The Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”) Founder and CEO, Nobu Okada, has been elected as a Vice President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) from October 2020 for a three-year period.
Over 400 IAF member organizations from 71 countries, including all leading space agencies, companies and institutions, were represented at the IAF General Assembly Plenary Meeting held on October 15, where Okada was elected alongside other Vice Presidents from a number of spacefaring countries, including the United States, Germany and China.
In his newly appointed position, Okada intends to contribute to the IAF as a representative of Japan and the Asian region, an advocate for orbital sustainability and a voice for the emerging new space sector.
“I am truly honored to be named one of the IAF’s Vice Presidents — this is an acknowledgement of the changing nature of the global space community as industry begins to play a bigger role,” said Nobu Okada. “I am particularly humbled because seven years ago I was an outsider to the space sector, and now, with this appointment, I feel I can offer a new perspective to the community based on my experience. I would like to thank everyone who supported me during the election process.”
Okada is a highly trusted member of various international organizations, including co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space, where he played a key role in developing the concept of a Space Sustainability Rating, a system designed to ensure long-term sustainability by encouraging responsible behavior among countries and companies participating and operating in space.