Axiom Space ejects CEO after six months, installs NASA veteran as replacement

Jonathan Cirtain at the helm as revolving door swings for private corp

Updated Axiom Space has ousted its CEO after just six months, hiring Jonathan Cirtain to replace Tejpaul Bhatia.

Cirtain, who joined Axiom in 2025 and holds a PhD in physics, will serve as both CEO and president.

Executive chairman Dr Kam Ghaffarian thanked Bhatia for his service and for "steering the company through a significant transition period." Ghaffarian praised Cirtain's "proven track record" of leadership from his time running teams at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and in the nuclear industry.

Posting on LinkedIn, Cirtain wrote: "The next man and first woman to walk on the Moon will be in an Axiom Space spacesuit and we are building a commercial space station, what a mission and a company."

Axiom Space has faced some turbulence over the last year or so. Former NASA International Space Station program manager Mike Suffredini stepped down as CEO in August 2024. Ghaffarian took up the reins as interim CEO before Bhatia was appointed in April 2025.

Bhatia joined Axiom Space in 2021 and oversaw several high-profile contracts over the years, including commercial spaceflight missions.

Axiom Space's finances were called into question in 2024 when Forbes reported it had lost money on every commercial mission. In a letter seen by The Register at the time, Ghaffarian complained that the article painted "an inaccurate picture." However, he did not call out any specific inaccuracies regarding the figures.

A space industry source today questioned whether the leadership shuffle signals deeper problems, saying: "Perhaps the lesson learned here is that private spaceflight is still too expensive."

The Register asked Axiom Space for more information about the appointment and the fate of Bhatia.

Axiom Space has another commercial flight planned for 2026, as well as a potential private British astronaut mission. Other activities include developing a spacesuit for NASA and a commercial space station, with the first module due to be launched in 2027. ®

Updated to add at 1441 UTC, October 16

Matthew Cook, head of space exploration at the UK Space Agency, told The Register: "We're looking forward to working with Dr Cirtain as he leads Axiom Space." Shortly before Bhatia's abrupt departure, the UK Space Agency signed an extension to the Memorandum of Understanding for a UK-led mission.

A spokesperson from Axiom Space got in touch to say: "Axiom Space transitioned its CEO from Tejpaul Bhatia to Dr Jonathan Cirtain on Oct. 15."

Why? "Axiom Space's Board of Directors made this strategic leadership change to advance the development of critical space infrastructure during the company’s next phase of growth."

The Register also understands that the first module of Axiom Station is planned to launch in 2028.