The First Interluners of Houston

Just a little over a year since Interlune moved into its Georgetown, Seattle headquarters, we’ve established a second location and are welcoming our first employees! 

However, before we introduce Christine and Aditi, here’s the backstory on why Interlune is in H-Town. 

In September, we announced our grant from the Texas Space Commission (TSC) to create a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the development and testing of lunar regolith simulants, a critical component of testing equipment bound for the Moon, and needed by Interlune and many other companies, research institutions, and government organizations. 

Since then, we’ve been putting the pieces together to get up and running, starting with hiring our Houston-based team.

Christine Dubbert, Operations Manager (left) and Aditi Pandey, Planetary Scientist (right)

Meet Christine Dubbert

I am the Operations Manager for the Houston office. I manage our grant with the Texas Space Commission and support all efforts to build and maintain the regolith simulant center.‍

What drew you to Interlune?
The Moon is my favorite celestial body, and I want to be a part of its story. Interlune is the company that will treat the Moon with the respect it deserves, and at the same time make life better for everyone and everything on Earth. 

What do you love about Houston?
As a 7th-generation Texan and native Houstonian, I appreciate all this area has to offer. From the arts, to the food, to the diversity, Space City is a great place to be!

Favorite real-life figure in the space community
Gene Kranz, former flight director at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC). He exemplifies leadership and building excellence in teams. I was fortunate enough to meet him years ago!

Favorite fictional character in the space community
Major Samantha Carter, played by Amanda Tapping, in the TV series Stargate SG-1. Stargate SG-1 was one of my favorite shows growing up, but as a kid, I didn’t realize how much her character influenced me. She was a strong, technical woman who held her own in a predominantly male environment.

Meet Aditi Pandey

As a Planetary Scientist, I develop and test advanced lunar soil simulants, including the Moon’s natural ices and gases. The Interlune engineering team will use these simulants to test its proprietary harvesting system.

What drew you to Interlune?
My passion extends beyond theoretical sciences to the engineering tools and equipment that test those theories. Interlune is one of the few companies with a credible path to real-world application of in situ resource utilization.

What do you love about Houston?
The eclectic food scene! I love finding hidden treasures that remind me of home (Nepal) and my time in Thailand as an undergraduate. Most importantly, my friends in this city have become like family to me.  

Favorite real-life figure in the space community
Vanessa E. Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She is the first African-American woman to hold this position and an inspiration to all women in science. I had the opportunity to meet her, and her friendly personality and attention to all members of the JSC community were very welcoming and heart-warming.   

Favorite fictional character in the space community
Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, in the soon-to-be-released movie Project Hail Mary. He is an infamous molecular biologist-turned middle-school teacher who must figure out how to save the solar system. His love for science and general curiosity push him to keep an open mind and think outside the box.

Stay tuned for updates on Interlune Houston

In the coming months, we will keep you posted on developments on the lunar regolith simulant center and the team building it. 

In the meantime, if you’re interested in joining the Interlune team here in Houston or in Seattle, check out our Careers Page.

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