A. C. CHARANIA

Zeno Power • Strategic Advisor

A.C. Charania is an aerospace executive and strategist with 25 years of leadership experience at the intersection of space innovation, advanced product development, business creation, and government engagement. He currently serves as an Advisor to Balerion Space Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in space, defense, and deep technology companies building the critical infrastructure of the space economy. He is also currently on the Board of Directors of Vast, the commercial space station company. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President of Space Business Development at Zeno Power, a developer of radioisotope power systems. From 2023 to 2025, he served as NASA Chief Technologist and principal advisor to the NASA Administrator on technology policy and programs. He led technology innovation across the agency, aligned NASA's technology investments with the needs of all six mission directorates, and oversaw technology collaboration with other federal agencies and the private sector. He also advised agency leadership on strategic R&D priorities in AI and autonomy, quantum systems, space nuclear technology, and imagery. His earlier roles span Reliable Robotics, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceWorks Enterprises. At Blue Origin, he helped define the company's lunar permanence strategy and advanced the Blue Moon lunar lander program. Across his career he has delivered disruptive innovations in commercial spaceflight, lunar exploration, planetary defense, aviation autonomy, nuclear power, and launch vehicle and hypersonic programs, and has helped win more than $1 billion in government and commercial contracts. He previously held a TS/SCI clearance, has authored dozens of technical papers, and has presented to more than 200 audiences worldwide. He holds a B.A. in Economics/Mathematics from Emory University and a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Events

77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026)

5 - 9 October 2026

Antalya, Türkiye

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2025

29 September - 3 October 2025

Sydney, Australia

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2024

14-18 October 2024

Milan, Italy

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2023

2-6 October 2023

Baku, Azerbaijan

Participation: