About LSI

Limitless Space Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire and educate the next generation to travel beyond our solar system and to research and develop enabling technologies. LSI advances the pursuit of relevant deep space exploration R&D through the following student-engaging programs:

  • Limitless Educator Program: inspiring innovative educators to teach beyond the general curriculum.
  • Internal R&D: pursuing in-house basic research at the Eagleworks Laboratories near Johnson Space Center.
  • External R&D: directly funding academia-led R&D projects through Grants.
  • Collaborative R&D: advancing research in collaboration with university partners.
  • Scholarships & Fellowships: awarding scholarships for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoc students.
  • Lab Boosters: awarding lab boosters to k-12 education initiatives focused on bold space exploration. 

GOVERNANCE

Limitless Space Institute (LSI) is a non-profit corporation governed by a Board of Directors with day to day operations led by an Executive Director and each having decades of leadership experience in industry and government human space flight operations, research and development, education, and space policy. A Technical Advisory Committee made up of eminent physicists, educators, and innovators reports to and advises the Director of Advanced Research and Development.  Regular independent financial and peer-reviewed audits provide accountability to the institutes funders and stakeholders.

LEADERSHIP

EXECutiVE DIRECTOR

Director of Advanced R&D

Board of Directors

LSI’s Board of Directors consists of Dr. Kam Ghaffarian (Chairman), Brian “BK” Kelly (Treasurer), Gregory “Ray J” Johnson (Secretary), Claire Haidar (Director), and Yunhee Chang (Director). Dr. Kam Ghaffarian is the founder of the award-winning contractor Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies; co-founder of Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines,  and X-Energy; and recognized by Ernst & Young as Entrepreneur of the Year. Brian “BK” Kelly served with NASA for 37 years, most recently as Director of Flight Operations, responsible for selecting astronauts and planning and implementing human spaceflight missions. Gregory “Ray J” Johnson, former NAVY test-pilot, served as a NASA astronaut where he was pilot of the STS-125 shuttle mission tasked with servicing the Hubble telescope and later served as a Senior Vice President of Blue Origin. Claire Haidar is the co-founder and executive chairperson for WNDYR, a digital consulting firm focused on employee retention and satisfaction. Yunhee Chang is an executive business advisor for Boryung, a healthcare investment company which is looking forward to the space healthcare industry. Dr. Harold “Sonny” White leads LSI’s Advanced R&D, bringing decades of research experience in the advanced power and propulsion domain, most recently serving as the NASA Johnson Space Center Engineering Directorate’s Advanced Propulsion Theme Lead.

Brian K Kelly

Brian Kelly retired from NASA in February 2019 after a career of over 37 years.  As Director, Flight Operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) he directed a diverse civil service, military, and contractor workforce of over 2400 employees and a total annual budget of $500m.  He was responsible for selecting and assigning NASA astronauts and planning, training, and flying human spaceflight and aviation missions.  He directed the Astronaut Office, Mission Control, Aircraft Operations and Aviation Safety at NASA JSC.  Over his career he supported 110 shuttle missions, 58 International Space Station Expeditions, 40 shuttle launches, and 35 Soyuz Launches as well as return to flight efforts following the Challenger and Columbia accidents.  He selected 12 new astronaut candidates from over 18,000 applicants and selected the first female Chief Flight Director and 11 new Flight Directors for Mission Control Operations.  While Director of Flight Operations he was responsible for 35 EVAs (space walks), 15 International Space Station Expeditions, over 2.5 million mission control commands to the International Space Station, and the assignment of 33 astronauts to Expedition and Commercial Crew Flight Test missions.  He directed over 13,000 flight hours composed of 18,000 sorties in 32 different aircraft.  He personally has flown over 250 flight hours in T-38N super-sonic jet training aircraft and over 63,000 feet in WB-57 high altitude research aircraft.

Kam Ghaffarian

Dr. Kam Ghaffarian is a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to creating companies that focus on operating with the highest integrity, promoting employee well-being, and delivering the best technical solutions to customers. Kam co-founded Axiom Space in 2016 to advance the commercial utilization of space eventually leading to the design, manufacture, launch and operation of a commercial space station. Kam started his entrepreneurial career in 1994 by founding Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT), a government services company focusing on Engineering, IT, Science Applications, and Mission Operations. SGT has become NASA’s second largest engineering services provider, employing over 2,400 people and generating annual revenues of approximates $500M. Prior to SGT, Kam held numerous technical and management positions at Lockheed Martin, Ford Aerospace, and Loral, among others. Dr. Ghaffarian holds a B.S. in Computer Science, a B.S. in Electronics Engineering, a M.Sc. in Information Management, and a Ph.D in Management Information Systems.

Board of Advisors

The Board of Advisors is an integral oversight body that assists the Board of Directors, provides recommendations and advises the LSI President on strategic and tactical plans and investment strategy ensuring objectivity and high standards of excellence.

Director

Director

Board of directors

DESIGN

Amanda Lee

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social

Adam Cheise

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Present

Mike Stuart

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Advisory Board

DESIGN

Amanda Lee

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social

Adam Cheise

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Present

Mike Stuart

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Present

Mike Stuart

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MEDIA KITs

LSI Media Kit PDF

LSI Social Media Guide

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