ISPAI 27 — In-Space Physical Artificial Intelligence Workshop poster: astronauts with NASA, Rice, Purdue and Vanderbilt insignia standing with a humanoid robot on the lunar surface. February 17–18, 2027, The ION at Rice University, Houston, TX.
Industry Academia Government

Physical AI is going to space.
Every sector that builds it will be in this room.

ISPAI 27 is a hybrid of an industry event and an academic conference — two days where the companies shipping space systems, the labs inventing what's next, and the agencies defining the mission share the same stage in Houston.

DatesFebruary 17–18, 2027
VenueThe ION · Houston, TX
FormatKeynotes · Panels · Pitches
Convened byRice · Purdue · Vanderbilt · NASA
Reserve your seat View the agenda
Days
Hrs
Min
ONE MISSION
Why ISPAI is different

Not a trade show. Not a paper mill. A working session for three sectors.

Space physical AI doesn't get built by one sector alone. Companies ship the hardware. Universities push the research frontier. Agencies define the missions and requirements. ISPAI 27 puts all three on every panel — deliberately designed as an industry–academia–government event, not a purely academic one.

Industry
Find your next customer, partner, or hire.Hear mission needs first-hand, scout lab-ready research, and pitch on the Day-1 lightning stage.
Academia
See where your research meets the mission.Pressure-test ideas against operators, find funding-aligned problems, and build tech-transfer relationships.
Government
Shape the ecosystem solving your shortfalls.Signal priorities early and survey emerging capability across startups, primes, and university labs.
Session Themes

Four topics. Both days.

Each theme runs as a moderated panel discussion on Day 1 and Day 2, seating industry, academic, and government voices together. Session Leads, moderators, and panelists will be announced soon.

Topic 1

Realizing Interconnected Lunar Infrastructure

Power, communications, and habitats that operate as a coordinated network rather than isolated outposts — and the commercial, research, and mission pathways to get there.

Session LeadTBD
Panel ModeratorTBD
PanelistsTBD
Topic 2

Autonomy, Robotics, and Onboard AI

The decision-making and manipulation systems that let spacecraft and rovers act without waiting on a ground link — from lab prototypes to flight-qualified systems.

Session LeadTBD
Panel ModeratorTBD
PanelistsTBD
Topic 3

Navigation, Tracking, and Space Situational Awareness

Knowing precisely where every asset and object is — and where it's headed next — across cislunar space and beyond.

Session LeadTBD
Panel ModeratorTBD
PanelistsTBD
Topic 4

Defending the Homeland

How space-based AI systems support national security, threat detection, and resilient defense infrastructure — where mission need meets commercial capability.

Session LeadTBD
Panel ModeratorTBD
PanelistsTBD
Program

Two days, wall to wall.

8:00 AM
Registration & Badge Pickup
The ION, main lobby
8:30 AM
Opening Remarks
Welcome from the organizing institutions
9:00 AM
Day 1 KeynoteKeynote
Speaker to be announced
9:45 AM
Coffee BreakBreak
10:15 AM
Topic 1 — Realizing Interconnected Lunar Infrastructure
Lead: TBD · Moderator: TBD · Panelists: TBD
11:15 AM
Topic 2 — Autonomy, Robotics, and Onboard AI
Lead: TBD · Moderator: TBD · Panelists: TBD
12:15 PM
Lunch BreakBreak
1:15 PM
Startup Lightning PitchesStartups
Early-stage founders pitch to investors, agencies, and industry
2:15 PM
Topic 3 — Navigation, Tracking, and Space Situational Awareness
Lead: TBD · Moderator: TBD · Panelists: TBD
3:15 PM
Coffee BreakBreak
3:45 PM
Topic 4 — Defending the Homeland
Lead: TBD · Moderator: TBD · Panelists: TBD
4:45 PM
Day 1 Closing Remarks
5:30 PM
Evening ReceptionReception
Connect with speakers, founders, faculty, and agency leaders
Day 1 · 1:15 PM

Startup Lightning Pitches

Early-stage founders building in space robotics, autonomy, and situational awareness take the stage for rapid-fire pitches — in front of investors, agency program leads, industry primes, and university tech-transfer offices, all in one room.

Apply to pitch
Venue

The ION. Houston's innovation hub.

Address
4201 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002

The ION anchors Houston's innovation corridor in Midtown — a short walk from the METRORail Ensemble/HCC station, with easy access from I-69 and I-45. A fitting venue for an event built around industry, research, and mission.

Badge pickup and both days of programming take place inside The ION's main event space.

Get directions
Organizing Institutions

Convened by four institutions on one crew.

Sponsors

Supporting ISPAI 27.

Sponsor logos will appear here as partnerships are confirmed.

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