<img src="https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2026/03/geraldine_naja/27181754-2-eng-GB/Geraldine_Naja_card_full.jpg" alt="">
<p>Géraldine Naja took up duty as Director of Space Transportation (D/STS) at the European Space Agency on 1 April 2026. She will continue to serve as head of her former directorate, now called the Commercialisation and Industry Partnership directorate (D/CIP), as acting director.</p>
Géraldine Naja took up duty as Director of Space Transportation (D/STS) at the European Space Agency on 1 April 2026. She will continue to serve as head of her former directorate, now called the Commercialisation and Industry Partnership directorate (D/CIP), as acting director.
Space transportation refers to the various methods and technologies used to move payloads, such as satellites and crewed spacecraft, from Earth's surface into space. This includes launch vehicles, space shuttles, and other spacecraft designed for orbital and interplanetary travel.
Commercial spaceflight refers to the use of spacecraft and launch vehicles for purposes that are not primarily government-funded. This includes private missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond, allowing private companies to conduct research, tourism, and other activities in space.