Space News named Rick one of the 100 most influential people in the space field for helping create the commercial space industry. His team took over the Mir Space Station as the world’s first commercial space facility, and signed Dennis Tito to be the first citizen explorer on the International Space Station. He was a Founding Trustee of the X Prize, founded the Texas Space Alliance, and created Orbital Outfitters,maker of commercial space suits.

David co-founded DSI to find and develop space resources. Previously he was president of Astrobotic Technology, winning $12 million in NASA technology development contracts. While president of Transformational Space Corp., NASA selected t/Space to provide advice and technologies for its return to the Moon. David produced the first TV spot shot on the International Space Station, and created space software sold by Walmart, Best Buy, and others.

Kirby is a global leader in commercial space development. He has advised the aerospace industry and national governments on finance, insurance, market analysis, project management and launch services. He earlier created a new aerospace division in a major insurer (GIO Space), managed commercial operations for a breakthrough service to extend the profitable lives of communications satellites, and is Chairman of the National Space Society.

Dr. John S. Lewis is one of the world's foremost asteroid experts. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, and taught space science and cosmo-chemistry at MIT. He authored the key works on asteroids: “Rain of Iron and Ice,” and “Mining The Sky: Untold Riches from the Asteroids, Comets, and Planets.” He founded the Space Engineering Research Center for planetary resources, a NASA-U. of Arizona lab.

John is an internationally recognized leader in space systems and technology innovation. His 25-year career at NASA and Cal Tech’s JPL ranged from flight projects and space mission operations to systems level innovation and advanced technology R&D management. Before leaving NASA, John was manager of Exploration Systems Research and Technology with an annual budget of $850 million, more than 100 projects, and 3,000 personnel.

Steve’s background spans telecom research and development, software consulting for the Defense Dept., and utilization of asteroid resources. He chaired the asteroid track at the 2013 International Space Development Conference. Steve also invented a new 3D printing process that outputs high-strength non-porous metal parts, a breakthrough vs. current metal 3D methods. It works equally well in gravity and in space, also a breakthrough.

Mark is a consultant in the Australian mining and metallurgical industries, with expertise in radiation management in uranium, mineral sands, and rare earths exploration, mining, and processing. As a visiting scholar at the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Lab, he examined the economic feasibility of mining near-Earth asteroids. The Foundation for International Non-Governmental Development of Space funded Mark to extend this research.

Marc is currently chief engineer and mission director for NASA’s only mission to the asteroid belt. Previously he was mission director for NASA's Deep Space One, the first robotic probe to use ion propulsion and on-board AI.