Steven P. Shepard
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Steven P. Shepard

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Steven P. Shepard is a cancer survivor, aerospace engineer, entrepreneur, and author. Born in Lansing, Michigan, he grew up primarily in nearby Haslett, with periods in Atlanta, Georgia, and St. Louis, Missouri. He played multiple sports as a child and developed an early fascination with space through Star Wars and, later, Kip Thorne’s Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy. These interests inspired him to pursue aerospace engineering, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan. After graduation, Steven began his career at Lockheed Martin Space in Sunnyvale, California. He specialized in gas dynamics, fluid dynamics, and electric propulsion, contributing to NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn and the propulsion system design for NASA’s Orion spacecraft. He later supported advanced satellite programs, specializing in spacecraft propulsion and thermal analysis, and contributed to the successful launch of multiple satellites. His work also expanded into hypersonics, high-energy laser-material interactions, nanomaterials, and advanced high-temperature materials and coatings. In 2025, Steven founded Vaxon Space, where he serves as Co-Founder and CEO. He leads the company’s research and development efforts focused on enabling operations in very low Earth orbit through advances in air-breathing electric propulsion, spacecraft propulsion, thermal analysis, and satellite system design. His work builds on more than a decade of experience developing advanced spacecraft technologies and advancing the future of spaceflight. Steven’s battle with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma and eventual recovery inspired him to write Vanquishing Cancer: Winning the Fight of Your Life, a memoir and practical guide for patients, caregivers, and survivors. He remains deeply involved in cancer awareness and support. An avid athlete, Steven enjoys weightlifting, pickleball, golf, skiing, hiking, and travel. He is a proud University of Michigan and San Jose Sharks fan, a voracious reader, and lives in the San Jose, California area, where he continues to channel his resilience into advancing space technology and helping others.
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Vanquishing Cancer

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