OKAPI:Orbits is an innovative German SaaS startup dedicated to making space travel more sustainable through Collision Avoidance Software for satellites. The OKAPI:Orbits team envisions a safe and sustainable space environment, truly accessible to everyone. We are laser-focused on creating innovative and efficient products to enable safe and secure satellite operations and seamless ground segment integration. As experts in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST), we offer platform services based on standardized interfaces with a wide range of flexible modules to meet the specific needs of our customers.
The Team
Kristina Nikolaus
CEO
M. Sc. (TU Braunschweig)
Technical project management, Sales and Marketing at Daimler AG & Siemens Mobility, Stations in Germany, Malaysia and Russia. Avid sailor.
Jonas Radtke
COO
Dipl- Ing. (TU Braunschweig)
Several years as leader of the Space Debris task force at Institute of Space Systems and research in the field of space debris environment. Passionate Barista.
Christopher Kebschull
CTO
Dipl- Ing. (TU Braunschweig)
Several years of academic research in the field of space situational awareness and space debris modeling. Swimmer and Salsa dancer.
Sven Müller
CSA
Dipl.-Inform. (Uni Oldenburg)
Experienced in framework design at the Institute of Space Systems and specialist in data stream management systems. Star Trek fan.
Sven K. Flegel
Product Manager & SST Expert
Ph.D. in Space Debris Engineering (TU Braunschweig)
Specific experience in debris environment and sensor observation modelling, object state uncertainty prediction and valuation, and operational collision avoidance support. Woodworker, composer, father and husband.
Harleen Kaur Mann
Astrodynamics and SST Specialist
Ph.D. cand. Astronomy (University of Bern)
Specialisation in Space Systems and Initial Orbit Determination of Space Debris. Poet, singer, cook, loves walking, hiking and working for social causes.
Ashish Aring
Astrodynamics and SST Specialist
Dipl-Ing. (FH) in Aerospace Engineering
Specialisation in Flight-Dynamics & Operations with wide experience in FD-LEOPs, mission-analysis, procedure-development and -validation. Part-time craftsman, passionate football player, avid sailor and solid programmer.
Frederik Läuferts
SSA Scientist
B. Sc. Aerospace engineering (TU Braunschweig)
Experienced in programming and applying Machine Learning in the space domain. Loves snowboarding.
Daniel Lück
SSA scientist
B. Sc. Aerospace engineering (TU Braunschweig)
Experienced in Space Situational Awareness and Fortran programming. Enthusiastic guitarist.
Tilmann Packheiser
Business Developer
B.Sc. Industrial Engineering
Passionate about the development of innovative products and business models in the aerospace and aviation sector. Enjoys cooking and board games.
Luca Himstedt
Full-Stack Developer
B.Sc. cand. Computer Science (TU Braunschweig)
Experienced full stack developer and lateral thinker. Firefighter, who loves all kind of sports
Carina Fischer
Team Assistant
Provides administrative and accounting support
Loves to be creative with her two daughters and discover the nature with them
This could be you- Join us!
Advisory Board
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Enrico Stoll
Professor Chair of Space Technology TU Berlin
Expert and leading scientist in the field of space debris. As mentor of OKAPI:Orbits he supports the Team with his profound knowledge of space systems.
Dipl.-Ing. Michael Oxfort
Former CTO at eightyLEO
With having built companies from scratch, e.g. RapidEye and KLEO Connect, and his 25+ years’ experience in the space industry domain he provides valuable and wide-spread support to OKAPI on its way to success.
Dr.-Ing. Carsten Wiedemann
Senior Scientist at Institute of Space Systems
As a Senior Scientist at the Institute of Space Systems he supports the team as an advisor with his profound knowledge of the space debris problem and all related fields
Scott Douglass
Independent geospatial consultant
Over 20+ years of hands-on experience in global markets development and geospatial product management at Digital Globe, RapidEye and Planet.