By Karl Hammer ’25
There is no doubt that outer space tops the list of the most lucrative industries in the world at the moment. Whether it be commerce, travel, or logistics in outer space, there is a well of untapped potential waiting to be accessed. The most exciting news is that humanity has already gotten a healthy start.
On Friday, February 11th, 2024, Tejpaul Bhatia of Axiom Space presented what the company has in store to the Gunn community. Axiom Space is a privately funded space infrastructure development company based in Texas that seeks to be at the forefront of outer space infrastructure. While in competition with other strong space infrastructure companies, such as Blue Origin or SpaceX, Axiom Space secured the exclusive right to replace the ISS and create the newest iteration of space suits for astronauts.
Unlike many other companies historically, Axiom Space operates without any governmental funding. One of the major risks for Axiom Space is that it is a start-up company still in its infancy, which poses questions about its longevity, all while having to carry the burden of providing the world with a new suit and space station.
Bhatia’s position as Chief Revenue Officer of Axiom Space is to manage the company’s revenue and close deals with other companies or countries. With the International Space Station planned to be decommissioned by 2031, Bhatia states on behalf of Axiom, “Our most important goal is to reach our deadlines,” as there is a lot of pressure to provide and succeed with the steps they have planned out. Nevertheless, Bhatia remains optimistic about the future. While he admits this venture comes with risks, he believes “with the right information and drive, anything is possible.”
“They said what we were doing was impossible,” states Bhatia in his experience working for Axiom Space. Ever since he can remember, his passion in life has been everything related to outer space. Bhatia remembers watching the tragic explosion of the Challenger Shuttle in 1986 as a young boy. While this horrible tragedy traumatized many, it instilled awe in Bhatia, who never stopped daydreaming about the possibilities of mankind’s future—the testimony: He and Axiom Space.
