Around the world in the quest for innovation

From orbit to Earth, Karolina Jastrembska is helping shape the future of water. As Senior Project Specialist at Aquaporin, she leads the company’s space activities while also driving forward several of its public-private partnerships – all with one goal: to turn bold ideas into real-world innovation.

Most recently, her work brought her back to her native Czechia – not for a break, but to speak at the International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES), a leading forum for advancing technologies that support human life in space and extreme environments.

At the conference, Karolina presented Aquaporin’s vision for the future of water filtration in space.

In orbit, Aquaporin's technology transforms sweat, condensation, and urine into clean drinking water - a crucial step in making long-duration space missions possible. This effort is part of the Aquaporin Space Alliance, in collaboration with Danish Aerospace Company A/S.

“We are challenging the processes and membranes. We are closer to developing a functional design suitable for space travel. It is an exciting time because of all the cool developments we are making,” Karolina explains.

In late 2024, it was announced that the Aquaporin Space Alliance (ASA) signed a new contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development of a Water Recovery System (WRU) designed for use in space.

Innovation for both space and Earth

This work doesn’t just support life in space. It also inspires new solutions for water-scarce environments here on Earth.

In early 2025, Danish ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen visited Aquaporin’s headquarters in Lyngby. For Karolina, that visit made a lasting impression.

"It was inspiring to hear how Andreas led complex projects in space - proving that even in orbit, success comes down to clarity, teamwork, and trust. It is a great inspiration, that I can bring a bit of that thinking back into the way I go about my daily work,” Karolina recalls.

Over her many years at Aquaporin, Karolina has contributed to a wide range of projects. Work that not only suited her detail-oriented mindset but also aligned with her passion for using science to make a meaningful difference in the world.

“I have always hoped to create something impactful in my career, and working on a project like this one feels like a rare alignment of purpose and possibility. It is humbling to work on this project on one side but also exciting – and it reminds you to focus on where you can make a difference,” she says.

For Karolina, space is more than a frontier – it is a proving ground for the kind of innovation that can shape our future. Whether it is enabling life beyond Earth or addressing water challenges here at home, she is part of a mission that reaches far and wide, yet always starts with asking: how can we make a difference?