I am an aerospace engineer with a broad range of interests with a primary focus on space technologies: deep space robotic missions, space habitats, asteroid mining, space-based observatories, space tethers and elevators.During my career at Yuzhnoye SDO I was involved in numerous projects, ranging from CubeSat-sized deorbiting systems to space and moon settlements with closed ecosystems. Being an innovation-addicted person my interests were always aligned in a plane of pushing new ideas to the prototype stage. In pursuit of the goal to evolve in this direction, I have mastered various CAD, CAE and CAS systems, learned three programming languages and dozens of frameworks and libraries, developed a number of design and simulation software.My research initiatives were always targeted at finding new ideas and approaches to amplify the pace of space exploration. I have been a member of the International Astronautics Academy study group “Road to Space Elevator Era”, performed a study of the distribution of undiscovered potentially hazardous asteroids, developed a concept of a robotic landing mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa using electric propulsion and momentum exchange tether.These experiences and initiatives eventually have led me to understanding the problems of conceptual design and prototyping deep enough to find patterns and obstacles in the journey of an innovator from the idea to the concept and from the concept to the prototype stages. The inner driver to overcome these obstacles and help innovators to become more creative and successful pushed me towards founding SplineCloud – an open data platform that will change the way engineers bring their most ambitious ideas to life.