In a move signaling a new phase in its ambitious journey to commercialize space, Houston-based Axiom Space has appointed Dr. Jonathan Cirtain as its new Chief Executive Officer and President, effective October 15, 2025. This strategic shift comes just six months after Tejpaul Bhatia assumed the CEO role, highlighting the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of the private space industry.
Axiom Space, founded in 2016, is at the forefront of developing the world’s first commercial space station, known as Axiom Station. The company also provides commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station (ISS) and is engineering advanced spacesuits for lunar missions and low-Earth orbit operations. With the ISS slated for retirement around 2030, Axiom aims to fill the void by creating a sustainable orbital platform that supports research, manufacturing, and a growing space economy.
The announcement, made via a press release on the company’s website and shared on X by Axiom Space’s official account, emphasizes Cirtain’s alignment with the company’s mission to build “era-defining space infrastructure.” Dr. Kam Ghaffarian, Axiom’s Executive Chairman and co-founder, praised Cirtain’s “proven track record of leadership and commitment to excellence,” while expressing gratitude to Bhatia for his contributions during a “significant transition period.”
Cirtain, an astrophysicist with a Ph.D. in Physics, brings a wealth of experience from both the space and nuclear sectors. He spent nearly a decade at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, leading innovative teams, before holding senior roles at BWX Technologies, including Chief Technology Officer. He also co-founded a machine learning company focused on Earth observation. Cirtain joined IBX – a venture capital firm with Axiom in its portfolio – as president in May 2025, and was quietly appointed Axiom’s president in June before this promotion. In a statement, Cirtain expressed enthusiasm for Axiom’s pioneering work, stating, “Axiom Space is pioneering the commercialization of low-Earth orbit infrastructure while accelerating advancements in human spaceflight technologies.”
Bhatia, who joined Axiom as Chief Revenue Officer in 2021, was elevated to CEO on April 25, 2025. During his tenure, he played a key role in securing over $1 billion in contracts, including private astronaut missions to the ISS. His leadership came at a time of growth, with Bhatia actively representing the company at events like the International Astronautical Congress just weeks before his departure, where he extended partnerships such as with the U.K. Space Agency. Bhatia has not publicly commented on the change, but his LinkedIn profile now lists him as an “executive, entrepreneur, investor.”
This is not the first leadership shakeup at Axiom. Former CEO Mike Suffredini, a veteran NASA ISS program manager, stepped down in August 2024, with Ghaffarian serving as interim CEO until Bhatia’s appointment. The rapid change has surprised some, potentially signaling underlying challenges in the commercial space sector, where costs remain high and profitability elusive. Reports have highlighted losses on Axiom’s commercial missions, though Ghaffarian has disputed their accuracy. Some speculate that the shuffle might indicate deeper issues, as “private spaceflight is still too expensive.”
Despite the transition, Axiom’s projects press forward. The company recently awarded a contract to Redwire Space for solar arrays on its first space station module, set to launch in late 2027 and initially attach to the ISS. Axiom is also developing spacesuits for NASA’s Artemis program, with Cirtain noting in a social media post, “The next man and first woman to walk on the moon will be in an Axiom Space spacesuit.”
As Axiom navigates this leadership change, the focus remains on fostering innovation and expanding access to space. With Cirtain at the helm, the company is poised to accelerate its vision of a vibrant off-planet economy, benefiting humanity’s push beyond Earth. This development underscores the competitive and high-stakes environment of commercial space exploration, where adaptability and expertise are key to success.
