SAWE Virtual Forum 17 Recording 2026-04-17

April 3, 2026

Facilitated by: Amanda Cutright, Ryan McClelland

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how we design and build space missions.  At the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), we’ve already shown that AI can take requirements and rapidly generate optimized structures that are lighter, stronger, and delivered in days instead of months. The Text-to-Spaceship vision scales this up through a secure, cloud-deployed ecosystem of AI-accessible design, analysis, and manufacturing tools. Language-defined requirements flow through these automated systems, accelerating mission development by an order of magnitude. In this talk, Ryan McClelland will share how we’ve gone from balloon brackets to full payload designs and why text to spaceship is becoming a near-term reality that will redefine how we explore the universe.

This is a great practical follow-on topic from the previous SAWE Technical Forum titled "Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) Applications for Mass Properties" that was also featured in the SAWE Journal, where you will be able to see some direct applications with mass properties implications. The forum will be moderated by Amanda Cutright, and we want a collaborative discussion to hear your questions, ideas, comments, and reactions after you are amazed by what Ryan shows you!