The Business of Space

From Cold War competition to cutting-edge commercialization, “The Business of Space” explores the economic forces that have shaped our journey beyond Earth. Join Alan Hanstein, Executive Director of the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee, for a fast-paced, engaging look at the financial and industrial legacy of the space race—from Kennedy-era investment in NASA to today's dynamic landscape of private launch providers like SpaceX and Blue Origin. This session will also highlight how decades of federal R&D have fueled widespread innovation through technology transfer—impacting everything from materials science to medicine—and why space remains one of the most promising frontiers for business, entrepreneurship, and societal benefit.