Alex Coultrup
Satellite Servicing + Commercial Space Policy
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Human-Centered Design + Astrosociology
Practical Experience
2022 - Present
Today, Alex is Director of Business and Policy at Starfish Space, where she is excited to be doing work that matches her passion for orbital sustainability!
Starfish is a venture-backed startup building the future of the orbital economy by providing autonomous robotic interaction on orbit as an affordable, accessible service.
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She is an active member of the space policy community and enjoys collaborating with others who share a love for safe space operations.
Alex is Starfish Space's representative to CONFERS, the satellite servicing industry's advocacy organization, where she serves on the policy working group.
2022
Alex served as simulated lunar surface astronaut on U.S. Government-funded intensive 4-week MEDULLA-3 mission at the HI-SEAS Research Station. HI-SEAS, the "Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation" is a Moon and Mars simulation habitat located in a remote area of the Mauna Loa lava fields on the Big Island of Hawaii.
MEDULLA, or "Measuring Emergent Duress Under Long-Lasting Allostasis" was a series of space analog missions conducted the with objective to examine crew psychology and group behavior patterns under extreme allostatic load while operating in extreme and isolated environments.
In her role as a Mission Specialist, Alex collected data for professional space Human Factors researchers in a high-fidelity lunar surface simulation, which included long workdays of physically demanding EVA activity, repeatedly completing a battery of cognitive tests, logic tasks, and team cooperative exercises, providing biometric and qualitative feedback, and managing limited resources including food, water, and power.
2020 - 2022
Alex worked in the Space Systems organization at Nanoracks, supporting efforts on Starlab, Nanoracks' free-flying Commercial LEO Destination, and Outpost, an initiative to repurpose spent upper stages into long-duration orbital platforms.
On the core Space Systems team, Alex held a multifunctional role, working primarily on government affairs, commercial partnerships, proposal writing, and branding, establishing and advancing the program’s strategic goals.
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Key Functions:
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Government Affairs Lead - Formalized and communicated the Space Systems program's policy positions.
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Business Development & Strategic Planning - Identified and responded to development opportunities in civil and commercial space. Established and maintained commercial partnerships for mutually beneficial Outpost and Starlab strategic development. Aligned program activities including hardware development with long-term goal of providing premiere in-space infrastructure.
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Program Branding Officer - Wrote web copy, designed marketing materials, managed conference and other outreach.
Accomplishment Highlights:
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Capture Manager: NASA SBIR - Coordinated proposal and capture process to successful Phase 1 award of NASA Small Business Innovation Research funding for a study of Outposts as autonomous data relays in key orbits. Managed Phase II response and submission process.
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Proposal Writer: NASA CLD - Supported Nanoracks' proposal of Starlab to NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations program, resulting in $160M Phase 1 award for commercial space station development. Wrote portions of proposal, developed relationships with key partners. Involved in ongoing CLD and Starlab activity.
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Program Analyst - Worked on government funded studies to mature Outpost's systems and role in the commercial space economy - Launch Vehicle scalability study, in-space refueling study
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Policy Researcher and Writer - Wrote Nanoracks' response to RFC from White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) regarding National Orbital Debris R&D Plan. Reached out to commercial partners to mature and align industry opinion. Verbally presented Nanoracks' positions to executive branch leadership at OSTP public listening sessions.
2020
The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) is a space analog research facility in Utah that supports Earth-based research in pursuit of the technology, operations, and science
required for human space exploration.
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Alex completed a 2-week Mars simulation at MDRS as Health and Safety Officer of analog astronaut crew 245. Duties included making real-time health and safety decisions for crew well-being, conducting pre-EVA medical checkouts, applying first aid as needed throughout the mission, and serving as confidential source for health-related conversations with crew.
Implemented multiple human factors-inspired health and safety protocols throughout the mission, including EVA health assessment, safe work environment guidelines, sterile airlock, communications structure, etc.
2020
The Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program is a highly selective internship and mentorship program that provides extraordinary summer opportunities to students passionate about commercial spaceflight.
Alex was selected into the 2020 cohort of Fellows and matched with XPRIZE as her host company. Her executive mentor is Karina Drees, CEO of the Mojave Air and Space Port.
Los Angeles, California, 2020
XPRIZE is on a mission to build a world of abundance by organizing massive cash incentive competitions in the tradition of the Orteig Prize - the motivation for Lindbergh's
trans-Atlantic flight - to bridge technology gaps that stand between us and a more sustainable world.
As an Xtern on the Partnerships team, Alex works in a program/operations management capacity to match the resources of XPRIZE’s partners (businesses, governments, academic institutions) with the needs of prize competitors. She is involved with interviewing and enlisting the expertise of industry leaders toward prize goals, managing databases of information for XPRIZE's Pandemic Alliance, and is program manager of the Higher Education Alliance, connecting prize competitors with academic resources.
Melbourne, Florida, 2019 - 2020
Alex’s graduate research in the Human Spaceflight Lab at Florida Tech focused on commercial space transportation and included human factors evaluation of hardware systems, cabin integration for suborbital spaceflight, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of consumer attitudes toward spacesuits and other garments for commercial suborbital flight.
