A movement to make space
belong to everyone

Blending Passion and Science to Shape the Future

Shinul Paul is an Aerospace Engineer and Astrophysicist whose career bridges hard science with a passion for human progress. With over a decade of experience in aerospace technologies, space systems, and UAV/RPAS, Shinul serves as COO of Stardust Inc., where he leads innovation in astronaut training, space research, and the development of next-generation infrastructure for humanity’s future in space.

As a strong advocate for STEM education and accessibility, Shinul is a dedicated supporter of the UN Space4All initiative, championing opportunities that open the cosmos to everyone. His vision is not only to build the systems that will take humanity beyond Earth, but to ensure the next generation has the knowledge, resilience, and inspiration to thrive there.

For Shinul, space is not only a destination — it’s a platform to unite science, innovation, and human aspiration for generations to come.

"His expertise spans deep-space research, space education, autonomous systems, and sustainable space development, and his career has connected him to some of the world’s most influential organizations. Shinul has collaborated with NASA, ESA, MDA, ICESCO, and leading aeronautical and defense partners, contributing to advancements in astronaut mental health, space suits, eVTOL, and global space education initiatives."

From Street Smarts to NASA Leader

CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

An avid music lover and sneakerhead, Edward Gonzales has built a life walking the walk from street smart to business-savvy, first at one of Los Angeles’s prestigious law firms, then to “student-whisperer” at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory working with interns and underserved, underrepresented populations. Now, as NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility lead for Heliophysics, he brings his unique blend of experience to one of NASA’s most prestigious missions.

Edward has been honored by many NASA awards and recognition and has made it his personal mission to ensure that the agency’s future workforce is more diverse and equitable than when he started his career there two decades ago.

Having lost his father as a young teen, experienced police profiling and gang violence, he can relate to the struggles that many students face as they embark on their college and career journeys. He is eager to share that all paths to NASA aren’t linear and emphasizes the critical importance of creating a workforce pipeline that starts in school.

This led to an exciting project called “Permission to Dream,” collaborating with Christopher Gardner (The Pursuit of Happyness) to present inspirational talks at one thousand high schools across the United States.

"Edward is the consummate comeback kid — all setbacks set you up for a comeback."

From Inner Worlds to Outer Space

CHIEF IMPACT & PARTNERSHIP OFFICER, STARDUST INC.

Zain Tawana is a psychonaut—an explorer of inner space—who believes the journey to the stars begins within.

Trained in Applied Psychology, his work sits at the crossroads of Noetic Sciences and artificial superintelligence. Before venturing into the cosmos, he spent years learning how stories shape our collective mind—first as a storyteller in the media industry, then as a mental health practitioner witnessing the resilience of the human spirit during the pandemic. Today, he builds immersive worlds through his XR startup, bridging technology and human potential.

At Stardust Inc., he leads global impact and relationship strategies, while advancing research into space psychology and mental well-being for analog astronauts and future interplanetary missions.

At Stardust R&D, he turns his gaze outward. He studies the brain-wave patterns of astronauts not as data, but as a language of human adaptation. He dreams of interplanetary highways, not as routes on a map, but as the next great migration of a species born to wander.

"His philosophy is simple: we are multiplanetary not because we have the technology, but because it has always been our nature. To live among the stars, we must first learn to live within ourselves."

Driving the Future of Aerospace and Space Diplomacy

Rocky Singh is a strategist, connector, and advocate for the future of aerospace and space exploration. With over 15 years of experience spanning aerospace, defense, transportation, and IT, he has built a career at the intersection of government priorities, industry innovation, and global diplomacy.

As Principal and CEO of Third Rock Consulting, Rocky helps aerospace, defense, and space companies align with government objectives while creating long-term economic value. His expertise lies in Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) and offset frameworks, where he supports clients on everything from cybersecurity readiness and R&D to DE&I and sustainability initiatives.

Rocky has supported Prime contractors and their supply chains through value proposition development, compliance enhancement, and executive planning. He previously served as Company Security Officer for Larsen & Toubro Canada, playing a key role in shaping vendor strategy for the Navy’s AJISS program.

Today, as Chief Revenue Officer of Stardust Inc., Rocky leads international growth across MENA and ASEAN markets. He also serves as a Senior Associate at Samuel Associates, advancing international advocacy and diplomacy.

