Reimagining Space Exploration Through Innovation and Access
From Barriers to Breakthroughs
Growing up in poverty shaped my approach to scientific problems in ways no textbook could teach. When you've spent years making impossible decisions with limited resources—choosing between textbooks and groceries or surviving on ketchup sandwiches—you develop an instinct for innovation that becomes a superpower in research.
Those experiences taught me to see possibilities where others see limitations. When traditional approaches seem impossible due to cost or complexity, I've learned to ask: What if constraints aren't obstacles but design requirements that force breakthrough thinking?
This perspective now drives my research approach. The same resourcefulness that helped me navigate poverty now enables me to design space missions at 1% of traditional costs. My mentors helped me realize that my background isn’t something to overcome—it is a unique lens that can transform how we approach space science.
Leading a NASA Mission
As the youngest NASA space mission leader in history, I oversee an international team of 60+ scientists and engineers on a $20 million mission. Leading Aspera means pioneering new approaches where traditional playbooks don't exist—building space-grade instruments on constrained budgets while maintaining NASA's rigorous standards.
This role requires balancing scientific vision with practical execution, pursuing innovative solutions that conventional projects wouldn't attempt. It's this balance between bold vision and meticulous execution that makes breakthrough science possible.