Akashma Online News

By Marivel Guzman | Akashma News

Congratulations, Loay!

May Allah always keep you safe, protect you from envy, and keep your path open and free of obstacles. I am deeply proud to have had the privilege of meeting you and of witnessing the success of a fellow Palestinian whose journey is truly extraordinary.

I first met Loay Elbasyouni at a UNRWA USA 5K fundraiser for Gaza. I remember seeing this young man with a camera and assuming, naturally, that he was a photographer like me covering the race.

What a surprise it was to later discover who he was — and what he would go on to accomplish.

There is one small detail from that day that makes Loay’s story especially personal to me.

At one point, we posed together with Don Kim, a Japanese reporter who was also covering the event. It was an ordinary, candid moment — three people with cameras, different backgrounds and a shared interest in documenting what was happening around us.

I had no idea that the young Palestinian standing beside us was an engineer whose work would later become part of one of the most remarkable achievements in modern aerospace history.

Looking at this photograph now, more than a decade later, gives that moment an entirely different meaning. I am simply grateful that our paths crossed before I knew the extraordinary road his life and career would take.

Loay’s journey began in Beit Hanoun, Gaza, where he attended UNRWA schools. From those beginnings, and despite hardship, financial struggles, interrupted education, and the many obstacles placed before him, he persevered.

He became an accomplished electrical engineer and was part of the team behind NASA’s Mars Ingenuity Helicopter, serving as the electrical and power electronics lead. His work contributed to the historic first powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet in April 2021.

From Gaza to Mars.

That sentence alone carries an entire story of perseverance.

Loay, your success is not only your personal achievement. For Palestinians everywhere—especially young Palestinians who are too often shown only images of war, displacement, and suffering—you are also a reminder of what Palestinian minds can accomplish when given an opportunity to learn, create, dream, and flourish.

Loay later joined Blue Origin, where he worked in senior engineering leadership on electrical systems for advanced rocket engines, contributing his expertise to technologies associated with future lunar exploration.

And then came another extraordinary chapter: AstraQua Inc.

In 2024, Loay founded AstraQua, a California deep-technology company, and became its CEO. Through AstraQua, he moved from contributing to some of the world’s most ambitious aerospace programs to building and leading his own technology company.

AstraQua is developing advanced Physical AI and adaptive autonomous systems for applications including small satellites, coordinated drones and demanding maritime environments.

That achievement deserves special recognition.

Loay is no longer only the Palestinian engineer who helped humanity fly on Mars. He is now an entrepreneur creating technologies intended for the next generation of autonomous exploration.

From Beit Hanoun to NASA.
From NASA to Blue Origin.
From Blue Origin to founding AstraQua.

And his journey continues.

For Palestinians everywhere — especially young Palestinians who are too often presented to the world only through images of war, displacement and suffering — Loay represents another Palestinian reality: intelligence, education, engineering, invention, perseverance and leadership.

There is something particularly meaningful to me about remembering the day I met him.

I thought I was photographing another photographer at a 5K for Gaza.

Instead, my camera captured a Palestinian engineer whose work would help humanity fly on another planet — and who would later establish a company of his own to develop technologies for the future.

Loay, congratulations on AstraQua and on the extraordinary journey that brought you here.

May Allah continue to illuminate your path, protect you, and grant you success in everything that lies ahead.

From Gaza to Mars — and now, building the future. 🇵🇸🚁✨

I am so proud that our paths crossed that day at the 5K for Gaza. I thought I was meeting another photographer.

Instead, I was meeting a Palestinian whose work would help humanity fly on another planet.

Congratulations on everything you have achieved, Loay, and on everything still ahead of you.

May Allah continue to illuminate your path, protect you, and grant you even greater success.

From Gaza to the stars. 🇵🇸🚁🔴✨