Arad Gharagozli engineers the future of space exploration

“It’s this feeling of, ‘look at us and what we’ve done’,” says the notable alum. “It’s empowering to know there isn’t much we can’t do.”

Today, as the founder and CEO of  — a Halifax-based aerospace company designing and building intelligent satellites for space missions — Gharagozli shares that their goal is to make space more accessible, and more scalable.

Redefining the space industry

In 2018, Gharagozli — a second-year electrical engineering student — and a team of fellow students partnered with the faculty to participate in the Canadian Space Agency’s , where professors and students develop shoebox-sized satellites to be launched into orbit.

Together, the team designed and built the LORIS satellite, the first to be developed in Atlantic Canada. (It would later be launched into orbit in December of 2023 marking a significant milestone for the region’s aerospace industry.)

“We started from zero and managed to finish the satellite in record time alongside 15 universities across Canada,” says Gharagozli. “We were the underdog who dared to dream, and we made it happen.”

Gharagozli shares that their team received a great deal of skepticism during the development of the LORIS, but one person was instrumental in helping their team soar.

Dr. Kevin Plucknett, a professor in Dal’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, was the principal investigator (PI) for the LORIS mission. “He encouraged us every step of the way,” says Gharagozli. “His support and leadership also helped to establish Galaxia in its early stages, and for that I am forever grateful.”

During this time, Gharagozli also founded the from the ground up—Dal’s first and only lab dedicated to the research and development of spaceflight systems.

Galaxia Mission Systems was founded in 2020, intended to fill a gap in the industry. “Our idea was simple,” he says. “What if satellites weren’t just passive data collectors, but intelligent systems that could process information in space, make decisions, and respond instantly to what they see? We didn’t just want to send satellites into orbit—we wanted to give them a mind of their own.”

From that, it didn’t take the Galaxia team long to make a name for themselves. “We intended to challenge the traditional space industry and introduced novel ways that space can be used to enrich our lives and make better decisions here on Earth.” 

Staying grounded

In addition to his role as founder and CEO of Galaxia, Gharagozli is also lending his knowledge and experience to the next generation of Canadian engineers, scientists and technology leaders. This includes through the , a non-profit which he founded in 2023. He’s also president of , an IT cybersecurity company servicing companies in the Halifax area.

Gharagozli was also a featured speaker at ����tv’s Open Dialogue Live session on “” along with Canadian Space Agency’s Tony Pellerin during the 2022 Dal Alumni Days. “It was a sign that we were starting to talk about space as an industry now and not just a novelty,” he says. In the fall of 2024, Gharagozli also on the topics of space and defense, during which advocated for provincial and national progression in space technologies.  

In dealing with the everyday pressures of work life, Gharagozli says he draws inspiration and admiration from his uncle, a pilot. “He is a calm person, as pilots often are in challenging situations,” he says. “I try to draw on that whenever I need to—to breathe, take a step back, assess the situation, and apply [my] resources.”

He also attributes much of his success and happiness in work to the team that surrounds him. “We all share the same passion, focus and energy” Gharagozli says. “They are all determined and persuasive and we are working hard to build this dream in Nova Scotia.”