Blue Origin’s Shahir Gerges discusses a post-ISS orbital economy at TC Sessions: Space • TechCrunch

NASA’s plan to decommission and remove the International Space Station (ISS) from orbit by 2031 creates another collaborative, multinational opportunity to ensure a sustained orbital presence. However, the path to this goal remains unclear.

Here’s the catch. No one knows exactly what that presence would look like, how it should be built, who would run it, and how it would make money. These complex questions are why we are excited to have Blue Origin’s Shahir Gerges, Director of Business Strategy for Orbital Reef, join us for a fireside chat on the TC Sessions: Space stage on December 6th.

These are not problems for engineers and astronauts to solve, although they do need to be included in the discussion. Instead, far-sighted business leaders who see where the market is going are needed. You also need to make a compelling case for how a phenomenally expensive expedition, like a long-term space station, can reasonably pay for itself over a 10-year period.

What, who and how much will it take to build a safe, prosperous commercial space economy? What can and may the world expect from privately operated successors to the ISS?

In a session entitled “Space Station Shake-up,” Gerges, an expert in the field of commercial space stations, will offer his perspective. Be in the room to hear what this space ace has to say about this and more.

Shahir Gerges serves as Director of Business Strategy for Orbital Reef within Blue Origin. Orbital Reef is slated to be a mixed-use space station in low-Earth orbit for commerce, research, and tourism by the end of this decade. Gerges is focused on Orbital Reef’s long-term financial sustainability and developing offerings to support growth in new and emerging markets that would benefit from the on-orbit environment, including microgravity.

Prior to joining Blue Origin, Gerges worked as a strategy consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he advised industrial companies (including aerospace and defense) on market strategy decisions, internal operating strategies and due diligence reviews on multiple transactions. Gerges began his career at United Launch Alliance, where he worked in various technical and strategic positions and supported government affairs.

Gerges holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBA from Georgetown University.

TC Sessions: Space takes place on December 6th in Los Angeles. Buy your pass today, join us to learn about the latest trends in the space economy, see cutting-edge technology, and connect to find opportunities to help you build a better, stronger startup.

Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting TC Sessions: Space? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.