SmallSat Conference To Relocate to Salt Lake City In 2025 After Four Decades in Logan

This week the 38th annual Small Satellite Conference takes over Logan, Utah and to kick it off conference Chair Pat Patterson made the surprise announcement, that the conference will move to Salt Lake City in August 2025.

The conference, known as SmallSat, has been held in Logan, Utah, since its inception in 1987. Starting next year, it will take place at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center, a change driven by the need for larger, more modern facilities to accommodate the growing number of attendees and exhibitors.

Logan’s Lodging Limitations Prompt Relocation

Logan, a college town located two hours north of Salt Lake City, has faced increasing challenges in providing adequate lodging for SmallSat’s expanding audience.

With only 1,020 hotel rooms available, most of the conference’s 4,000 attendees have had to stay at least a 30-minute drive away. In contrast, the Salt Lake City metro area offers 20,000 hotel rooms, with 5,000 located within five blocks of the Salt Palace.

The Salt Palace Convention Center is a well-known venue that regularly hosts large-scale events, including concerts and the popular Comic Con. It offers more space for technical sessions, exhibits, side meetings, and meals, all in one centralized location, making it an ideal choice for the growing SmallSat conference.

Maintaining the Collegial Vibe

One of the hallmarks of SmallSat is its collegial atmosphere. Unlike other conferences with numerous ticketed lunches scattered across various locations, SmallSat participants gather under tents set up on the quad for a daily buffet lunch.

Patterson confirmed that the conference will maintain this feel in its new, larger venue. While outdoor receptions are planned for SmallSat in Salt Lake City, lunches will be served indoors, providing relief from Utah’s August heat.

“We are really excited about it. What I am a little nervous about is we have had something special here. This community together has created this thing that we have here called SmallSat and we have to make sure that we take that something special with us to Salt Lake City. And that’s not just about the way we run the conference. It’s about the spirit and enthusiasm that all of our attendees will bring,” - Pat Patterson, Conference Chair

Will There Be Aggie’s Ice Cream?

A beloved SmallSat tradition is the afternoon ice cream socials featuring Aggie’s ice cream, a locally made favorite. SmallSat has confirmed that this tradition will continue at SmallSat 2025 in Salt Lake City.

“Absolutely, we’ve already been working through that. There will be Aggie ice cream,” - Pat Patterson, Conference Chair

Conference venues often have existing vendor contracts that affect what can be brought to the site, and the Salt Palace is no exception.

“There’s some contractual stuff we have to go through. There will be Aggie’s ice cream. It’s just a lot harder.” - Pat Patterson, Conference Chair

Cost Considerations for 2025

While it will cost more to exhibit at SmallSat in 2025, SmallSat has assured exhibitors that the increase would be offset by savings on lodging and badged attendees and students would not face higher rates.

“Our exhibit prices will increase slightly. Hotel prices will go down dramatically. And we are not raising rates one dollar on attendees. And we are not raising rates one dollar on students,...we believe that actually the cost will be a wash for the exhibitors. It will go down for attendees.” - Pat Patterson, Conference Chair

Looking Ahead to a New Era

Despite the venue change, The mission of the Small Satellite Conference remains unchanged: to provide a premier platform for sharing advancements and fostering collaborations in the small satellite industry.

The organizers are committed to maintaining the high standards of the conference and ensuring it continues to be a cornerstone event for the space community.

“We will do our best to make it as technical as possible and we will do our best to make it fun,” - Pat Patterson, Conference Chair

2025 Conference Details

• Dates: August 11-13, 2025

• Location: Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City

• Hotel Accommodations: Book rooms beginning Oct. 1 for the best rates at www.smallsat.org

With the move to Salt Lake City, the Small Satellite Conference is set to enter a new chapter, continuing its tradition of excellence while adapting to the needs of its growing community.