 nations.
The forum comes at a pivotal moment for 21st-century space policy. As the orbital domain becomes increasingly commercial, congested, and contested, participants will focus on:
- Aligning public and private interests to ensure responsible orbital stewardship and global standards
- Mobilizing capital to accelerate sustainable international space partnerships
- Navigating diplomacy in a post-International Space Station era
- Shaping space security priorities within a U.S.-led framework
These discussions will address the most pressing governance and market questions influencing the next chapter of global space exploration and commerce.
“Despite what you read in the headlines, the American commitment to international space cooperation is witnessed on a daily basis.” Frank Justice, Vice President of Open Diplomacy Programs and Director of the Space Diplomacy Initiative, shared that “Shared Horizons will serve to reassure our global partners as well as the U.S. commercial space industry of this continued cooperation, while forging new partnerships along the way.”
The Forum will feature leading voices shaping U.S. policy and global affairs, including:
- Ms. Nneka Achapu, Chief Executive Officer, Asha Strategies
- Mr. Rama Affulo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Satlyt
- T.H. Brian Babin, U.S. House of Representatives (R-TX36); Chairman, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
- T.H. Jim Bridenstine, Managing Partner, The Artemis Group; 13th NASA Administrator (2018-2021); U.S. House of Representatives (R-OK1) (2013 – 2018)
- Ms. Jacqueline Feldscher, Managing Editor, Payload
- Dr. Jeff Foust, Senior Staff Writer, SpaceNews
- Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, Director, United Nations Office for Outerspace Affairs (UNOOSA) (Virtual)
- Ms. Hélène Huby, Chief Executive Officer, Exploration Company
- H.E. Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre
- Dr. Zolana João, General Manager, National Space Program Management Office, Angola
- Mr. Andrew Johnson, Deputy Head, New Zealand Space Agency
- T.H. Taylor Jordan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, NOAA; Director, Office of Space Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce
- Mr. Anil Prakash, Director General, SIA-India
- Dr. Emile de Rijk, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, SWISSto12
- Mr. Praveen Vetrivel, Chief Executive Officer, SLI
- Dr. Brian Weeden, Director of Civil and Commercial Policy, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation
- Dr. Peggy Whitson, Astronaut, Vice President of Human Space Flight, Axiom Space
- Dr. Jong-Shinn Wu, Director General, Taiwan Space Agency
Thank you to our partners and collaborators: Asha Strategies, Axiom Space, Aerospace Center for Space Strategy and Policy, The Boeing Company, SLI, and Viasat.
Following the Forum, on March 26, Meridian will host the Meridian–SPACEAIMS Executive Training on Space Security, preparing senior decision-makers to operate effectively in contested space environments through strategic briefings and an immersive, in-person crisis simulation. Participants engage in a high-pressure tabletop exercise designed to sharpen coordination, signaling, and escalation management across dimensions. Learn more and register: https://meridian.org/project/executive-training-on-space-security/
Media Access & Coverage Opportunities:
– Opportunities for interviews with space experts and leaders
– Photo opportunities
– On-the-ground reporting access to expert panels
For media credentials or more information, contact:
Riley Nelson, Associate Director, Communications & Marketing
Rnelson@meridian.org; communications@meridian.org