The Embassy of Monaco in the United States of America showcases the Principality's role in space exploration at the EARTH to SPACE Festival in Washington

Monaco leap to the stars ©DR

On 29 March 2025, the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco to the United States of America organised a round table discussion at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington D.C.) as part of the international EARTH to SPACE Festival: Arts Breaking the Sky. This discussion, entitled "Monaco's Leap to the Stars: Advancing High-Tech Innovations, Astronaut Insights and Lunar Exploration", was geared towards promoting innovation and international collaboration.

This event saw several hundred spectators gather to listen to a panel of renowned experts: Robert 'Bob' Cabana, Chairman of the International Space Station Advisory Committee and former Associate Administrator of NASA (moderator); Ellen Stofan, Under Secretary for Science and Research at the Smithsonian Institution and former Chief Scientist at NASA; Bill Nelson, former US Senator, astronaut and NASA Administrator; Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria, Chief Astronaut for aerospace company Axiom Space and Jaret Matthews, founder and CEO of Astrolab, former NASA engineer and Director of the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft design team.

In addition, festival visitors had a chance to discover the FLEX lunar rover prototype, displayed outside the Kennedy Center. This impressive vehicle was designed by the American company Astrolab, based in California, using state-of-the-art technology developed by Venturi Monaco.

To celebrate the launch of the festival, the Ambassador of Monaco, H.E. Ms Maguy Maccario Doyle, joined forces with the Kennedy Center, the Consulate General of Monaco and Astrolab to welcome almost 300 guests to a reception held on the eve of the festival. The ambassador took this opportunity to spotlight a little-known aspect of the Principality: its growing involvement in the space economy, which reflects H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince's determination to place Monaco at the centre of innovation and partnerships that drive scientific and technological progress towards a sustainable future.

Last but not least, the festival also gave students from the Institution FANB a chance to take part in a phenomenal virtual session with NASA education specialist Dorian Janney on Monday 31 March.

More information can be found at https://monacoeventsusa.com & https://www.kennedy-center.org/