[title Crew biographies, photos and mission patch – February 3rd]
Crew Commander: Ariadna Farrés Basiana
She has a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics by the University of Barcelona. Specialized in astrodynamics and celestial mechanics, she has devoted part of her scientific career to the study of the use of solar sail for missions in the Earth-Sun system. Currently she works with the Flight Dynamics team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, as an expert on the impact solar radiation pressure has on Liberation point orbits, and studying how to minimize the cost of station-keeping maneuvers. She collaborated with the James Webb Space Telescope. Currently she is part of the Flight Dynamics team of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the Space Weather Follow On – L1 mission.
Crew Executive Officer & Artist in Residence: Anna Bach Valls
She holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Barcelona. She currently works as a Product Manager in the tech industry in Barcelona, where she defines the vision, strategy, and roadmap for a product, ensuring it meets customer needs and business goals. Anna also creates comics strips regularly, which she shares on her Annet Planet Instagram page (@annetplanetcomics), currently followed by 38,000 people. The comics feature a young girl working in an office and aims to highlight the role of women in the workplace, always from a positive perspective and often with a STEM-related focus.
Crew Engineer: Helena Arias Casals
She has a B.Sc. in Mechanical and Electronic Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). She has participated in various research programs for students such as Joves i Ciència (Youth and Science) from Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, or the International Science Summer Institute (ISSI) from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. She is the entrepreneur behind the Light Pills project, which aims to provide light and water to resource-limited areas. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering at UPC. She combines her studies with her sporting career in Olympic shooting, having won 3 medals at the Junior European Championships and aiming to compete in the next Olympic Games.
Scientist & Health and Safety Officer: Estel Blay
She is an Aerospace Engineer with over 15 years of experience across the UK, Spain, and the USA. Specialising in Earth Observation within the space sector, Estel has developed expertise in business development, project management, and team leadership. Currently, as Program Manager at the Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), she is working on the ESA Phi-LabNET Spain program, supporting innovation for the commercialisation of space technologies aimed at enhancing climate resilience. Previously, in various roles at Satellite Applications Catapult and GlobalTrust (part of the Swedish Space Corporation group), Estel contributed to the growth of the UK and Swedish space sectors by developing commercial strategies and engaging stakeholders.
Academically, Estel holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Science and Technology and a Master’s degree from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, with ongoing law studies at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. As a member of Women in Aerospace Barcelona, Estel actively participates in outreach activities to promote diversity and inclusion within the aerospace industry.
Geologist & GreenHab Officer: Marina Martinez
She has a Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences from the University of New Mexico in 2021 with Distinction. She holds a B.Sc in Geology from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2013) and a Master’s degree in Astrophysics, Particle Physics and Cosmology from University of Barcelona (2015). She was also part of a research group at the Institute of Space Sciences between 2013 and 2016. Her work is based on microanalytical techniques in the field of mineralogy and cosmochemistry of extraterrestrial material, including primitive asteroids, the Moon, and Mars. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher at the Schwiete Cosmochemistry Laboratory at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt and a member of the Center for Advanced Sample Analysis of Astromaterials from the Moon and Beyond (CASAMoon) with Chip Shearer as PI, node from the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) at NASA
Crew Journalist: Jennifer García Carrizo
She is a former Juan de la Cierva Postdoctoral Researcher, is now a Lecturer at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Ciberimaginario Research Group) and a researcher at XR COM LAB. She is part of the Art & City Excellence Research Group (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), the Media Discourse Center (DMU, UK) and the R[x]D Group (KU Leuven, Belgium), where she develops her research career improving citizen participation in cultural places through scientific communication and immersive narrative experiences. She holds an International Ph.D. in Communication (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 2020) and she has been recently awarded the 1st Ph.D. Extraordinary Prize (2023). Recognized with the Academic Excellence National Award (2013 – 2014) and the CAM Excellence Award (2013), she also graduated first in class in the M.A. in Audio-visual Communication (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) and has been awarded more than 25 grants, 8 R&D Excellence Awards and 1 Excellence Teaching Award.
Mission Specialist: Mònica Roca i Aparici
She has a Master’s degree in Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. She is the Founder & General Director of isardSAT group, based in Catalonia and the UK (2006). isardSAT is a space research-intensive SME in the field of Earth Observation specialized in signal/data processing of satellite microwave sensors. Also co-founder of Lobelia, an isardSAT spin-off to address climate emergency, using EO data and climate projections. Mònica is a Senior Engineer and Scientist with more than 25 years of experience in scientific, technical and managerial aspects of Altimetry. From 1995 to 2004 she worked at the European Space Agency (ESA/ESTEC), responsible for the RA system onboard EnviSat. PhD candidate from 1997 at TUDelft. She is author of numerous scientific papers and scientific books chapters. In March 2021, she was elected President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce. She is also the President of its Space Commission since June 2019.
Crew Documentary Filmmaker: Marta Ferrer
She is a filmmaker and director, specializing in documentaries. Having lived in Mexico for over a decade, she delved deeply into the documentary genre and its creative possibilities, making it her way of life to explore and understand the world. In Mexico, Marta directed two award-winning feature films, «El Varal» (2010) and «A morir a los desiertos» (2017). In 2020, she directed «Bàlsam», a documentary series for TV3, and she recently completed her third feature film, «Con Alma», co-directed with Pedro González Rubio and co-produced between the United States and Mexico.
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