Juan Carlos López
Senior Solution Specialist, Space and AI, Microsoft
Juan Carlos López is at the forefront of advancing AI adoption in the space industry. Most recently, he managed a partnership between NASA and Microsoft to build the NASA Earth Copilot – an AI-powered tool designed to make NASA’s vast Earth science data more accessible and actionable. This initiative leverages Azure OpenAI and advanced geospatial capabilities to help scientists, researchers, and the general public explore climate and environmental data using natural language.
NASA Earth Copilot represents a major step forward in how AI can enhance decision-making, making it easier for experts and non-experts alike to work with complex datasets. Through this collaboration, López and his team helped NASA accelerate AI adoption, demonstrating the power of cloud-based AI to support its critical mission of understanding and protecting the planet.
“Juan Carlos is leading the way in bringing AI and cloud technologies for space including how NASA uses data for science and exploration. His leadership on the NASA Earth Copilot is a great example of how he’s driving innovation and enabling new discoveries,” said Heidi Kobylski, U.S. federal civilian leader at Microsoft.
This partnership not only showcased the power of AI but also set the foundation for future AI applications across NASA’s mission areas.
Why Watch:
In 2025, López and his team are focused on scaling AI adoption across NASA. Their efforts include transitioning AI capabilities, like the NASA Earth Copilot, from prototypes to operational systems, ensuring they deliver real impact to NASA’s scientists, engineers and mission teams.
Beyond this, his team is working with NASA to explore how AI can streamline satellite operations, enhance space exploration, and improve mission efficiency. By embedding AI into workflows, they aim to help NASA push the boundaries of what’s possible in space and on Earth.
“AI is transforming the space industry – not only by making space programs more efficient but also by making them more inclusive,” López said. “It lowers barriers to entry, allowing a broader and more diverse group of scientists, engineers, and the public to learn and contribute to space exploration like never before.”
Fun fact: López isn’t just a Space Executive to Watch — he’s also a “Guardian of the Galaxy.” In 2023, he helped launch a partnership between Microsoft, NASA’s ISS program and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 to create educational materials that inspire students to pursue STEM careers. The effort used space and superheroes to show how tech and creativity can shape the future.