Who WE ARE

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Dr. Sanjay Vijendran is an experienced scientist, engineer and leader who until recently was leading the European Space Agency's groundbreaking SOLARIS Space-based Solar Power R&D Initiative, the establishment of which he had spearheaded at ESA in 2022. Through SOLARIS, he has received worldwide acclaim as one of the leading figures in the rapidly emerging field of Energy from Space, demonstrating strong technical, interpersonal and communication skills. 

With over a decade of prior experience in ESA's Mars Robotic Exploration Programme, Sanjay played a crucial role in planning and implementing major studies and technology development activities for future European robotic missions to Mars. He was instrumental in establishing the international partnership between ESA and NASA for the multi-billion dollar Mars Sample Return programme in 2019. 

Prior to his work at ESA, Dr. Vijendran developed instrumentation for NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission, which successfully touched down on Mars in 2008. His academic credentials include a PhD in Semiconductor Physics from the University of Cambridge, and he has published extensively on semiconductor devices, Mars exploration missions and Energy from Space. 

Dr. Vijendran's diverse expertise, spanning from planetary exploration to space-based renewable energy solutions, makes him a key figure in the advancement of space technology for addressing global challenges.

Lars Schellhas brings a unique blend of technical and market expertise to drive energy transitions and global decarbonisation. He helps clients tap into profitable markets in the rapidly evolving energy sector across Europe and worldwide, identifying innovative business models and quantifying short-to long-term profit potential.

At AFRY Management Consulting, Lars advised leading energy companies on market strategies and decarbonisation pathways, providing actionable insights into the global energy landscape. He continues to support energy storage and renewable energy projects, enabling them to secure funding by analysing revenue potential across multiple energy markets and aligning technical solutions with market realities.

Lars’ expertise in renewable energy markets complements advancements in space-based solar power, bridging Earth and space energy solutions. He collaborated with the European Space Agency's SOLARIS project as a key energy stakeholder representative, contributing insights to align the program with terrestrial energy markets.

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's in Energy Technology from RWTH Aachen University, Lars focused on modeling disruptive technology trends and market price development. With a track record of impactful projects, he remains committed to advancing innovative solutions for a sustainable energy future.

Michael Khan is an experienced aerospace engineer and mission analyst with almost 40 years of professional experience in the space business, with industrial companies and the European Space Agency. He has been involved in or heading the mission analysis effort for numerous space missions from the fields of telecommunications, Earth observation, constellation design, planetary and minor body science, solar science, fundamental physics, human exploration and space-based solar power generation. 

He has been leading ESA's mission analysis effort for the ExoMars program and for the agency's minor body programs including the ongoing mission HERA. His work includes future-oriented topics such as multi-satellite communications and satellite navigation constellations, space debris mitigation and de-orbiting and the comparative analysis of various orbit types for constellations of spacecraft providing space-based solar power services. 

The wide diversity of Michael Khan's expertise makes him an asset when designing cutting-edge systems, where it is mandatory to leave the trodden path while still making full use of all available know-how. 

Dr Emily Baldwin is an independent communications consultant with an academic background in space science. 

Emily served as the European Space Agency’s senior space science editor for 12 years. She contributed to some of the Agency’s biggest communications successes, including the award-winning Rosetta and Juice mission campaigns. She still supports ESA’s communication team as a freelance writer with EJR-Quartz. 

Emily was previously Astronomy Now magazine’s deputy editor and social media editor, where she helped  grow the magazine’s online community. 

Emily launched her own company, North Star Content, in 2024, out of a passion for storytelling and content strategy. She is helping clients like Space Energy Insights define their communication goals, guiding them on how to use content to grow their audience and make an impact.