Copernicus Space Corporation Names Chief Strategy Officer
Copernicus Space Corporation Names Chief Strategy Officer
Retired Astronaut John Grunsfeld Also Appointed to Board of Directors
Physicist John Grunsfeld, Ph.D., a former astronaut and head of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, has been appointed by Copernicus Space to the roles of Chief Strategy Officer and Member of the Board of Directors.
“For the first time in human history we have the technology and the means to answer the question of ‘are we alone in the Universe?’."
Dr. John Grunsfeld, Copernicus Space
Copernicus leverages deep knowledge of astrophysics, space systems engineering, and synthetic biology to pioneer a unique space platform for distributed, intelligent Swarm Exploration and diversified space applications. The long-term vision of the corporation includes revolutionizing space mission cost and capabilities through the development of miniaturized, semi-autonomous space probes with superior in situ detection capacity, focusing primarily on the search for extant or extinct microbial life within our solar system.
“For the first time in human history we have the technology and the means to answer the question of ‘are we alone in the Universe?’," Dr. Grunsfed said. "I am honored to join the leadership team at Copernicus to help advance innovative solutions for space exploration and the quest to find signs of life beyond Earth.”
In his role as Chief Strategy Officer, Grunsfeld will spearhead the evolution and expansion of Copernicus’s innovative swarm satellite technology, fostering its adoption across civil, commercial, and national security domains. Grunsfeld has a distinguished career spanning numerous roles, including NASA astronaut, Associate Administrator for Science, and Chief Scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., overseeing pivotal programs and missions in space science and exploration. As Associate Administrator, his responsibilities included a $7B/year portfolio of Earth Science, Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Heliophysics, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the NOAA weather satellite program. Previously, he served as the Deputy Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, managing the science programs for the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.
"We ... welcome John to the Copernicus team as our Chief Strategy Officer," said Andrew Rush, President and CEO of Copernicus. "His unparalleled expertise and insight are invaluable assets in our development of disruptive and innovative space solutions. Having had the privilege of previously working with John, I look forward to our renewed partnership. Together, we can realize our shared vision of revolutionizing space with advanced swarm exploration missions and help our clients achieve diverse objectives across the commercial, scientific, and national security sectors.”
A veteran of five space shuttle flights, Grunsfeld has executed eight spacewalks, specifically on missions servicing and upgrading the Hubble Space Telescope. His commitment to advancing knowledge in planetary science and the quest for extraterrestrial life has earned him prestigious accolades, including induction into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2015 and awards such as the National Space Trophy and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.