The Global Space Awards celebrate excellence across the space sector

The Global Space Awards celebrate excellence across the space sector – but the work doesn't stop when the evening ends. In the months since the 2025 ceremony, our winners have continued to make headlines, hit milestones, and advance the projects that earned them their place on the night.

This is our winners series: a chance to hear directly from the individuals and teams behind the awards, in their own words, about what recognition meant and where they're headed next.

Dr Beatriz Sanchez Cano 2025 Global Space Awards – Science Breakthrough

Dr Beatriz Sanchez Cano is a space scientist at the University of Leicester and the Principal Investigator and mission lead of M-MATISSE (Mars Magnetosphere ATmosphere Ionosphere and Space weather SciencE) – an ESA Medium class mission candidate designed to study space weather at Mars. The mission, which involves more than 300 scientists and engineers, aims to provide the first comprehensive picture of how solar wind energy travels through the Martian system, from the magnetosphere down to the surface. Its findings are intended to directly support the safety of future human missions to Mars by understanding and predicting space weather radiation risks. At the 2025 Global Space Awards, Dr Sanchez Cano was recognised with the Science Breakthrough award for her leadership of a mission that sits at the intersection of fundamental planetary science and the practical challenge of getting humans safely to Mars.

What has happened with your work since December 2025?

Since December 2025, one of our biggest achievements has been completing Phase A at ESA. Seeing the mission successfully pass all the reviews was incredibly satisfying, especially after the effort and dedication invested by so many people (+300) over the years. It was a real milestone for the project. We're now working towards what is perhaps the most exciting and important goal of all: securing the opportunity for the mission, or part of it, to actually fly to Mars to protect future astronauts from space weather there. That's the dream that drives us, and we're closer to it now than we've ever been.

What did winning a Global Space Award mean to you?

Winning the Science Breakthrough award meant a great deal to the whole M-MATISSE team. It was a huge boost of confidence and recognition after years of hard work and dedication. What made it particularly special was that the recognition came from outside our immediate field, showing that the project's vision and achievements resonated more broadly. It was a reminder of how strong the vision behind M-MATISSE is and how much potential it has, and we are one step ahead to bringing this space weather mission to Mars in preparation of human exploration. And on a more personal note, it was a magical evening in a dream venue – one of those moments I'll never forget.

What are you most excited about in the year ahead?

What excites me most is the prospect of seeing all this hard work culminate with its payload being selected to fly to Mars. That is the dream we've been pursuing for years. The Global Space Award gave us much more than recognition – it connected us with an incredible network of people across the space community and created new opportunities. Looking back, it's amazing to see how far we've come; looking ahead, I'm excited to keep pushing forward with an exceptional team and to see where this momentum can take us. Hopefully, all the way to Mars.

Tahara Dawkins 2025 Global Space Awards – Playmaker of the Year

Tahara Dawkins is Senior Director of Policy at Astroscale U.S., where she leads the company's policy and regulatory strategy for on-orbit servicing, dynamic space operations, and space sustainability. Her career spans the White House, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and industry, giving her a rare vantage point across government, commercial innovation, and international collaboration. She serves as Treasurer of the CONFERS Board of Directors and Co-Chair of its Policy Committee, helping shape international best practices for satellite servicing and sustainable space operations. Beyond her policy work, she is a committed mentor to the next generation of space professionals worldwide. At the 2025 Global Space Awards, Tahara was recognised for her work advancing the regulatory and policy foundations that make the next era of commercial space operations possible.

What has happened with your work since December 2025?

Since receiving the inaugural Global Space Award, my work has increasingly focused on shaping the policies, regulatory frameworks, and international partnerships that will enable the next era of commercial space operations. Earlier this year, I was promoted to Senior Director of Policy at Astroscale U.S., where I lead the company's U.S. policy and regulatory strategy supporting on-orbit servicing, dynamic space operations, and space sustainability.

One of the highlights of the past year has been helping advance the international policy agenda for In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM). As commercial servicing missions move from concept to reality, ensuring they have the appropriate regulatory and spectrum framework has become increasingly important. Through the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Working Party 4A process, I have helped elevate the spectrum needs of ISAM within the international community, contributing to global discussions that will help define how these missions are supported for decades to come.

I have also led Astroscale U.S.'s engagement on several of the commercial space sector's most consequential policy and regulatory initiatives, including mission authorization, commercial remote sensing regulation, satellite licensing, orbital debris policy, and international regulatory coordination. These efforts are helping establish the frameworks that will govern the next generation of commercial space activities while fostering greater collaboration among governments, industry, and international partners.

Beyond my role at Astroscale, I was elected Treasurer of the CONFERS Board of Directors and continue to serve as Co-Chair of its Policy Committee, helping guide international best practices for satellite servicing and sustainable space operations. I have also continued contributing to industry working groups and policy forums shaping the future of commercial space governance in the United States and internationally.

Equally important to me has been expanding my investment in the next generation of space leaders. Over the past year, I have broadened my mentoring efforts beyond the United States, working with students and early-career professionals from around the world through formal mentorship programs, professional organisations, speaking engagements, and one-on-one coaching. As the space economy continues to grow, I believe our greatest challenge is not simply developing new technologies, but developing the workforce that will design, regulate, operate, and lead them.

What did winning a Global Space Award mean to you?

Receiving a Global Space Award was especially meaningful because it recognised a part of our industry that often operates behind the scenes. Breakthrough technologies do not become operational through engineering alone. They also require forward-looking policy, modern regulatory frameworks, and international collaboration.

Having served in the White House, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and now industry, I have been fortunate to help shape space policy from multiple perspectives, allowing me to bridge government priorities, commercial innovation, and international collaboration. The award reinforced my belief that policy leadership is essential to unlocking innovation and inspired me to continue building the partnerships that will shape the future of the global space sector.

What are you most excited about in the year ahead?

The commercial space industry is entering a defining period. As on-orbit servicing, in-space logistics, and other ISAM capabilities transition from demonstration to operational reality, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish the international policies, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships that will shape space activities for decades to come. I am excited to continue helping lead those efforts while investing in the people who will carry this work forward. The future of space will be defined not only by the technologies we develop, but by the leaders we empower.