Building Capacity for Space Exploration

Location: Lake Front Stage

Time: 5:00 pm

What will it take to go from Rust Belt to Space Belt? Northeast Ohio is poised to lead the Next Giant Leap in Human Spaceflight through strategic public-private partnerships, transforming Northeast Ohio into a hub for space innovation. Anchored by institutions like NASA Glenn, Case Western Reserve University, and the new Blue Abyss research and training center, the region is uniquely positioned to shape the future of commercial and human spaceflight. This conversation explores how legacy aerospace manufacturing, cutting-edge academic research, and global investment are converging to build capacity for the next era of space exploration—right here on the Great Lakes.

Moderator: Noor Haj‑Tamim is the Founder & CEO of Avionova, a startup developing wearable technology to combat motion sickness in pilots and astronauts. She’s also a bioastronautics researcher with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences and a citizen science astronaut candidate. Noor leads STEM outreach in the Middle East through JSSOAR, where she launched Jordan’s first nationwide space education program. A mechanical engineer by age 18, she’s been recognized by Techstars and Forbes Columbus 30 Under 30 for her leadership in aerospace innovation.

Panelists:

Abby Harrison

Program Director, Starlab, Ohio State University Abby Harrison—also known in the space community as “Astronaut Abby”—is a lifelong advocate for human space exploration and the program director for Starlab at The Ohio State University, a key partner in NASA’s Commercial LEO Development Program. Through her work, Abby is helping shape the next generation of space infrastructure, research, and talent. A passionate STEM communicator and the founder of The Mars Generation nonprofit, she brings deep experience in public engagement, scientific outreach, and building cross-sector partnerships to inspire the future of spaceflight.

Paul Marnecheck

Commissioner of Economic Development for the City of Brook Park. City of Brook Park is home to NASA Glenn Research Center and a growing hub for aerospace innovation. With a background in regional economic development and decades of civic leadership, Paul is a key voice in ensuring that local policy, infrastructure, and workforce development align with the fast-evolving needs of the space sector. He has been instrumental in positioning Brook Park as a strategic partner in Ohio’s aerospace future.

John Vickers

President, Blue Abyss USAJohn Vickers is President of Blue Abyss USA, the American branch of the UK-founded company developing the world’s most advanced extreme environment research, training, and testing centers. With decades of experience in space technology and innovation policy—both within NASA and the private sector—John is leading efforts to establish Blue Abyss’s U.S. presence, including a proposed site in Northeast Ohio. His work bridges industry, academia, and government to build the infrastructure and workforce necessary for the next chapter in space exploration.