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PARSEC Team

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

PARSEC brings together an exceptional team of visionary leaders, scientists, engineers, and space professionals united by a shared passion for opening access to space exploration. Our diverse, international team combines decades of experience from NASA, ESA, leading research institutions, and cutting-edge industries to deliver comprehensive astronaut training solutions that prepare the next generation of commercial space explorers for the challenges and opportunities beyond Earth.

Camilla Tossi

Camilla

Tossi

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Dr. Camilla Tossi is a nanotechnology and microgravity researcher, currently a postdoc sponsored by ESA at the ZARM of Bremen, and an affiliated researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on the synthesis of nanomaterials applied to water splitting, CO2 utilization, and optoelectronics; she is also exploring the fabrication of nanomaterials in microgravity conditions, using sustainable techniques and non-toxic precursors.

Christian Schmelzer

Christian

Schmelzer

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Christian holds an Engineering diploma and a PhD in Natural Sciences. He led research at Martin Luther University, pursued a post-doc in immunobiology at Technion, and now heads a department at a Fraunhofer Institute. He is a habilitated university lecturer with 20+ years of teaching and authored 80+ research articles, patents, and book contributions. In 2022, he co-founded matrihealth, a healthcare materials company. Christian is a certified private pilot with a lifelong passion for aerospace.

Silvana Pinna

Silvana

Pinna

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Dr. Pinna has long been fascinated by space and the progress of human knowledge. She obtained a PhD in Prebiotic Chemistry from University College London (UK), where she began to establish herself within the astrobiology community. She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Astrobiology in Madrid (ES), where her work focuses on biosignature detection on Mars and the development of diagnostic tools for astronaut health. Dr. Pinna has extensive experience in training young researchers in specialised analytical chemistry techniques, and is an accomplished science communicator.

Alejandro Marcano

Alejandro

Marcano

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Dr. Marcano brings a blend of medical expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to our team. An orthopedic surgeon trained at a globally top-ranked hospital, he is also a trained medical simulation instructor. Currently pursuing his PhD in AI-driven decision systems at Karolinska Institute. Dr. Marcano has persistently pursued astronaut candidacy with ESA and NASA, his deep passion for space exploration and human development shapes our mission of advancing commercial human spaceflight.

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Vanesa

Gomez Gonzalez

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NASA/JPL Software Systems Engineer, highly skilled software professional and engineer leader with extensive experience in the software sector. Proven expertise in hands-on coding/hardware and technical leadership roles, specializing in science data, aeronautics and quantum computing. Gómez possesses a BSc in Computer Science and a MSc Space Studies. Gómez is a certified private pilot (PPL) and scuba diver. In 2023 Gómez participated in NASA's analog mission HERA (simulated trip to Phobos).

Enrique Guzman

Enrique

Guzman

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Enrique holds a MSc (minor in Aerospace) and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from EPFL, and has contributed to ESA's D4D initiative. He currently works as a ground/flight test engineer. He has served in the Bolivian Navy, is a member of the SFTE and the Mars Society, a PoSSUM Citizen-Astronaut Candidate, a Private Pilot, a PADI Open Water Diver, a Licensed triathlete, a mountaineer and a First Aid Responder.

Alma Rubio

Alma

Rubio

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Alma Rubio, PMP® has an extensive background and professional qualifications in project management and engineering design of EPC/ EPCM Oil and Gas construction projects. Her 17-years professional experience spans from concept design up to start-up. She holds a BS and MS Degree in Mechanics and Structures (University of Valladolid, Spain), a Postgraduate MS in Seismic Design (Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain), and a 1-year MBA (ULB SOLVAY Brussels School- Economics & Management, Belgium)

Laura Thomas

Laura

Thomas

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Laura is a Chartered Psychologist with a love for extreme environments (PsychD, MSC, PGDip, BA, CPsychol, HCPC Reg). She created and piloted a longstanding wellbeing programme for serving military personnel at DCMH Colchester, acted as Crew Psychological Officer in a Mojave Desert space analog, and has presented / published on psychological innovations for spaceflight. Laura is a B.I.G. North Pole research expedition team member who spends her spare time exploring the outdoors and learning.

Roxana Dumitru

Roxana

Balazs

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With a background in space architecture, Roxana Balazs is an experienced program manager. Currently undergoing a Ph.D in Physics, she is passionate about research in radiation shielding on human habitates in space. She is a member of Women in Aerospace and an alumna of the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability. She studied at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Technical University of Vienna and University of Bucharest. She likes skydiving, alpinism, triathlon and kayaking.

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