Lexie Weikert creates business plans in the space industry

“What can physicists do? ” is an interview series that profiles physicists who opted for careers outside of academia.

What were you looking for in a job?

I wanted to bring my technical skills to building out space architecture for government and commercial purposes. And I wanted to do something new and challenging.

How did you move into the space industry?

As an undergraduate, I did an internship at the US Naval Research Laboratory. They brought in scientists and historians to give talks, and from those I was inspired to take a class in space policy. When I was graduating, the US Space Force was being stood up; companies were investing, and there were opportunities to participate in shaping how we use space in the future.

I had been following Astroscale, and when they started hiring in the US, I joined their business development team. In that role, I engaged with government offices, wrote bids, and worked with the company’s engineering teams. A couple of years later, I applied for my current role as a business and strategy analyst at Astroscale UK. I started in London in January 2025.

What do you do at Astroscale?

The company aims to create an in-orbit ecosystem—refueling satellites, extending their lives—and it develops technologies to remove space debris. I work cross-functionally: I talk with engineers, policymakers, and financial people. Within my team, we turn the insights we get into a business strategy.

What do you like about your job?

We get to come in at the ground floor and have an effect on space logistics. I like being at the interface of commercial and government space activities. Also, I get to work with the smartest, kindest people I’ve ever met.

How do you use your physics in your job?

Physics comes in through understanding how to break down problems—engineering problems, financial problems, economic problems—being able to think creatively, and understanding the space environment.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

From a pure physics point of view, commercial space sometimes seems outlandish. But the physics and the applications are linked. It’s important to have people who can bridge the gaps.