Nanoracks has appointed Marshall Smith as senior vice president of Commercial Space Stations. The company also announced it is opening an office in Huntsville’s Lincoln Mill, which Smith will head.

Smith is a former deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Systems Engineering and Integration, Human Exploration and Operations. Along with leading the Huntsville office, Smith will coordinate and direct the Nanoracks Outpost Program, which is focused on the continued use of upper stages past their primary mission.

A Voyager Space Holdings company, Nanoracks provides commercial space services.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Marshall’s experience and reputation to drive our efforts to assure a new generation of commercial space stations,” said CEO Jeffrey Manber. “I’ve gotten to know Marshall very well over the last several years and have come to appreciate his understanding of how to evolve the NASA legacy into the commercial sector.

“Put simply, Marshall gets it. He understands that the innovation and cost efficiencies of the private sector are key to furthering American leadership in space.”

As deputy associate administrator for SE&I, Smith led the development of NASA’s human spaceflight strategy and exploration architecture plans for LEO, cislunar, and Mars. His recent roles also include Director of Human Lunar Programs, in which he led NASA’s initiative to return to the Moon including directing the development and formulation of the Gateway and the Human Landing System Programs.

“I believe that Nanoracks will be one of the leaders in securing continued American presence in low-Earth orbit and developing new markets at the Moon and Mars,” Smith said. “I was impressed to learn how much Nanoracks has quietly accomplished in advancing the use of in-space platforms and look forward to moving both Nanoracks and the new Huntsville office forward to ensure a vibrant future for commercial space stations and platforms.

“There is a need for a vertically integrated NewSpace company with entrepreneurial spirit that will drive the future of our space programs by scaling up successful smaller space companies. Being part of this new team is something that truly excites me.”