OUTER SPACE INSTITUTE - Key Persons
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- Student, Interdisciplinary Studies, UBC
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- Engineering Student, University of Victoria
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- Student, Political Science, UBC
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- Development and Systems Engineer, Planetary Scientist, National Academy of Sciences
Dr. Margarita Marinova is passionate about space and planetary exploration and human missions to Mars, from both the science and engineering perspectives. She has worked to leverage science and technology to further humanity's reach into our Solar System, improve launch vehicle capabilities and reusability, gain deeper understanding of the Earth and its planetary neighbors, and apply these advancements to improve life on Earth.
Dr. Marinova received her BSc in Aerospace Engineering from MIT, and continued to obtain a PhD in Planetary Sciences from Caltech. She has worked at Airbus Space Propulsion in engine nozzle research and development, and NASA Ames Research Center as a planetary scientist. She was at SpaceX from 2013 to 2020, where she was the propulsion systems responsible engineer for the vertical takeoff and landing F9R-Dev vehicle, vehicle responsible engineer for the reusability program, and senior Mars development engineer working on mission architecture and vehicle design for the Starship vehicle and its planetary missions. Most recently she was the Sr Manager for Integration and Test at Amazon's Project Kuiper communications constellation. She's continuing to focus on a variety of projects in aerospace engineering and planetary exploration.
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- Youth Engagement Coordinator, CPAWS - BC
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- Director, Technology Strategy at
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- Student, Interdisciplinary Studies, UBC
Jim Green retired as NASA's Chief Scientist in 2022, having held that position since 2018. Dr. Green's 42-year long career at NASA also included appointments as Chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office (1992-2005) and Director of the Planetary Science Division (2006-2018). In the latter position, he oversaw projects such as the MESSENGER probe to Mercury, New Horizons probe to Pluto, and the landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars. While at NASA, Dr. Green served as science advisor in the making of the 2015 film "The Martian".
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- President of Germany 's National Academy of Science
Johann-Dietrich "Jan" Wörner is President of Germany's National Academy of Science and Engineering. From 2015-2021, he was Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA). He chaired the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) from 2007 to 2015, and served as President of TU Darmstadt from 1995 to 2007. A civil engineer by training, Jan Wörner was previously Professor, Head of the Test Research Institute, and then Dean of Civil Engineering at TU Darmstadt.
Jan Wörner holds numerous awards, including honorary degrees from the State University of New York, Technical University of Molodova, Politehnuca Univeristy of Bucharest, Saint Petersburg State University of Economics, École Centrale de Lyon, and Mongolian Technical University. He has received the Federal Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Grand Cross 1st class) and is a Knight of the French Légion d'Honneur.
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- Student, Physics and Astronomy, UBC
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- Professor of International and Space Law at the Catholic University of Santos
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- Student, Physics and Astronomy, UBC
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- American Astronomical Society Deputy Director of Public Policy
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- Student, Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
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- Western Sydney University, Professor Emeritus of International Law