People
We are advancing society through exploration
We strive to embrace diversity in all its forms, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, age, ability, veteran status, and neurotype. We believe achieving greater diversity in our faculty, staff, and partners will advance our mission to create positive space futures.
Our team is built on character, rooted in deliberation, and energized through action. Respect, curiosity, and inclusivity drive our culture and the space futures we seek to create.
Work with us!
There are currently no openings
Sid Vaidy
Interplanetary Lab Lifeguard
Rejane Cantoni
Artist
Rejane Cantoni is an artist based in São Paulo, Brazil. She studied communication, semiotics, visualization of information systems, and kinematic interfaces in both São Paulo, Brazil, and Geneva, Switzerland. She holds multiple graduate degrees and has taught mathematics, physics, and technology at the Catholic University of São Paulo.
Justin Chandler
VP of Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships,ThinkOrbital
Justin Chandler has an impressive 21-year career in the Department of the Air Force, retired as a Colonel and was instrumental in the standup of the US Space Force. His background as a combat pilot and extensive experience in commercial space launch and operations make him a valuable asset to our advisory board.
Tracy Drain
Flight Systems Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Tracy Drain has over 20-years of experience, and has helped to develop, test and operate a variety of robotic spacecraft to explore our Solar System. A life-long learner, she loves encouraging people of all ages to nurture their curiosity and to explore the wonders that science and technology make available to us.
Tanja Masson-Zwaan
President Emerita of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL)
Tanja Masson-Zwaan advises the Dutch Government on space law issues and co-founded the Hague International Space Resources Governance Working Group. She served on various boards, including the European Centre for Space Law, Women in Aerospace-Europe, the Netherlands Space Society and Secure World Foundation.
Amy Salzhauer
Founder and Managing Partner at Good Growth Capital
Amy Salzhauer is the Founder and Managing Partner at Good Growth Capital, an early-stage venture capital fund with an exceptional track record of funding and founding early-stage, transformative science companies. Her team has the operating experience and technical expertise to asset, launch, and grow deep technology companies and science-based businesses.
Jessy Kate Schingler
Founding Board Member and Chief Policy Analyst, Open Lunar Foundation
Jessy-Kate focuses on policy and institution design for near term lunar activity. She is also an affiliate at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society and French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), looking at the application of new institutional designs to pressing global challenges here on Earth.
John Thurmond
Independent (ret)
John Thurmond is a former energy industry executive who spent his career in exploration and research, pioneering new techniques to understand and interpret the complex systems that make up the Earth’s subsurface. He has deep expertise in building innovative cultures inside organizations via being people-centric, rather than technology-centric, which is why he fully supports the Interplanetary Initiative’s mission and is proud to be on its advisory board. He holds a PhD in Geosciences from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Scott Webster
Chairman of the Board of Telesat Government Solutions
As chairman at Telsat’s US subsidiary, Scott Webster focuses on the successful rollout of Lightspeed, Telesat’s LEO-satellite-based global broadband communication services, distinguished by unique, low-latency and inherently secure laser crosslinks.
The Interplanetary Scholars represent a broad range of educators, scholars, thinkers, and researchers across and outside of ASU who aspire to create an inclusive and sustainable interplanetary future, and have ideas on how to get there.
