The Principality of Monaco took centre stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on March 29, where its growing role in the space sector was spotlighted during the “EARTH to SPACE: Arts Breaking the Sky” festival. The Monegasque Embassy in the United States hosted a high-profile roundtable titled “Monaco’s Leap to the Stars: Advancing High-Tech Innovations, Astronaut Insights and Lunar Exploration”, bringing together leading figures from the international space community.

The event drew hundreds of attendees and featured a heavyweight panel moderated by Robert “Bob” Cabana, Chair of the ISS Advisory Committee and former Associate Administrator of NASA. Among the speakers were Ellen Stofan, Under Secretary for Science and Research at the Smithsonian Institution; Bill Nelson, former U.S. Senator, astronaut, and NASA Administrator; Commander Michael López-Alegría of Axiom Space; and Jaret Matthews, founder and CEO of Astrolab and former SpaceX engineer.

Beyond the roundtable, visitors to the Kennedy Center were treated to an outdoor exhibition of the FLEX lunar rover prototype. Developed by California-based Astrolab, the rover integrates cutting-edge components engineered by Venturi, a tech company headquartered in Monaco—underscoring the Principality’s footprint in lunar innovation.

Ahead of the forum, Monaco’s Ambassador to the U.S., H.E. Maguy Maccario Doyle, hosted a reception welcoming nearly 300 guests in partnership with the Kennedy Center, Monaco’s Consulate General, and Astrolab. Her remarks highlighted Monaco’s strategic move into the space economy, echoing His Serene Highness Prince Albert II’s vision of positioning the Principality as a hub for science-driven partnerships and sustainable technological progress.

The festival’s outreach extended to the next generation, with students from Monaco’s FANB school taking part in a special virtual session on March 31 with NASA education specialist Dorian Janney, providing a rare opportunity to interact with a space science expert as part of the Embassy’s educational efforts.

For more information, visit monacoeventsusa.com or the Kennedy Center’s website.