Beyond the ISS: The Rise of Commercial LEO Stations
Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman
Professor of the Practice of Aerospace Engineering
Director, Human Systems Lab
Director, Massachusetts Space Grant
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Moderator
Dr. Jeffrey Hoffman is a professor in MIT’s Aeronautics and Astronautics Department. He received a BA in Astronomy (summa cum laude) from Amherst College (1966); a PhD in Astrophysics from Harvard University (1971); and an MSc in Materials Science from Rice University (1988). As a NASA astronaut (1978-1997) he made five space flights, becoming the first astronaut to log 1000 hours of flight time aboard the Space Shuttle. Dr. Hoffman was Payload Commander of STS-46, the first flight of the US-Italian Tethered Satellite System. He has performed four spacewalks, including the first unplanned, contingency spacewalk in NASA’s history (STS 51D; April, 1985) and the initial repair/rescue mission for the Hubble Space Telescope (STS 61; December, 1993). As the Astronaut Office representative for EVA, he helped develop and carry out tests of advanced high-pressure space suit designs and of new tools and procedures needed for the assembly of the International Space Station. Following his astronaut career, Dr. Hoffman spent four years as
NASA’s European Representative, working at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. In August 2001, Dr. Hoffman joined the MIT faculty, where he teaches courses on space operations and space systems design. His primary research interests are in improving the technology of space suits and designing innovative space systems for human and robotic space exploration. Dr. Hoffman is director of the Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium, responsible for space-related educational activities. He was Deputy Principal Investigator of the MOXIE
experiment on NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance mission, which for the first time produced oxygen from extraterrestrial material, a critical step in the future of human space exploration. In 2007, Dr. Hoffman was elected to the US Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Jiral Shah
VP of Business Development
Gravitics
Jiral Shah leads revenue generation, corporate business strategy, and government engagement at Gravitics, an aerospace company building the next generation of space infrastructure. He aims to connect with prospective industry partners, customers, governments, and organizations to learn, explore, and live in space.
Jiral is former Department of Defense official with experience in national security space acquisitions for commercial services. He was responsible for the acquisition, engineering, finance, and delivery of commercial satellite services to support the joint warfighter, federal agencies, and international partners. He is known for leading technical and programmatic teams focusing on service delivery, innovative technologies, and developing complex business models.
Jiral is a proud veteran of the US Army, and holds a Master’s in Space Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s in Electrical & Biomedical Engineering from The George Washington University.
Rich Leshner
VP of Government Affairs
Vast
Over 20 years experience in the space sector, including time in government (NASA), the non-profit sector, at aerospace start-ups, and as a consultant. Previously worked at the White House, leading the development of National Space Policy, and was the first Washington, DC hire at Planet Labs.
Luis Zea
Chief Scientist
Starlab Space
Dr. Luis Zea is the Chief Scientist at Starlab Space and an adjunct professor in the Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department at the University of Colorado Boulder. He holds a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering sciences with a specialization in bioastronautics from the University of Colorado Boulder. His career spans academia, industry, and entrepreneurship, with experience in both business development and scientific research. As an aerospace engineer and gravitational biology scientist, Dr. Zea has worked on 26 spaceflight experiments, from the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station. He has served as a principal investigator for multiple NASA-funded projects, including experiments conducted in low Earth orbit and aboard Artemis I’s mission around the Moon.
Dr. Zea is a co-editor of Springer Nature’s Handbook of Space Pharmaceuticals and served as co-director of Guatemala’s first satellite. His honors include an honorary doctorate, the Karman Fellowship, and the Thora Halstead Award from the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR). He is also a member of ASGSR’s governing board and serves on the organizing committee for the Central American Space Congress. Dr. Zea has advised NASA and the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, contributing to the 2023-2032 Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space as well as NASA’s science strategy for human exploration of Mars. With expertise in space science, engineering, business development, and lean startups, Dr. Zea is dedicated to advancing Starlab Space’s mission—ushering in a new era where microgravity fuels innovation and unlocks transformative benefits for industries and humanity alike.
