We are standing on the precipice of a fundamental shift both in how we use space and how we think about mission development and lifecycle. The individual SMART technologies have been demonstrated – technological “miracles” are not required. With a national vision and focus, a SMART-enabled ecosystem can be developed. The combination of SMART technologies and logistics opens the possibility for increased size, maneuverability, and life, while simultaneously making space more economical and sustainable, ushering in an era of rapid advancement limited only by our imaginations.”

Allison Barto​

Director, Ball Aerospace​

​Allison Barto is a director at Ball Aerospace, specializing in developing complex space systems from vision to orbit. She currently oversees Ball’s military weather programs, focused on building the Weather System Follow-On – Microwave vehicles for the US Space Force to address critical defense weather data gaps. Prior to her current position, Allison spent over two decades developing payloads for NASA, including 17 years supporting the James Webb Space Telescope as an optical systems engineer and program manager for the telescope optical system, and development of two Hubble Space Telescope science instruments and system development of future flagship observatories. With experience building complex and audacious space assets, Allison is passionate about applying what we have learned in assembly and in-space critical alignment to enable future missions using SMART architectures to expand our in-space scientific, defense, and commercial capabilities. Allison is an SPIE Fellow and recipient of the Women in Aerospace Achievement Award.