ARLINGTON, VA [September 3, 2025] – Industry innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, policymakers, investors, and pioneering students will convene at NEXPLORE 2040, a one-of-a-kind event focused on the future of human space exploration, from September 9-11 at Amazon HQ2 in Arlington, VA. Brought to you by xFoundry and SpaceCom, in collaboration with NASA, the highly curated summit goes beyond traditional conferences by tackling real-world challenges, in space and here on Earth. Attendees will define high-impact problem spaces and create plans for future research and development, while top student teams from the Horizons Challenge compete to turn those insights into ventures through the 2027 Xperience Competition. By uniting academia, industry, and government, NEXPLORE 2040 cultivates a new generation of leaders equipped to solve the impossible, today and for the future.
The Summit. NEXPLORE 2040’s agenda focuses on identifying solutions to the most pressing problems. Drawn from NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate's 187 identified technology shortfalls critical to enabling long-duration missions, the 2025 summit will focus on four transformative technology domains:
Across these domains, attendees will co-develop actionable roadmaps and surface breakthrough solutions to some of the space community’s most pressing technology gaps—challenges that will determine the sustainability of lunar and Mars missions while driving innovation here on Earth. The program is packed with top speakers from technology, entrepreneurship, and space exploration, who will share insights on shaping the future of lunar and Martian habitation—and how we can start making an impact today. These experts will inspire attendees to innovate and collaborate toward a sustainable path to 2040. Featured speakers include:
“By blending government strategy, commercial opportunity, and academic ingenuity, NEXPLORE 2040 is designed as a launchpad for the next era of space technology and leadership,” said SpaceCom Executive Director Ryan Brown.
The Horizons Challenge. The event marks the starting point of an 18-month journey, as top student teams from over 15 universities compete to define the winning problem statement that will shape the 2027 Xperience Competition, which carries a venture investment bounty of up to $2 million, sourced by xFoundry.
The nationwide challenge invited students to propose problem statements across four focus areas, drawn from NASA’s 187 identified technical shortfalls, each designed to solve critical issues on Earth today and enable breakthroughs in space tomorrow. Finalists will pitch at NEXPLORE 2040, where summit attendees will cast their votes to decide the challenge theme. The winning team will be revealed at the Horizons Celebration, earning a $2,040 cash prize and a $10,000 stipend to support their engagement in the 2027 Xperience Competition.
Special Program: Horizons Celebration & Award Ceremony: The Horizons Celebration will showcase highlights from the summit and announce the winning student teams of the Horizons Challenge and xFoundry School Safety Xperience Competition. This awards ceremony celebrates university student innovation, recognizing the bright minds who are already shaping the future. It’s a moment to honor the next generation of innovators and inspire them to continue their work as entrepreneurs, researchers, and leaders in space exploration and beyond. The ceremony is a powerful finale to the summit, highlighting the tangible outcomes of the collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
“University leaders, industry partners, students, and NASA experts will come together at NEXPLORE 2040, as we set our sights on the future of universities as a solution engine for solving grand challenges,” said Amir Ansari, founder and CEO of xFoundry. “NEXPLORE 2040 embodies what xFoundry was built to do by bringing together passionate problem solvers, empowering them with the tools and networks of our university ecosystem, and turning bold ideas into ventures that bridge Earth’s needs with tomorrow’s lunar and Martian realities.”
NEXPLORE 2040 registration is now open. Visit nexplore2040.org to register or for more information.
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xFoundry is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming universities into dynamic "solution engines" that empower
students to launch ventures addressing society's grand challenges. In collaboration with NASA and SpaceCom, xFoundry
hosts NEXPLORE 2040, a premier summit and challenge that brings together leaders from academia, government, and
industry to chart the future of extended human lunar and Martian habitation. The initiative focuses on accelerating
innovative solutions and building a next-generation workforce ready to tackle the challenges of space exploration and
beyond. For more information, please visit xfoundry.org.
Whitney Bell
Vice President of Marketing
SpaceCom
wbell@ntpevents.com
703.647.2629