By Hannah Ashford
The Karman Project Announces the 2025 Karman Fellows
In a world marked by increasing geopolitical fragmentation and rising uncertainty, the need for stable, trusted relationships across borders has never been more critical. Nowhere is this more evident than in space — the ultimate global commons, where cooperation isn't just a value, but a necessity.
That’s why The Karman Project is proud to announce the selection of the 2025 Karman Fellows — a group of 15 exceptional individuals from around the world who are not only shaping the future of space, but doing so with a commitment to responsibility, collaboration and peace.
This year’s selection follows a highly competitive process, with over 400 applications received from 77 countries, reflecting the diversity and urgency of voices eager to contribute to humanity’s shared future beyond Earth. These leaders are at the forefront of engineering, entrepreneurship, policy, science, and exploration - and include astronauts, CEOs, engineers, scientists, and policymakers from institutions such as Airbus, Axiom Space, MIT Media Lab, UK Space Agency, Kenya Space Agency and the Saudi Space Agency. Together, they will form a trusted cohort committed to advancing a space sector that is more inclusive, accessible, and cooperative.
“During times of global instability, the relational aspect of leadership becomes more important than ever. The Karman Fellowship brings together those who can build bridges across borders, shape new paradigms, and lead with integrity. Our 2025 Fellows reflect this spirit, and we're proud to welcome them to our ever-growing community of international leaders.”
— Hannah Ashford, Managing Director, The Karman Project
The Karman Fellowship is not just a recognition of past achievement - it’s a platform for future impact. Designed for mid-career leaders under 45, the program combines strategic in-person and online engagements to foster lasting trust, unlock regional perspectives, and drive joint initiatives with real-world outcomes. In a sector often dominated by competition and national interest, the Karman Fellowship is about rewriting that narrative - shifting focus to cooperation over competition, trust over transaction, and long-term outcomes over short-term wins.
Dialogue, while essential, is only the beginning. The ultimate goal is action: building projects, partnerships, and policy frameworks that enable a sustainable and peaceful space future.
The journey for the 2025 Fellows will culminate in Karman Week, taking place in late October 2025 in the Global South - with the exact location and hosts to be revealed in the coming weeks. This flagship gathering offers an immersive environment where Fellows engage in scenario planning, cooperative missions, and high-level dialogue, surrounded by a curated international community of space and policy leaders.
The future of space isn’t just about technology. It’s about people — and the relationships that will shape humanity’s next giant leap. Please join us in congratulating the selected Karman Fellows of 2025!
About The Karman Project
The Karman Project strengthens trust, fosters independent dialogue and encourages cooperation between global leaders in business, technology, politics, science and the arts who want to positively impact space. The Karman Project is a nonprofit and independent foundation headquartered in Germany.
Annexure: The Karman Project’s 2025 Fellows
1. Armen Askijian, Chief Technology Officer, Airbus U.S. Space and Defense (USA)
2. Venkata Sai Kiran Chakravadhanula, Vice-President Materials & Strategic Initiatives, Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited (India)
3. Ian Christensen, Senior Director, Private Sector Programs, Secure World Foundation (USA)
4. Mariam Fardous, Astronaut, Saudi Space Agency (Saudi Arabia)
5. Mohammad Iranmanesh, Managing Director, constellr Belgium (Iran, Belgium)
6. Fani Kallianou de Jong, Principal Manager, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) (Greece)
7. Kartik Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO, SatSearch B.V. (Netherlands)
8. Lucie Low, Chief Scientist, Axiom Space (UK)
9. Matthieu Lys, Head of Innovation Management, Airbus Defence and Space (France)
10. Alexandre Mangeot, Co-founder & CEO, HyPrSpace (France)
11. Charles Mwangi, Acting Director, Space Applications & Utilization, Kenya Space Agency (Kenya)
12. Shawna Pandya, Research Astronaut, International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (Canada)
13. Andrew Ratcliffe, Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency (UK)
14. Minoo Rathnasabapathy, Senior Research Engineer & Program Lead, MIT Media Lab (Australia, South Africa)
15. Amelie Schoenenwald, Member of the ESA Astronaut Reserve, European Space Agency (Germany)
