USA (Commonwealth Union)_ In a major leadership move, Axiom Space has appointed Indian-origin executive Tejpaul Bhatia as its new Chief Executive Officer. The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for the US-based space services company, as it prepares for the Axiom-4 mission, which will send Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). Bhatia’s appointment reflects Axiom Space’s strategic focus on advancing human spaceflight and establishing a next-generation commercial space station. As CEO, he will oversee the company’s ambitious goals to revolutionize orbital infrastructure, expand international partnerships, and accelerate technological innovation in space exploration.
Also read: Pope Francis and India: A Spiritual Bond Cut Short by Death
Bhatia assumes the role with a strong track record in both the private and public sectors, bringing over two decades of leadership across technology, media, entrepreneurship, and the space industry. Since joining Axiom Space in 2021, he has played a key role in overseeing human spaceflight missions, developing commercial space station components, and advancing the company’s spacesuit program. Expressing gladness over the appointment, he said, “I’ve been inspired by space exploration since childhood, and leading Axiom Space at this critical inflection point in human spaceflight is the realization of a lifelong ambition”. He added. “We are accelerating our investment in next-generation technologies — spacesuits, orbital infrastructure, and microgravity research and manufacturing — and we’re actively seeking passionate, visionary engineers, technologists, and entrepreneurs who want to help build humanity’s future in space.”
Also read: Pope Francis Has Died—Now All Eyes Turn to 4 Indian Cardinals!
Bhatia’s new leadership position coincides with deepening collaboration between Axiom Space, NASA, and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), a partnership that is enabling Shukla’s historic flight to the ISS scheduled for next month. This mission will mark a major milestone for India’s presence in human spaceflight and underscores Axiom’s growing global footprint. Furthermore, before joining Axiom Space, Bhatia held prominent roles at Google. As part of the Office of the CIO, he led thought leadership initiatives related to the future of work and drove engagement with top executives and startup ecosystems. He previously managed Google Cloud’s startup program in New York City, fostering innovation and partnerships across the tech community.
Also read: Indian Voices to Take Centre Stage in Singapore’s Election
Earlier in his career, Bhatia served as Entrepreneur in Residence at Citi, mentoring startups through the company’s D10X innovation program. He also co-founded several successful startups, including Chatwala, a mobile video chat app, and Kaptur, a media-sharing platform. His experience in digital media is rooted in his early work with ESPN, where he contributed to the global rollout of the company’s digital streaming services. With a background in launching and scaling high-growth ventures, Bhatia brings entrepreneurial vision and operational expertise to Axiom Space at a time when the company is pushing the boundaries of commercial spaceflight.
Bhatia’s leadership is expected to strengthen Axiom’s mission to build a permanent human presence in Low Earth Orbit and unlock new opportunities in space research, exploration, and industrial development. Axiom Space is currently leading the development of the world’s first commercial space station. As the ISS nears the end of its operational life, Axiom aims to provide a sustainable platform for governments, industries, and private individuals to conduct research, manufacturing, and exploration in space. With Bhatia at the helm, Axiom Space is poised to shape the future of space exploration, one mission at a time.
