Maine Launch Summit
The 2026 Maine Launch Summit is November 5-6, 2026, at the Roux Institute / Wex building in downtown Portland, Maine.
From thought-provoking discussions to inspiring presentations, the conference showcases the incredible talent and innovation shaping our space community. Stay tuned for more details about this year’s conference—we can’t wait to continue this journey with you!
Register here for the November 6th Space Supply Chain Summit.
Book your hotel room: Maine State Space Corp Booking Link
View Summit Agenda
Maine Launch Infrastructure & Space Ecosystem Summit
Determining Maine’s Preferred Launch Architecture and Space Economy Strategy
Location: The Roux Institute, 100 Fore St. Portland, Maine. Reception venue TBA.
Organized By: Maine Space Corporation
The Maine Space Corporation is convening a one-day strategic summit (followed by a 1 day Maine Space Supply Chain meeting) to identify the launch infrastructure, supply chains, and support services that will position Maine as a leading participant in the North Atlantic space economy.
Nov 4: Welcome reception and early registration, 5-7 Shipyard.
Nov 5: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. INVITATION ONLY, limited to 100 participants. Reception at Brickyard Hollow following, with participants and sponsors ONLY. There is no cost to invitees for this day or reception.
Nov 6: 8:00-4:00. Open to the public. Limit: 320 attendees.
The November 5th summit will evaluate three potential development pathways:
Architecture A: Land-Based Spaceport Ecosystem
A fixed launch facility supported by manufacturing, testing, integration, logistics, workforce development, and mission support services.
Architecture B: Sea-Based Launch Ecosystem
A maritime launch capability leveraging Maine’s ports, shipbuilding expertise, offshore operations experience, and marine engineering capabilities.
Architecture C: Air Launch Ecosystem
A model featuring land / airport / lift aircraft. Integration, testing, mission operations, and manufacturing facilities supporting offshore launch operations.
The objective is not simply to identify where launches occur, but rather to determine the ecosystem that will generate the greatest long-term economic value, workforce opportunities, strategic partnerships, and commercial competitiveness for Maine.
Desired Summit Outcome
By the end of the summit, Maine will have a clear, actionable framework for developing a launch ecosystem that leverages the state’s unique strengths in aerospace, maritime operations, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and innovation, while establishing a roadmap for future investment and growth, and further actionable items to be identified at follow on meetings in May and October of 2027. Dates TBA.
Strategic Questions
Participants will address five key questions:
- Which launch architecture offers Maine the strongest long-term competitive advantage?
- What combination of infrastructure investments should be prioritized?
- Which supply chains should be developed or attracted to Maine?
- What support services are necessary to sustain a successful launch ecosystem?
- What activities should be initiated immediately?
Commercial Space Industry
- Launch providers
- Satellite operators
- Aerospace manufacturers
- Mission operations providers
Maritime Industry
- Shipbuilders
- Port operators
- Marine engineering firms
- Offshore operations specialists
- Maine Maritime Academy
Government
- State agencies
- Federal agencies
- Economic development organizations
- Legislative leaders, State and Federal
Research and Education
- University of Maine System Space Engineering and Offshore Wind Educators / Developers
- Maine Community College System
- Maine Maritime Academy
- Research institutions
- Workforce development organizations
Investment Community
- Bond issuers / Brokers utilizing recent Tax Exempt status of Space Ports
- Infrastructure investors
- Venture capital organizations
- Economic development finance entities
Day 2 participants
Will be space supply chain manufacturing- or manufacturing support-focused:
- Existing Maine space supply chain manufacturers
- Maine Manufacturers wishing to join the Maine space supply chain
- Out-of-state manufacturers considering moving to Maine and joining the space supply chain
| Agenda November 5th INVITATION ONLY | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Session | Primary Outcome |
| 8:00-8:45 AM | Registration, Networking, Coffee with Snacks | Initial networking opportunity and open discussion of “Pre Work” items. |
| 8:45-9:30 AM | Welcome, Keynote & Summit Charge | Align objectives and desired outcomes. |
| 9:30-10:00 AM | Establish Evaluation Criteria | Adopt weighted scoring criteria. Values to Maine. |
| 10:00-10:45 AM | Launch Ecosystem Opportunity Panel | Review infrastructure, supply chains, and services. |
| 10:45-11:00 AM | Break | |
| 11:00 AM-12:15 PM | Space Legal Considerations, Architecture Presentations | Brief legal education re Space, Compare Land-Based, Sea-Based and Air launch ecosystems. |
| 12:15-1:00 PM | Working Lunch Discussion | Identify highest-value economic opportunities. |
| 1:00-2:30 PM | Architecture Design Workshops | Develop initial ecosystem blueprints. |
| 2:30-2:45 PM | Break | |
| 2:45-3:30 PM | Strategic Prioritization & Scoring | Identify key challenges to progress |
| 3:30-4:45 PM | Select action items to address challenges and assign groups to address challenge | Action List. |
| 4:30-4:45 PM | Break into task groups for key challenges | Groups selected and information exchanged, next meeting date/time set to report out on actions (February time frame |
| 5:00-7:00 PM | Reception, joined by sponsors | Brickyard Hollow 9 Commercial St. |
| Agenda November 6th: Open to Public | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Session | Primary Outcome |
| 8:00-8:30 AM | Registration, Networking, Coffee with Snacks | Opening address / Welcome Keynote. |
| 8:30-9:00 AM | Welcome and Keynote | Keynote speaker to be announced |
| 9:00-9:45 AM | Summit Charge | Maine Manufacturers networking session- Round Robin: share capabilities, plans and aspirations re Space Supply Chain. |
| 9:45-10:00 AM | Break | |
| 10:00-10:30 AM | Roux Incubator client presentations | |
| 10:30-11:15 AM | Manufacturers Input: Needs to advance Space opportunities | List of needs created. |
| 11:15 AM-12:00 PM | Maine Space Corp: How to serve the Space Industry best? | List of actions to answer manufacturer needs. |
| 12:00-1:00 PM | Working Lunch Session / Networking. w/ Assignment: How to best collaborate in marketing Maine Space Supply Chain to the Space Industry | Identify highest-value Space Industry marketing opportunities for Maine manufacturers. What role should MSC play in this? |
| 1:00-1:30 PM | Report out on possible collaborations | Directive to Maine Space Corp for actions. |
| 1:30-2:30 PM | Finance: Sate Incentives, Programs, Private financing, tax exempt opportunities. | Manufacturer education. |
| 2:30-2:45 PM | Break | |
| 2:45-3:30 PM | Security Concerns in space supply chain- Cyber, Physical | Manufacturer education. |
| 3:30-4:00 PM | Summit review, final speaker, closing. | Industry big picture learnings. |
| 4:00-6:30 PM | Networking social. | Brickyard Hollow or other pubs (on your own) |