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She also was heavily involved in prototyping, constructing, deploying, and evaluating a colleague’s PhD research alongside subject matter experts: the Astronaut Personal Environmental Containment system, a fully-integrated medical isolation system designed for use on a lunar gateway module such as those proposed for the Artemis missions.
She received extensive training on safety and operation protocols governing use of the lab’s high-fidelity IVA spacesuit, and routinely trained and supervised others in the operation of this sensitive hardware.
Washington, D.C., 2019
As a space policy research intern on the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Aerospace Security Program, Alex provided substantial research support for multiple projects. She is a contributing author on the Space Threats 2019 report, was project lead on “Commanding Space,” a documentary film detailing the history of U.S. Military assets in space, and authored a review of satellite jamming activity in the arctic circle.
Melbourne, Florida, 2018 - 2020
The Aldrin Space Institute is an independent research body on the campus of Florida Tech. Since 2018, Alex has worked as a graduate assistant at ASI, where she executed projects including: planning and hosting academic workshops with the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, coordinating conference programming/managing Dr. Andy Aldrin’s speaking engagements, and scheduling campus visits and lectures on commercial space topics.
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She served as the primary point of contact for the Center for Space Entrepreneurship, Florida Tech’s academic partnership with International Space University. She designed all marketing collateral for the CSE program and managed student onboarding, including COVID-19 response and reconfiguring the entire program to an online format.
On the non-academic side, Alex also managed front-facing outreach including VIP launch viewing events and recruiting/managing a volunteer team for the annual Apollo 11 gala.
Melbourne, Florida, 2018
Avidyne is a manufacturer of after-market cockpit avionics hardware for general
aviation aircraft. As operations intern, Alex supported day-to-day operations of multiple departments, allowing her to learn about the manufacturing, quality, fulfillment, and human factors system design processes.
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She also supported marketing and events by creating collateral for all print and digital platforms, taking point on “key influencer” marketing campaigns, and scheduled the company’s presence at the biggest event of the year: EAA AirVenture, the Oshkosh annual fly-in airshow.
Community Involvement
Planning Committee
Alex serves on the planning committee of SGx 2023, an annual young-professionals event put on by the Space Generation Advisory Council. SGx consists of TEDx-style lightning talks and panels from space industry professionals, and provides an opportunity for young professionals to learn and grow in their careers through exceptional education and networking.
Melbourne, Florida, 2016 - 2020
Since concluding an undergraduate internship in 2016, Alex has consistently volunteered at WFIT 89.5 FM, the Space Coast’s only public radio station. She primarily serves in content production and community outreach to script, record, edit, and air public service announcements about issues and events relevant to the local audience. Alex also welcomes station visitors and gives tours to individuals and groups, explaining the equipment, facilities, and history of the station. She maintains a strong friendship with her former bosses, Pam and Theresa, and likes to stop by to visit the foster kittens living under Theresa's desk.
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Organizing Committee and guest speaker
Since 2018, Alex has been a key organizer of Astronomy on Tap, Space Coast, a casual, family-friendly space and astronomy-themed lecture series held at a favorite local brewery! She coordinated with three other volunteers to bring in subject matter experts as guest speakers each month and make the event fun and safe for whole families. In addition to reserving the venue, she planned on-topic games, trivia, and raffles, kept followers up-to-date on social media, frequently hosted/MC’d the event, and once served as a guest speaker!
President, Florida Tech Chapter
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society seeks to provide academic and career-focused opportunities for students interested in human performance, man-machine systems, and human-centered design. As president of the Florida Tech Chapter, Alex arranged tours of industry locations, educational talks with professionals, organized meetings, managed membership, balanced the chapter budget, and advocated for the chapter to university leadership.
Sharing about Human-Centered Design considerations for spaceflight
Waxing poetic about the future of commercial spaceflight
Sharing about Human-Centered Design considerations for spaceflight
Member, Florida Tech Chapter
As a member of Women in Aviation, Alex helped plan and organize “Girls in Aviation Day” at KMLB, where she helped introduce elementary through high school age girls about aerospace and connect parents with resources.
She also routinely volunteered to teach “airplane stuff” at Elementary Science Nights.
Vice Chair, Florida Spaceport Chapter
The Ninety-Nines is an international organization of Women Pilots, providing mentorship, scholarship, and community service to the aviation community. Alex organized volunteer efforts, recruited new members, scheduled meetings and guest speakers, presented safety discussion points, ran meetings in the absence of the chair, and served as a guest speaker for other chapters.
Head Coach, Varsity Women's Team
During her 2-year tenure as head coach at Space Coast Crew, Alex had the exciting job not only of teaching 50+ high school girls how to row, but managing the event registration and travel logistics of the club. She led the team to an appearance at the southeast regional championships and
over a dozen of her athletes were recruited by competitive university teams.
Teaching aerodynamics with toy planes!
Admiring the chapter's handiwork