Michael Vergalla

Michael is an advanced paraglider with a passion for creating positive global impact. He holds Masters and Bachelors degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology. He attended International Space University, in 2010 and the Graduate Program at Singularity University, in 2015. From 2010-2016, Michael was the second engineer for Moon Express, a commercial lunar delivery services company and worked on lunar lander and Earth-sample-return design concepts. From 2016-2018 Michael served as adviser and lead aerospace engineer for Spin Launch, helping to take the group from concept to fundraising via technical and strategic support. In 2016, Michael founded the non-profit, Free Flight Research Lab, and used non-rigid airfoil platforms to advance climate science, conservation and safety. He was featured on BBC Natural Worlds Super Powered Eagles program as a pilot and developed robotic free flight platforms that would end up being the basis of Airbus’s Project Monark which he led as Project Executive. At Outpost, Michael leveraged his unique and extensive experience with high altitude paragliding technology and spearheading the development of the first autonomous paraglider re-entry system that will enable Earth return with Outpost’s reusable satellite platform.