RAYCHO RAYCHEV, Works as Director of Space Challenges Program, Co-founder – Association Tsiolkovsky, National Point of Contact – Space Generation Advisory Council

Created the biggest space outreach initiative in Bulgaria – Space Challenges Program (http://spaceedu.net) and coordinates the efforts of creating permanent space-related and high-tech education in the country. Co-founder of Association Tsiolkovsky (http://tsiolkovsky.net) – a successful NGO organization helping hundreds of young people around the World. After more than 7 years of hard work and investments (2004 -2011) the organization has completed successfully more than 45 international projects. He has worked at the Brazilian Space Research Institute in Sao Jose dos Campos, performing feasibility studies and marketing research and at the Bulgarian Institute for Space and Solar –Terrestrial Research as a consultant in the field of international relations. His education is diverse – Bachelor Degree in History Studies at Sofia University, History of International Relations at University of Seville, Master of Sciences – Space Management at the International Space University.

In 2010 he took part in the leading NASA program for exponential technologies at NASA Ames Research Center – Singularity University. He was a team member of the biotechnology team - creating new designs for biosatellites in Low-Earth orbit.

As of 2011, he is finishing his space related PhD at the Bulgarian Institute for Space and Solar-Terrestrial Research.

On January 2011, he was nominated as National Point of Contact at Space Generation Advisory Council, Vienna – Austria.

Currently his interests are oriented towards the creation of permanent space education in Bulgaria. He is also engaged in the development of new type of high-tech laboratories in support of the educational program.