SMART technologies leverage trends in autonomy, advanced manufacturing, and transportation to create infrastructure and products that are unique to the space environment.  Investments here also open the doors to broader participation in space, leveraging these benefits to an ever-larger global community.”

Erika Wagner

Director, Blue Origin

Dr. Erika Wagner serves as Payload Sales Director for Blue Origin, a private space company developing vehicles and technologies that improve access to space for people and payloads. Previously, Dr. Wagner worked with the XPRIZE Foundation as Senior Director of Exploration Prize Development and founding Executive Director of the XPRIZE Lab@MIT. Dr. Wagner’s interdisciplinary background includes degrees in Biomedical and Aerospace Engineering, with research spanning both human and mammalian adaptation to microgravity, partial gravity, and centrifugation; as well as organizational innovation and prize theory.  She is an alumna of the International Space University and an Associate Fellow of the AIAA.