LORI GARVER
JOINS ATMOS AS
STRATEGIC ADVISOR
LORI GARVER, FORMER NASA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, JOINS ATMOS SPACE CARGO AS STRATEGIC ADVISOR
December 2024
Press Release
- Former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver joins ATMOS advisory board.
- ATMOS to fly 7 commercial return missions to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from 2025 until 2027
———
Lichtenau, Germany – December 10, 2024 – ATMOS Space Cargo (ATMOS), a pioneering European NewSpace startup, is proud to announce the appointment of Lori Garver, former NASA Deputy Administrator, as an industry expert to its advisory board. Garver’s expertise will be instrumental in advancing ATMOS’s mission to deliver commercial space cargo return services, with its first missions slated for Q4 2025 to and from Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
A transformative leader in the aerospace industry, Garver served as NASA’s Deputy Administrator and leader of the agency’s transition team from 2008 to 2013, where she spearheaded NASA’s shift toward commercial partnerships. Her efforts catalyzed the foundation for programs that resulted in groundbreaking achievements, including SpaceX’s development of the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon capsule. Garver’s vision has been instrumental in the emergence of the commercial space industry, now projected to grow into a trillion-dollar economy by 2035.
“NASA’s plan to reduce space transportation costs by leveraging private investment was never about supporting a single company or sector. Lowering the barrier to entry for commercial space projects was designed to stimulate a range of activities in the space domain, and life sciences research has always been of particular interest to me”.
“I’m thrilled to be joining ATMOS Space Cargo in their quest to support reliable and affordable orbital research. I look forward to being part of a global team whose sights are set on utilizing the unique properties of space to benefit humanity”.
Lori Garver
“NASA’s plan to reduce space transportation costs by leveraging private investment was never about supporting a single company or sector. Lowering the barrier to entry for commercial space projects was designed to stimulate a range of activities in the space domain, and life sciences research has always been of particular interest to me”.
“I’m thrilled to be joining ATMOS Space Cargo in their quest to support reliable and affordable orbital research. I look forward to being part of a global team whose sights are set on utilizing the unique properties of space to benefit humanity”.
Lori Garver
Garver’s extensive background spans leadership roles in aerospace, sustainability, and venture capital. She has served as General Manager of the Air Line Pilots Association, CEO of Earthrise Alliance, and Operating Advisor at Bessemer Venture Partners. She is also a Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. Additionally, Garver serves as an advisor and board member to prominent aerospace companies, including Sierra Space, World View, K2 Space, and Hydrosat.
„Lori Garver joining our board is a huge honor for me and the whole team at ATMOS. Her experience in the commercialization of US spaceflight will be invaluable for our next strategic steps“.
Sebastian Klaus,CEO and Co-Founder of ATMOS Space Cargo
„Lori Garver joining our board is a huge honor for me and the whole team at ATMOS. Her experience in the commercialization of US spaceflight will be invaluable for our next strategic steps“.
Sebastian Klaus,CEO and Co-Founder of ATMOS Space Cargo
The Space Shuttle used a better, more advanced approach: It had a very large, blunt belly heat shield. Such a large heat shield reduces the ballistic coefficient, meaning that you have less mass to brake per area of heat shield. This reduced the peak heat flux into the heat shield and enabled the Space Shuttle to have a reusable ceramic heat shield.
With our Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerators (IADs), we want to take that approach to the next level: We reduce the ballistic coefficient even further by having more heat shield area and less mass to brake, which enables us to build a foldable heat shield: For launch, it is stowed; for reentry, it is inflated.
About ATMOS Space Cargo:
ATMOS Space Cargo GmbH specializes in developing and manufacturing cutting-edge technology for returning cargo of any size from space. Its services include microgravity experiments, commercial products, and actively supporting spacecraft and launcher reusability. ATMOS aims to bridge the gap between Earth and Low Earth Orbit (LEO), enabling a new era of industrial innovation. ATMOS’ flagship innovation, the PHOENIX capsule, offers the first sustainable solution for a wide range of payloads and experiments.
For press inquiries, please contact: press@atmos-space-cargo.com