We invite you to join the Beyond Earth Working Group Report Webinar Series to spotlight and unpack the 2025-2026 Working Group papers. Each session will feature the experts behind this work and offer a focused deep dive into the ideas shaping the future of space development.
The transition from the International Space Station (ISS) to Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLDs) represents one of the most consequential structural shifts in U.S. space policy in decades. This webinar will examine the findings of the Beyond Earth Institute’s 2025 Commercial Space Stations Working Group report, which evaluates whether NASA’s multi-phase CLD strategy can successfully sustain a continuous American presence in low Earth orbit while enabling a commercially viable space economy.
In addition, the discussion will address recent updates to NASA’s CLD approach, including the proposed shift toward a government-owned core module and a hybrid development model, and consider how these changes may reshape industry expectations, regulatory frameworks, and the long-term structure of the commercial LEO ecosystem. Drawing on insights from industry leaders, policymakers, and technical experts, the panel will explore the legal, regulatory, and operational constraints shaping this transition, as well as the strategic implications for U.S. leadership in an increasingly competitive orbital environment.
Moderator: Elena Graham, JD/LLM Candidate, International and Comparative Law, Duke University | Research Associate, Beyond Earth Institute
Speakers
Caryn Schenewerk, Chief Policy Officer, Vast
Marshall Smith, CEO Starlabs Space Stations
About the Working Group & Reports
The Beyond Earth Institute Leadership Council convenes industry leaders, policy experts, innovators, and researchers to tackle critical questions shaping the future of space development.
The 2025-2026 papers cover commercial LEO development, cislunar markets and infrastructure, Mars readiness, and scalable off-world governance, including:
Download your of "The Future of Commercial Space Stations"
