36th Annual Small Satellite Conference (SmallSat 2022)
- Date
- 2022-08-06
- Location
- Utah State University, Logan, United States
- Host
- Small Satellite Conference (SmallSat)
About this event
The 36th Annual Small Satellite Conference (SmallSat 2022) marked a meaningful return to meeting in person at Utah State University after two years of virtual gatherings. For anyone working in, studying, or closely following the small satellite sector, this was the kind of event where technical depth, industry momentum, and community all came together in one place. With the theme "Out of this World!", the conference captured a moment when small satellites were moving from an emerging category to a central part of how space missions are designed, launched, and operated. This event brought that progress into the room: real conversations, current challenges, practical ideas, and the chance to reconnect face-to-face with the people shaping the field. About the Event The Small Satellite Conference is a long-running gathering centered on the technologies, missions, and organizations driving the smallsat ecosystem. Its focus is broad enough to bring together engineers, researchers, program leaders, operators, startups, established space companies, government participants, and students, while staying specific to the real technical and operational questions that matter in this domain. As the 36th annual edition, this conference carried the weight of continuity as well as the energy of return. After two virtual years, the in-person format at Utah State University in Logan, Utah created space for the kind of engagement that is hard to replicate online: hallway conversations, spontaneous introductions, deeper Q&A, and the ability to see how different parts of the smallsat community connect. The event’s purpose was not just to present information, but to gather the community around where the field is heading next. Small satellites sit at the intersection of mission innovation, faster development cycles, lower-cost access, and expanding commercial and research applications. This conference offered a place to examine those shifts in a setting built for both technical exchange and relationship-building. Whether you came from academia, industry, government, or the startup world, the conference was designed to help attendees understand the current landscape, learn from peers, and stay close to the conversations influencing the next generation of space systems. What to Expect Attendees could expect a conference environment built around presentations, discussions, and in-person networking focused on small satellite missions and the ecosystem around them. The return to campus created a more immediate, collaborative atmosphere where formal sessions and informal conversations complemented each other throughout the event. The overall experience was likely shaped by a mix of: Technical sessions exploring small satellite design, development, deployment, and operations Mission-focused discussions highlighting how small satellites are being used across different applications Industry and research exchange connecting academic work with commercial and institutional priorities Community interaction through side conversations, introductions, and follow-up meetings in person Because this is a conference with a well-established identity, attendees could reasonably expect programming that balanced detail with relevance. That means hearing not only about what is possible in theory, but also what teams are actually building, testing, launching, and learning from in practice. The in-person format also changed the rhythm of the event in a useful way. Instead of logging off after a session, attendees had the opportunity to continue conversations, compare approaches, ask more candid questions, and build stronger context around the presentations they were hearing. Why Attend If you work in the small satellite space, events like this are valuable because they compress a wide range of insight into a single shared setting. Rather than following developments one announcement at a time, attendees could step back and see the broader direction of the field: where innovation is accelerating, where bottlenecks remain, and how different organizations are approaching similar problems. This conference was especially relevant for people who wanted to stay current on the smallsat community itself, not just the technology. The sector moves through networks of collaboration across universities, labs, companies, integrators, and mission teams. Being in the room helps attendees understand who is doing what, how priorities are shifting, and where new opportunities may be emerging. Reasons to attend included: Sharpen your understanding of the current small satellite landscape Hear directly from practitioners working close to real systems and missions Reconnect with peers after two years of virtual-only interaction Meet potential collaborators across research, engineering, operations, and business roles Get useful context for technical, strategic, or career decisions in the space sector There is also value in the setting itself. A university-hosted conference often brings together experienced professionals and the next generation of talent in the same environment. That mix can lead to stronger technical discussions, fresh perspectives, and more accessible entry points for students and early-career attendees looking to better understand where they fit in the field. Practical Details Location: This event took place in person at Utah State University in Logan, United States. The campus setting gave the conference a grounded, academic-home-base feel while still serving a global industry and research community. Timing: The listed start time is Saturday, August 6 at 12:00 AM UTC. If you are planning around the schedule, it is worth confirming the local timing in Logan, Utah and reviewing the event agenda in advance so you can make the most of on-site sessions and meetings. A few practical points attendees would want to keep in mind: This was an in-person event, so travel and on-site planning mattered more than in a virtual format The return from virtual to physical gathering likely meant strong interest from attendees eager to reconnect Utah State University served as the host venue, so campus logistics and conference wayfinding were part of the experience For anyone deciding whether this was the right event, the answer came down to relevance: if your work, research, or curiosity sits anywhere near small satellites, space systems, or the broader smallsat community, this conference offered a concentrated, high-signal place to learn, connect, and get current. It was not just a return to an annual event, but a return to the in-person exchanges that help a technical field move forward.
Who should attend
If you work in, study, invest in, or build around small satellites, this conference is built for you. - **You design, build, test, or operate spacecraft.** If your day-to-day work touches satellite subsystems, payloads, mission operations, launch integration, or on-orbit performance, this is a strong place to hear what is shaping the field and compare notes with peers. - **You’re part of the broader space and aerospace ecosystem.** Engineers, program managers, researchers, operators, and technical leaders will all find value in being in the room as the community comes together in person at Utah State University. - **You want practical industry insight, not just high-level talk.** SmallSat attracts people focused on real missions, real constraints, and real progress in small satellite technology. - **You’re a student or early-career professional looking for a clearer path into space.** If you want to better understand where the industry is headed and meet people already doing the work, this is a smart conference to attend. - **You’re looking to reconnect with the community face-to-face.** After two virtual years, the return to an in-person format makes this especially relevant if you value hallway conversations, chance introductions, and being part of the energy of the field again.