Moon Express announced today that space science and exploration veteran Dr. Alain Berinstain has joined the company as Vice President of Global Development. Dr. Berinstain will oversee the international growth of Moon Express business interests and lead engagements with global space agencies on science and exploration initiatives. Well known in the international space science community as an interdisciplinary scientist, strategist and communicator, he brings over seventeen years of experience working for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), including roles as Director, Planetary Exploration and Space Astronomy, and Director, Science & Academic Development. For the last two years, Dr. Berinstain has been Director of Policy for Canada’s Minister of Transport, Hon. Marc Garneau, former president of the Canadian Space Agency and Canada’s first astronaut.
During his tenure at the Canadian Space Agency, beginning as an intern and completing his career as a Director, and often acting Director General, Space Science, Dr. Berinstain coordinated national and international programs in science and technology and was regularly called upon as a spokesperson for CSA, carrying out over 250 interviews to various media worldwide. He was Canada’s lead delegate on the European Space Agency’s Program Board for Human Spaceflight, Microgravity, and Exploration (PB-HME), the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), the International Advanced Life Support Working Group (IALSWG), and the International Mars Exploration Working Group (IMEWG), which he chaired from 2004 to 2007. He was also responsible for delivery of CSA’s Mars Initiative and co-author of the Global Exploration Strategy, a key inter-agency document that guides the collaboration of the world’s space programs.
“It’s such a thrill to have Alain join Moon Express,” said company Founder & CEO, Bob Richards. “I’ve known Alain for decades and had the pleasure of working with him most directly during the NASA Phoenix Mars Lander Mission. His energy, vision, and true passion for science and exploration is infectious. He is a statesman and adventurer, and I can’t imagine a better person to lead our global development.”
“I am truly excited to join Moon Express,“ said Berinstain. “We are entering a global renaissance of space exploration increasingly empowered by commercial space efforts, and I am thrilled and honored to join the company’s extraordinary efforts to build new opportunities and pathways for planetary science and exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.”
Dr. Berinstain was a finalist in Canada’s 2009 astronaut recruitment campaign, and is an expert in microgravity sciences and the development of greenhouse technologies for the Moon and Mars. He holds a PhD (Physical Organic Chemistry) from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Space Studies from the International Space University (ISU), a BSc (Chemistry and Biochemistry) from Concordia University, and was a Canadian Student Delegate to the 1991 Summer Session Program of the ISU in Toulouse, France.
The Moon Express vision is to collapse the cost of access to the Moon with robotic explorers and unlock its mysteries and resources for scientific and economic development.
For more information: moonexpress.com
