Project Overview
As part of SGAC’s mission to represent the young space generation, the NCAC Task Force brings together students and young space professionals to communicate our vision of a sustainable, fair, and cooperative future in space to the NCAC region (North America, Central America, and the Caribbean). We publish policy briefs, perspective articles, and policy positions, and we facilitate discussions with experts to encourage broad involvement in policy.
This Task Force operates under the SGAC Space Generation Advocacy and Policy Platform (SGAPP).
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN & ROLLING:
The NCAC Task Force welcomes all participants that qualify for SGAC membership (ages 18-35). Complete this form and we will be in contact.
Policy Briefs & Resources
NCAC Perspectives from the Young Space Generation
NCAC Task Force (IAC 2024)
Artemis Program: Policy Directives & Lineage
Juliana Rinaldi-Semione (Jun 2024)
Key Actors in Commercial Space Policy: Beyond the US & China
Tatiana Quercia (Jun 2024)
NCAC Perspectives from the Young Space Generation
NCAC Task Force (IAC 2023)
The Artemis Accords
Samantha Smith (Nov 2023)
Policies Affecting US-China Relations
Tatiana Quercia & Anja Sheppard (Jan 2023)
Environmental Impacts of Rocket Fuel
Anja Sheppard (Feb 2023)
Resources on Environmental Impacts of Rocket Fuel
Anja Sheppard (Feb 2023)
Commercial Space Public-Private Partnerships
Nicholas Florio (2022)
Space Debris Mitigation
Leah Farrar (2022)
Resources on Space Debris Mitigation
Leah Farrar (2022)
Space Diplomacy
Alyssa Goessler (2021)
Resources on Space Diplomacy
Alyssa Goessler (2021)
Webinar Series
Ep. 5 – The Artemis Program
Ep. 4 – Net Zero Emissions
Ep. 3 – Climate Action
Ep. 2 – Space Diplomacy
Ep. 1 – Space Debris
Blog and Newsletters
August 2024 Perspective
(Kryn Ambs, Lindsey Wiser, Shreya Srivathsan) 2024 ASCEND - Young Voices on Responsible Space Behavior
July 2024 Perspective
(Cari Reinert & Kryn Ambs) 2024 Space Generation Fusion Forum - IPASS Report Recommendations
July 2024 Perspective
(Roxy Williams) Inspiring the Next Generation: Encouraging Children to Reach for the Stars
June 2024 Perspective
(Lindsey Wiser) Science Takes a Village
Sept 2023 Perspective
(Lindsey Wiser) Enabling Astronomy and Planetary Science through Policy
Aug 2023 Perspective
(Jessica D’Urbano) Launching the Lunar Policy Handbook
Aug 2023 U.S. Policy Newsletter
(Cody Knipfer)
July 2023 Webinar Summary
(Hanh Nguyen Le) Space for Climate Action
July 2023 Perspective
(Tatiana Quercia) Commercial Space Technology Transfer in Challenging Times
Aug 2023 Perspective
(Anja Sheppard) Let’s Return to Mars Sample Return
April/May 2023 U.S. Policy Newsletter
(Cody Knipfer)
May 2023 Perspective
(Tatiana Quercia) Satellite Data Sharing: Paths Toward Data Democracy
May 2023 Perspective
(Barbara Milewski) Rocket Exhaust: The Need for Proper Regulations
April 2023
(Lindsey Wiser) Takeaways from the Space Generation Fusion Forum
Sept 2022 Perspective
(Anja Sheppard) Space Sustainability: we need to do more
Sept 2022 Perspective
(Trevor Owen) Orbital Debris: why don't we just clean it up?
Aug 2022 Perspective
(Sabrina Khan) 2023-2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey
NCAC Task Force Leadership
Lead - Anja Sheppard
Anja Sheppard is a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan where she is researching robot perception for space exploration. She is a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow and a Draper Scholar, and she holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Dallas. Anja has previously worked for the Mars 2020 Perseverance operations team on the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) instrument. She has contributed to research at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. Anja is very passionate about encouraging an ethical approach to space exploration by bridging the gap between policy and space technology.
Co-Lead - María José Ramírez.
María José Ramírez is a Data Science Engineering undergraduate student at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, passionate about the intersection of data, space, and science communication. She currently serves as the lead of the Payload-MILO module (camera) for the Quetzal-2 CubeSat mission, where she is responsible for the development and integration of the scientific camera. María José also works as a freelance Data Science Coordinator at Jaguar Space, contributing to research and market analysis within the space sector. She is part of Femiciencia Latam, where she leads science communication efforts and promotes STEM engagement among girls and youth across Latin America. Her interests include exoplanet research, space missions, and empowering the next generation of scientists. She enjoys long walks with her dog Jack, creative writing, science outreach, and finding new ways to make science accessible and inspiring.
Policy Lead - Shreya Srivathsan
Shreya Srivathsan is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan studying political science, interdisciplinary astro, with a potential minor in public policy. On campus, Shreya is involved with Michigan Debate, Michigan Foreign Policy Council, Michigan Daily, and serves as a fundraising chair on houseboard at Martha Cook. During election season, you can find her working as an election officer with Ann Arbor. She recently finished a fellowship with Running Start, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women to pursue public office. Shreya’s deep passion for politics has led her to a keen interest in political journalism and commentary. Her long-term aspirations lie in the field of outer space law alongside intellectual property, where she aims to make a significant impact. Particular focus areas that she enjoys studying are reconnaissance satellites and defense systems.
Policy Co-Lead - Vaibhavi Mahajan
Vaibhavi Mahajan is an undergraduate at Georgetown University studying Science, Technology, and International Affairs. She has had experience working at a variety of places in the space sector like NASA, Rocket Lab, and the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. She is interested in developing policy for space technology in emerging space nations. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, reading science fiction novels, and playing with her dog Comet.
Special Projects Lead - Roxy Williams
Roxy Williams is a Software Developer Intern at Intel Corporation and a senior Software Engineering student at ULACIT in Costa Rica. She is the Special Projects Lead for the North, Central America, and Caribbean (NCAC) Advocacy and Policy Task Force at the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), she is also the lead of the DIVINAS Research project and she served as the NCAC Regional Coordinator. Roxy is also the Latin America Regional Coordinator for Cosmos for Humanity and Founder of The Black Panthers, an initiative focused on enabling community participation in the space sector through space technologies. She is an international speaker and was recently selected by Space for Humanity to experience Zero Gravity in the United States. Through her work in policy, research, and outreach, Roxy continues to strengthen space innovation and engagement across Latin America and beyond.
Communications Lead - Nyima Sanneh
Nyima Sanneh is an Aeronautical Systems Engineer at Aerolane. She received her Bachelors of Science in Aerospace Engineering from THE Texas A&M University, where she conducted research related to identity and persistence of racial and gender minorities in STEM, as well as Computation Fluid Dynamics and Structures research. Nyima is proud to be an advocate for sustainable space exploration and ethical resource consumption through international collaboration and drawing attention to how space exploration affects all communities, especially those without international platforms. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and theatre.