"An advocate for the NewSpace movement, Rocky is deeply committed to advancing humanity’s future in space. Outside of his professional roles, he practices martial arts, volunteers at his local hospital, and contributes to multiple advisory boards."

Forging the Future of Space: From Extreme Environments to Global Strategy

Rafael Kargren is a space entrepreneur, strategist, and educator with over three decades at the forefront of the global space industry. His career has spanned extreme environment astronaut training, space entrepreneurship, and national space strategy development, making him a pivotal figure in advancing humanity’s reach beyond Earth.

Rafael has played a central role in bridging international space agencies, governments, and private companies, fostering collaborations that have redefined the landscape of space exploration. He has worked with agencies including NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO, and the Australian Space Agency, while supporting commercial giants such as Rocket Lab, OneWeb, SpaceX, and Maxar.

A pioneer in astronaut preparation, Rafael was instrumental in establishing extreme environment training centers for ESA in regions such as the Arctic, Antarctica, Svalbard, and the Atacama Desert. He has also been deeply involved in shaping national space strategies across the globe, contributing to programs in Sweden, Luxembourg, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, and New Zealand.

"At Stardust Inc., Rafael brings his wealth of experience and vision as Chief Strategy Officer, guiding global partnerships, strategy, and the development of programs that prepare humanity for its next great leap. With a legacy forged in extreme environments and a vision that spans continents, Rafael continues to inspire a future where space belongs to all."

From Family Systems to Interplanetary Attachment

DIRECTOR OF CREW & FAMILY SYSTEMS PSYCHOLOGY, STARDUST

Ashley Haynes-Gibson is a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA) and doctoral candidate in Couple and Family Therapy at Antioch University New England. Her research and clinical work focus on the relational and systemic dimensions of long-duration spaceflight — particularly the evolving dynamics of astronaut family systems, attachment, resilience, and mental health in extreme environments.

Drawing from both clinical experience and advanced research training, Ashley integrates evidence-based approaches including Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Structural and Bowenian Family Systems Theory, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Gottman Couples Therapy. Her work emphasizes systemic awareness, cultural humility, and the psychological realities of human adaptation.

Her doctoral research explores the integration of the "Overview Effect" into Marriage and Family Therapy frameworks, examining how awe, planetary perspective, and prolonged separation reshape relational systems in the context of future space settlement. She advocates for embedding systemic therapists into long-duration missions and advancing what she terms "interplanetary attachment" theory to prepare families for sustained off-Earth living.

A foster care alumna and advocate, Ashley brings lived experience into her systemic lens, honoring the resilience of individuals and families navigating complex transitions. She currently serves on the Legislative Committee of the Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (WAMFT), supporting access to quality mental health care and advancing the profession.

"At Stardust, Ashley contributes to the development of human-centered space frameworks, helping shape the psychological and relational infrastructure required for humanity's next frontier."

The Overview Effect and Humanity's Cosmic Perspective

AUTHOR, SPACE PHILOSOPHER, AND OVERVIEW EFFECT THOUGHT LEADER

Frank White is a prominent American author and space philosopher best known for coining and popularizing the term "the Overview Effect," a cognitive and emotional shift in perspective reported by astronauts when seeing Earth from space first-hand.

First introduced in his 1987 book The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution , this concept has become a foundational framework in space studies, space psychology, and broader discussions about humanity's relationship with Earth and the cosmos.

White's work bridges space exploration, consciousness, and human evolution, influencing both academic and public discourse about the future of humanity beyond Earth.

His academic path includes graduating magna cum laude from Harvard College, election to Phi Beta Kappa, and earning an M.Phil. from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, credentials that ground his multidisciplinary approach to writing and philosophy.

Over his career he has authored or co-authored numerous books spanning space exploration, climate change, artificial intelligence, and historical perspective, including collaborations with figures such as Isaac Asimov.

He has spoken and lectured widely at major space conferences, contributed to space-focused organizations, and helped establish institutions dedicated to advancing understanding of the Overview Effect and space development.

Beyond writing and speaking, White has been active in shaping the global community around space thought leadership. He is a co-founder and president of the Human Space Program, an initiative intended to deepen engagement with the cultural and philosophical dimensions of space.

"Space exploration can catalyze a broader evolution in human consciousness and stewardship of Earth as a fragile, interconnected system."