Space for Sustainability
Dr. Maya Nasr
Scientist
EDF and Harvard University
Moderator
Maya is a scientist at EDF and Harvard University, where she leads in-orbit lunar calibrations and the team developing machine learning models for the MethaneSAT mission. She brings expertise in space operations, mission planning, systems engineering, technology strategy, and space law and policy. Her past work includes MOXIE for NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission, Cassini’s mission activity on Titan, and the OneWeb satellite network. She is a member of the IAF Space Economy and Earth Observation Committees, and contributes to international space law through the IISL Working Groups on the Future of the Moon Agreement and on Pluralistic Governance of Outer Space Law. Maya is the former co-lead of the SGAC Space Law & Policy Project Group and co-founder and project lead of HUMANS, an ISS and Moon payload for global space access. She holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering from MIT.
Andrew Zolli
Chief Impact Officer
Planet Labs
As Chief Impact Officer, Andrew oversees the sustainable development, humanitarian, ethics and human rights portfolio at Planet, a breakthrough geospatial imaging organization that has deployed the largest constellation of Earth-observing satellites in history. Together, these satellites image the entire surface of the Earth, every day, in high resolution. When analyzed with advanced AI techniques, this imagery has transformational value for addressing a host of global challenges, including monitoring peace and conflict, improving agriculture, delivering sustainable development, ensuring human rights, predicting food insecurity, assessing climate change, delivering disaster response, and improving conservation, among many others. Andrew is also the author of Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back, which has been published in more than a dozen countries worldwide
Minoo Rathnasabapathy
Research Engineer and Program Lead
MIT Media Lab
Dr. Minoo Rathnasabapathy is a Research Engineer and Program Lead at the MIT Media Lab. Her work is centred at the intersection of advanced technologies and policy to drive impactful solutions. Her research focuses on data-driven climate intelligence and the long-term sustainability of the space environment, applying the principle of circular design that integrates Earth’s stewardship with the safe and responsible use and exploration of space. Dr. Rathnasabapathy's work has featured on CNN Business, BBC World News, and ABC News Australia.
Prior to joining MIT, Dr. Rathnasabapathy served as the Executive Director of the Space Generation Advisory Council, a global non-governmental organisation which acts in support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications. She was responsible for leading the operations, business development, strategy, and policy output for SGAC, a network that represents over 15,000 individual members across 150 countries.​ Dr. Rathnasabapathy earned her PhD in Aerospace Engineering from RMIT University, researching the impact dynamics of novel materials used in aerospace structures. She has served as a Fellow of the World Economic Forum’s Platform on Space Technologies, Member of the Global Future Council on Space, and as Vice President of the International Astronautical Federation from 2018-2021.
Karen L. Jones
Space Economist and Senior Policy Analyst
Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy
Karen L. Jones is a senior space policy analyst and economist in the Center for Space Policy and Strategy at The Aerospace Corporation. In this role, she analyzes market trends and technologies that impact government space missions and commercial markets. She has published numerous papers addressing disruptive innovation, direct-to-device satellite connectivity, public-private partnerships, undersea cables, and space-based remote sensing strategies to address climate and environmental accountability.
