Adam Okninski

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation (ILOT) • Director, Space Technologies Center

Dr Adam Okninski is a manager, engineer and rocket scientist and a former employee of the European Space Agency (ESA), were he optimized rocket engines via use of additive manufacturing. Now in Poland at Lukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation, Poland’s largest aerospace R&D entity, he is leading development of cutting edge Green Space Propulsion, where he runs a 100+ people dedicated team. This includes not only bringing such projects, for the first time in history, to Central-Eastern Europe, but actually creating one of the hottest spots in the world in terms of new Green Space Propulsion developments. His team’s efforts led to being part of over 30 ESA activities within the domains of Chemical Propulsion and Space Transportation Systems along numerous space projects from other European and national programmes.

His recognitions include several in under-30, under-35 and under-40 listings, including both national and international prizes. He serves as the Deputy Chair of the Committee for Space and Satellite Research of the Polish Academy of Science and is its Head of Space Transportation Section. He is also a member of the Academia of Engineering in Poland.

Adam graduated from the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering of Warsaw University of Technology, where he obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He obtained his PhD through research on rocket propulsion for space transportation (supervised by Prof. Piotr Wolański). Adam is involved in work on chemical propulsion, including green propellants, space transportation solutions, Moon lander technology and spacecraft deorbiting systems. His team demonstrated several milestones regarding utilization of 98% hydrogen peroxide as oxidizer, including world’s first in-flight use of it in a space mission during a successful suborbital flight above the Von Karman Line in 2024. Living, studying and working in Poland, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands, led to his focus on projects with international impact. Being active in the International Astronautical Federation and IAF Space Propulsion Committee in particular, where he is the Vice-chair, he also supports the organization of IAC 2027 in Poznan, Poland, serving as the IPC Co-Chair in the Local Organizing Committee. Moreover, he is a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).

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