THE SPACEFLIGHT INSTITUTE

OUR STORY

The idea for the Spaceflight Institute was born from a conversation at an American airfield between Jonathan Pickworth, a passionate pilot and ISAE-Supaero graduate, and Jared Isaacman, commander of the Inspiration 4 space mission, one of the first commercial astronaut and current NASA Administrator. After discussing the future of private human spaceflight, one question emerged: how do we train the growing number of diverse actors entering this industry while ensuring mission safety and success?

Driven by this vision, Jonathan founded the Spaceflight Institute with strong validation from NASA, the FAA, and key American stakeholders. He naturally turned to Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez, who had been his professor at ISAE-Supaero and profoundly shaped his education. As head of the space program at the school, director of the Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory, and a world-renowned figure in space systems, astrophysics and human spaceflight, Stéphanie was determined to contribute to the future of human spaceflight and co-founded the project, establishing the institute in both the United States and France.

Two years later, Jonathan and Stéphanie met Ugo, then a student at ISAE-Supaero. Their professional and personal alignment was immediate. Ugo joined as an intern and eventually became CEO, complementing the founding team in developing the enterprise.

Today, the team comprises 70 collaborators across administrative, educational, and research functions, all committed to shaping the future of human spaceflight.

CONTEXT

The human spaceflight industry is at a tipping point. Over the past 15 years, launch costs have dropped by 100-fold, from over $65,000 per kilogram to less than $200 by 2030. At the same time, the International Space Station will cease operations in 2030 and will be replaced by a new generation of commercial space stations designed to ensure continuity of human presence in orbit and host both governmental and private missions.

This convergence of affordable access and new orbital infrastructure creates unprecedented opportunities. For the first time, space is economically viable for private industries, from pharmaceuticals developing new medicines in microgravity to biotechnology companies accelerating protein crystallization and advanced manufacturers creating materials impossible to produce on Earth. 74 industries can now leverage microgravity environments to develop breakthrough products and technologies. Space is no longer just for governments; it's becoming a platform for commercial innovation.

But this transformation brings a critical challenge: as hundreds of new organizations enter human spaceflight, the demand for trained professionals far exceeds the available workforce. Traditional training pathways, designed for institutional programs with decade-long timelines, cannot keep pace with the speed and diversity of today's commercial space industry.

The Spaceflight Institute was founded to bridge this gap, providing the world-class training, cutting-edge research, and strategic support that tomorrow's space economy needs to grow safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to shape the future of human spaceflight by making world-class expertise accessible, driving innovation that advances the industry, and supporting organizations at every stage of their space journey.

We believe that the next era of space exploration will be defined not by a single nation or organization, but by a diverse ecosystem of actors : governments, private companies, and research institutions, working together to push the boundaries of what's possible in orbit and beyond. Our role is to enable this ecosystem by removing barriers to entry, accelerating capability development, and ensuring that safety and excellence remain at the core of every mission.

We operate with a long-term perspective: the professionals we train today will lead the missions of the 2030s and beyond. The research we conduct now will define the standards and technologies that make human spaceflight safer and more sustainable, from operations in low Earth orbit to deep space exploration. The organizations we support today will shape the commercial space economy of tomorrow.

At the Spaceflight Institute, we don't just respond to the industry's needs, we anticipate them, building the foundations for a future where human spaceflight is safer, more accessible, and more impactful for humanity.

OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM

  • Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez

    CO-FOUNDER & CTO

    Professor in Space Systems Engineering at ISAE-SUPAERO and head of the Space Advanced Concept research group, Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez brings over 30 years of experience working for space agencies, industries, and universities in human and robotic space exploration and astrodynamics. Correspondant of the Air and Space Academy and laureate of the Byram Distinguished Visiting Professor at CU Boulder, she leverages her deep expertise to shape the future of human spaceflight training and research with the Spaceflight Institute.

  • Jonathan Pickworth

    CO-FOUNDER & CRO

    With a passion for strategic leadership and innovation, as well as a strong background in commercial aviation, aerospace engineering and business management, Jonathan's expertise lies in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive operational efficiency and business growth, making him a valuable asset to the Spaceflight Institute.

  • Ugo Bonnet

    CEO

    As CEO of the Spaceflight Institute, Ugo combines strategic vision with operational excellence. An ISAE-SUPAERO graduate with experience in strategy consulting, his leadership approach is forged by competitive sports, including winning the European Championship with the French Australian Football team in 2025. He embodies the company's core value of placing people at the heart of every operation.

KEY FIGURES

300+

Applicants pre-applied to our training programs

60

Industry experts contributing to the Human Spaceflight Certificate

74

Industries that can benefit from commercial space stations