A Celebration of Space Exploration in Honor of Roger B. Chaffee
Roger That! 2026 is coming soon!
Join us on February 20 and 21, 2026! Check back for registration details.
Retired NASA Astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps
(SpaceX Crew-8, Expedition 70/71/72)
Keynote Speaker for 2026
Dr. Jeanette J. Epps is an aerospace engineer, former CIA intelligence officer, and retired NASA astronaut who spent over 230 days aboard the International Space Station as a mission specialist for SpaceX Crew-8. Selected by NASA in 2009, she has trained extensively with both SpaceX and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, developing expertise in robotics, spacewalk operations, and international mission coordination. Before joining NASA, Dr. Epps served as a CIA branch chief supporting national security operations, including a deployment to Iraq, and previously worked as a technical specialist at Ford Motor Company, where she co-authored a patent on smart materials. Dr. Epps holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland and a B.S. in Physics from LeMoyne College. She is also an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Jeanette Epps' official SpaceX portrait
“I loved the marvelous variety of topics! Being able to hear from world experts on topics related to space is what makes Roger That a top notch conference. I am always excited each year to attend, and look forward to next year's!”
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“I really enjoy the idea that the talks center around a theme each year and the content varies widely. Interdisciplinary conferences are really fascinating because you get insight into other subjects that you might not know much about. I also appreciate the fact that the talks are available online after to watch again or tune in to the ones folks may have missed. Thank you for an exceptional conference and I very much am looking forward to next year!”
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“I liked the open Zoom link for all of the sessions. It was nice to be able to pop in and out as my schedule allowed. When I can't clear the entire day to attend the conference, having the ability to participate as my schedule allowed was really nice.”
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Theme for 2026: Time and Space
Time and Space, Roger That!’s 2026 theme, highlights the many ways humans measure, understand, and imagine time as it relates to outer space. From the nanoseconds that govern spacecraft navigation to the millennia that shape cosmic evolution, our sense of time connects human experience with the rhythms of the universe. This year’s speakers will explore interplanetary time synchronization, lunar and Martian timekeeping, gravitational waves, and the technologies that make deep-space exploration possible. There will be workshops for all ages and a special in-person panel focused on traditional and cultural ways celestial bodies have guided calendars and seasons throughout history.
Roger That X will begin on Friday, February 20, 2026, with a stellar lineup of online presentations, followed by in-person events later that day and continuing through Saturday, February 21 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Our confirmed guests include anthropologist Kevin Birth, who will discuss the challenge of interplanetary time synchronization and its historical roots; Father Paul Gabor of the Vatican Observatory, speaking on timekeeping on the Moon and Mars; Amanda Stark, principal investigator for NASA’s MARVL (Modular Assembled Radiators for Nuclear Electric Propulsion Vehicles) project at Langley Research Center; Keith Snedegar covering telemetry, tracking, and time during the Apollo missions; Ken Carpenter and astrophysical time scales, and physicist Brett Bolen, who studies gravitational waves and cosmic phenomena. Additional speakers and events will be announced soon, including workshops for all ages and an in-person panel exploring how celestial bodies have long been used to mark time and seasons.
"There's enough space for everyone!"
Roger B. Chaffee was born February 15, 1935 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. An engineer, pilot and astronaut, Chaffee lost his life in the Apollo 1 accident on January 27, 1967. The Roger That! conference, scholarly in nature and open to the general public, is co-organized by Grand Valley State University, the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Roger B. Chaffee Scholarship Fund. Roger That! seeks to honor Chaffee and highlight local research in a two-day celebration of space exploration.
Our commitment is to keep Roger That! programming at GVSU free and accessible to all. If you’d like to help us bring in inspiring speakers, host engaging workshops, and expand our K-12 STEM outreach, please consider making a donation. Every gift makes a difference—thank you for supporting our mission to celebrate space exploration and inspire future generations!
We still have STEM kits to hand out! Learn more about this year's STEM kits and how to request them!
The Design That! challenge for 4th - 8th graders is one of the highlights of Roger That! so check it out!
Ad Astra Ubi Spatium Pro Omnibus!
Presented by Grand Valley State University in association with the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium.
The Roger That! conference is funded in part by the Michigan Space Grant Consortium.