המאיץ המדעי Out of the Box

Meet the Judges! 👩‍⚖️💻 Last but certainly not least, we are incredibly excited to welcome Ella Barzilay to our judging panel!

Ella is the Brand Lead & AI Developer for our very own ATLAS International Educational Platform (Out of the Box). She leads the end-to-end architecture of global AI-driven features using Python and manages a massively scalable platform across multiple continents. 🌍🤖

Before leading ATLAS, Ella designed highly sensitive, real-time data environments and won the highest national award for technological excellence for her mission-critical, large-scale systems! 🏆

She knows what it takes to build a scalable MVP, deploy zero-downtime architecture, and pitch a brand on global stages. Teams—she will be looking for strong tech, real-world scalability, and a flawless presentation! 🚀

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🌍 Meet the Judge: Dr. Roy Yaniv
Out of the Box Aerospace | LUNA 2026

We’re proud to welcome Dr. Roy Yaniv to the LUNA 2026 judging panel.

An expert in Atmospheric Sciences, Dr. Yaniv specializes in planetary atmospheres, climate systems, and space weather analysis — fields that are critical for both deep space exploration and Earth-based environmental monitoring.

From studying extreme atmospheric conditions on other planets to advancing climate-tech applications on Earth, his work bridges science, data, and aerospace innovation.

If your startup focuses on environmental monitoring, atmospheric data, climate technology, or planetary systems — be ready to present strong scientific validation.

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Meet the Judges! 👨‍⚖️🏥 Continuing our stellar lineup of experts, please welcome Dr. Paul Zilberman to the Semi-Finals!

Joining us from the prestigious Hadassah Medical Organization, Dr. Zilberman brings critical medical insights into the biological challenges of deep space exploration. Surviving on the Moon or Mars requires flawless innovation, and he will be looking closely at the scientific integrity and medical feasibility of your projects. 🔬🌖

Are the scientific and medical facts behind your startup ready for the ultimate test?

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Meet the Judges! 👨‍⚖️🚀 We are beyond excited to introduce Mr. Tal Inbar, who joins the LUNA Semi-Finals not only as a judge but also as our Keynote Speaker! 🎤

With nearly 30 years of experience, Tal is an international expert in aerospace, space strategy, and missile research. He previously headed the Space Research Center at the Fisher Institute, co-founded the Israeli Space Society, and serves as a senior consultant to the Israel Space Agency and defense industries. 🛰️🌍

He knows the global space industry inside out and understands what makes a technology truly viable and disruptive. To earn his vote for Budapest, your pitch needs to be strategic and ready for launch! 💥

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Meet the Judges! 👩‍⚖️🚀 We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Ayelet Weizman will be judging our Semi-Finals!

Representing the Global Aerospace Academy (GAA) and Kibbutzim College, Dr. Weizman is a powerhouse in space education. With a Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences and a background as the VP of Education at SpaceIL (the team that almost landed the “Beresheet” spacecraft on the Moon!), Ayelet is a leading expert in space pedagogy and tech. 🧬🔭

She knows exactly how to take a raw entrepreneurial idea and turn it into a groundbreaking, scientifically sound project. Students, get ready to show her your true out-of-the-box thinking! 💡

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Meet the Judges! 👨‍⚖️✨ We are incredibly honored to welcome Prof. Yoav Yair to the LUNA 2026 Semi-Finals judging panel!

As the Dean of the School of Sustainability at Reichman University (IDC), Prof. Yair is a world-renowned space and atmospheric researcher. He designed the “ILAN-K” lightning experiment conducted by the late astronaut Ilan Ramon on the Space Shuttle Columbia, and sent another experiment to the International Space Station with astronaut Eytan Stibbe on the Rakia Mission! 🌍🪐

When we talk about “Dual Use”—creating solutions for space that also protect Earth—there is no greater expert in sustainability. Will your startup impress him? Your science better be bulletproof! 🔬

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🚀 The LUNA 2026 Semi-Finals are fast approaching, and our teams are working around the clock on their startups! 🌌

The challenge is massive: teams must develop projects that are original, innovative, and grounded in scientific principles. They need to tackle complex problems for Moon and Mars settlement while ensuring a “Dual Use”—meaning their solutions must also benefit life here on Earth. And let us tell you, the ideas they’ve developed are nothing short of mind-blowing! 🤯🌍✨

With the stakes so high, our judging panel has a monumental task ahead of them. At the end of the competition day, the judges—and only the judges—will decide which projects earn the highly coveted invitation ticket to the finals in Budapest! 🎟️🇭🇺

Starting today, we are thrilled to introduce the incredible experts who will be evaluating our future space entrepreneurs:
Get ready for an unforgettable Semi-Final Demo Day! Who will secure their spot in Budapest? Stay tuned! 👇

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