Vanesa

Gomez Gonzalez

NASA/JPL Software Systems Engineer, highly skilled software professional and engineer leader with extensive experience in the software sector. Proven expertise in hands-on coding/hardware and technical leadership roles, specializing in science data, aeronautics and quantum computing. Gómez possesses a BSc in Computer Science and a MSc Space Studies. Gómez is a certified private pilot (PPL) and scuba diver. In 2023 Gómez participated in NASA's analog mission HERA (simulated trip to Phobos).

Alejandro

Marcano

Dr. Marcano brings a blend of medical expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to our team. An orthopedic surgeon trained at a globally top-ranked hospital, he is also a trained medical simulation instructor. Currently pursuing his PhD in AI-driven decision systems at Karolinska Institute. Dr. Marcano has persistently pursued astronaut candidacy with ESA and NASA, his deep passion for space exploration and human development shapes our mission of advancing commercial human spaceflight.

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Christian

Schmelzer

Christian holds an Engineering diploma and a PhD in Natural Sciences. He led research at Martin Luther University, pursued a post-doc in immunobiology at Technion, and now heads a department at a Fraunhofer Institute. He is a habilitated university lecturer with 20+ years of teaching and authored 80+ research articles, patents, and book contributions. In 2022, he co-founded matrihealth, a healthcare materials company. Christian is a certified private pilot with a lifelong passion for aerospace.

Silvana

Pinna

Dr. Pinna has long been fascinated by space and the progress of human knowledge. A biochemist by training, she obtained a PhD in Prebiotic Chemistry from the University College London (UCL, UK), where she started to make a name for herself within the astrobiology research community by investigating the origin of life on Earth. Dr. Pinna has extensive experience in training young researchers in specialised analytical chemistry techniques, and is an accomplished science communicator.

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Camilla

Tossi

Dr. Camilla Tossi is a nanotechnology and microgravity researcher, currently a postdoc sponsored by ESA at the ZARM of Bremen, and an affiliated researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on the synthesis of nanomaterials applied to water splitting, CO2 utilization, and optoelectronics; she is also exploring the fabrication of nanomaterials in microgravity conditions, using sustainable techniques and non-toxic precursors.

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Enrique

Guzman

Enrique holds a MSc (minor in Aerospace) and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from EPFL, and has contributed to ESA's D4D initiative. He currently works as a ground/flight test engineer. He has served in the Bolivian Navy, is a member of the SFTE and the Mars Society, a PoSSUM Citizen-Astronaut Candidate, a Private Pilot, a PADI Open Water Diver, a Licensed triathlete, a mountaineer and a First Aid Responder.

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Jose

Tórtola

Jose is a highly accomplished Spanish Navy Officer. Naval Aviator, Test Pilot, Flight Instructor, and Educator, with over 23 years of military service with a track record of leadership and superb results in high-stress, high-risk scenarios, he has been honored with several national, NATO and EU Council decorations and undergone specialized training as SERE and HUET. Holding a Diploma in Pedagogy from the Military School of Education Sciences, now leads a Navy Recruiting Support Section.

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Alma

Rubio

Alma Rubio, PMP® has an extensive background and professional qualifications in project management and engineering design of EPC/ EPCM Oil and Gas construction projects. Her 17-years professional experience spans from concept design up to start-up. She holds a BS and MS Degree in Mechanics and Structures (University of Valladolid, Spain), a Postgraduate MS in Seismic Design (Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain), and a 1-year MBA (ULB SOLVAY Brussels School- Economics & Management, Belgium)

Laura

Thomas

Laura is a Chartered Psychologist with a love for extreme environments (PsychD, MSC, PGDip, BA, CPsychol, HCPC Reg). She created and piloted a longstanding wellbeing programme for serving military personnel at DCMH Colchester, acted as Crew Psychological Officer in a Mojave Desert space analog, and has presented / published on psychological innovations for spaceflight. Laura is a B.I.G. North Pole research expedition team member who spends her spare time exploring the outdoors and learning.

Dirk

Raiser

Dirk is an experimental physicist specialized in optical spectroscopy and laser photonics. He currently works as an instrument scientist at the European XFEL, has a PhD in ultra-fast time-resolved optical spectroscopy and has experience in contamination detection for space systems and as a development engineer for high-precision optical systems. Dirk is also a paramedic, enjoys exploring nature during various outdoor activities and sports. He participated in the Lunares analog mission M2.23.

Roxana

Dumitru

With a background in space architecture, Roxana Dumitru is an experienced program manager. Currently undergoing a Ph.D in Physics, she is passionate about research in radiation shielding on human habitates in space. She is a member of Women in Aerospace and an alumna of the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability. She studied at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Technical University of Vienna and University of Bucharest. She likes skydiving, alpinism, triathlon and kayaking.

Frieder

Kiefer

Frieder is a medical doctor specializing in anesthesiology holding specialist diplomas in both emergency and intensive care medicine. He currently works as a functional senior practitioner at the university hospital of Tübingen, Germany, where he also acts as an instructor for medical simulations. His doctoral thesis focussed on novel bacterial adhesion proteins and antibiotic resistance. In his free-time he enjoys long-distance and trail running and playing his guitar at the camp fire.

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Maciej

Szukszto

Having completed his PhD in mitochondrial genetics at the University of Cambridge, Maciej continued his scientific career at University College London, where he works on developing a revolutionary platform to decipher immunogenicity of tumour neoantigens - the ultimate target for future cancer therapies. In his free time, Maciej enjoys travelling, hiking, climbing, cycling, triathlon, tennis, golf and scuba diving.