Former NASA astrophysicist to launch space startup Cosmic Dynamics

A well-known Turkish astrophysicist, Umut Yıldız, is heading back to the United States to launch a new space startup, Cosmic Dynamics, after spending the past 2.5 years in Türkiye.

Yıldız, who previously worked for many years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory focused on deep space communication and big data projects during his time there.

The U.S. remains “the center of the global space economy”

His return to the U.S. signals a strategic shift. After more than two decades abroad, Yıldız had moved back to Türkiye to join a private space initiative, called Plan-S, based in capital Ankara. While he says he does not regret the decision, he believes the local ecosystem in Türkiye is “not yet mature enough for the kind of large-scale space ambitions he wants to pursue”.

“For the kind of work I want to do in space, the center is still the United States. The United States is the heart of the space economy,” he said.

$180 billion space giant reshaping the space industry

That assessment reflects a broader industry reality. Companies like SpaceX — founded by Elon Musk — are rapidly reshaping the sector. From reusable rockets to global satellite networks like Starlink, SpaceX has pushed the boundaries of commercial spaceflight and is now valued at around $180 billion on private markets. Its next-generation rocket, Starship, is expected to further transform access to space.

Against that backdrop, Yıldız is starting from scratch.

In a recent Instagram post, he said his immediate plan is to meet investors in San Francisco before setting up operations in Los Angeles.

The roadmap regarding the space startup is straightforward: build a working demo, then scale through successive investment rounds.

Meanwhile, Cosmic Dynamics already has an official website up and running. For now, however, the site does not provide any details about the company’s vision or mission.

Cosmic Dynamic aims to become a billion-dollar company

Yıldız’s ambition is anything but small. He aims to grow Cosmic Dynamics into a “unicorn” — a startup valued at $1 billion — and eventually into a “decacorn,” surpassing a $10 billion valuation.