Dr. Kam Ghaffarian Joins Fermi Explorer Mission as Co-Founder to Send Humanity’s First Spacecraft to Another Star

REDMOND, Wash., September 14th, 2026 -- The Fermi Explorer Mission announced today that space entrepreneur Dr. Kam Ghaffarian, has joined the organization as a co-founder. Dr. Ghaffarian will support the ambitious initiative to launch humanity’s first spacecraft to another star system by the end of 2029.

Fermi Explorer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is developing a minimum-viable interstellar mission: a small spacecraft with at least a one-kilogram payload, launched for less than $15 million using  existing solar-electric propulsion, on a trajectory that will travel more than 99 percent of the distance to Alpha Centauri within 80,000 years.

A Record of Turning Ambitious Ideas into Missions

Inspired by the Apollo 11 Moon landing, Ghaffarian immigrated to the United States at 17 to study engineering and pursue his dream of supporting NASA. He later built Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT) into NASA’s second-largest engineering services provider before its acquisition by KBR. He went on to co-found a cluster of companies that now sit at the center of commercial space and advanced energy:

• Axiom Space, developing the first commercial space station and spacesuits;
• Intuitive Machines, a listed space infrastructure company which in 2024 achieved the first U.S. lunar landing since Apollo
• Quantum Space, developing advanced maneuverable spacecraft for national security and commercial missions; and
• X-energy, a listed company developing advanced nuclear reactors, including systems relevant to future high-power space propulsion.

This experience will help guide Fermi Eplorer from feasibility study toward its planned 2029 launch.

Dr. Ghaffarian commitment to advancing space exploration extends to philanthropy, most notably as the founder of the Limitless Space Institute (LSI). Through LSI, Dr. Ghaffarian has actively supported research and development into advanced power and propulsion concepts necessary to enable interstellar human exploration. That mission closely aligns with the Fermi Explorer Mission and reflects Ghaffarian’s longstanding commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space travel.

Leadership Commentary

“I have always believed that humanity's destiny lies among the stars, and the Fermi Explorer Mission is the crucial first step in realizing that destiny,” said Dr. Kam Ghaffarian, Co-Founder of the Fermi Explorer Mission. “By committing to launching a spacecraft to Alpha Centauri by 2029, we are not just pushing the boundaries of current technology; we are inspiring a new generation to look up and dream of interstellar exploration. I am thrilled to join this team and help turn this ambitious vision into a reality.”

Philip Johnston, Co-Founder & CEO of The Fermi Explorer Mission, echoed this enthusiasm: “We couldn’t be more excited to have Kam join as co-founder of the Fermi Explorer mission. Kam brings a unique combination of practical space mission execution experience, with a deep passion for interstellar space travel.”

Mission Objectives

The Fermi Explorer Mission is dedicated to sending the spacecraft to the Alpha Centauri star system. This historic mission aims to achieve several key objectives:

• Technological Demonstration: Prove the viability of existing and near-term technologies for interstellar travel and gather unprecedented data on low-cost interstellar propulsion systems
• Global Inspiration: Unite humanity behind a shared goal of exploring the cosmos beyond our solar system
• Trigger Discussion: The mission is intended to make the idea of interstellar travel real, and to encourage more people to confront one of humanity’s biggest unanswered questions when we look beyond our planet: "Where is everybody?" (the Fermi Paradox)

To learn more about the mission, contribute to its success, and follow its progress, please visit fermiexplorer.org.

About The Fermi Explorer Mission

The Fermi Explorer Mission is a Redmond, WA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that will launch humanity’s first spacecraft to another star before the end of 2029.

About Dr. Kam Ghaffarian

Dr. Kam Ghaffarian is a company builder working at the intersection of space, energy and deep technology to advance human civilization. He is the founder and CEO of IBX and co-founder and executive chairman of Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines, X-energy, and Quantum Space. He previously co-founded Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, which became NASA’s secondlargest engineering services provider. In 2019, he established the Limitless Space Institute to inspire, educate, and research the path to interstellar human exploration. He holds bachelor’s degrees in computer science and electronics engineering, a master’s in information management, and a Ph.D. in management information systems.