The origins of Æsir
About Us
Our Journey Begins
Aesir Space was founded in 2025 and builds on over 40 years of combined space insurance expertise. Aesir are passionate believers in the transformational impact of space technology and its role in sustaining and improving life on earth. We believe that insurance is not only a key component to enabling the business plans of space companies globally, but also to ensuring long-term access to and use of the space environment.
Aesir was founded with the vision to provide sustainable insurance products to the growing space economy. As space technology advances at record breaking pace, we understand that few risks are identical and that novel risks can require a new approach. We are always looking for better ways to communicate risk and collaborate to ensure that the best solution is found for client and insurer alike.
And why the name Aesir? In Norse mythology Aesir were the gods, watching over the safe passage between the realms of the humans on earth and the realms of the skies. We hope that as humanity continues to venture into the cosmos that we too can safeguard the journey.
Our Core Values
Trust is the bedrock of all insurance. Maintaining the trust of our clients and carriers is our number one priority. Our values form the foundation of the commitment we make and how we operate at Aesir. We believe that our values are not just words but the underlying philosophy for how we interact and conduct business with the world.
Integrity
Integrity is not negotiable, it’s the moral compass that guides our every decision even when no-one is watching. Doing what is right, even if challenging, is what defines us and provides the lasting value to our clients and carriers.
Authenticity
Words matter and trust is hard won yet easily lost. We pride ourselves on being honest and transparent in every interaction. We aim to build sustainable partnerships based on mutual understanding to the benefit of both insurer and client.
Innovation
Technology never stands still and insurance needs to keep pace. Innovation is the key to ensuring that we never fall behind and continue to provide effective solutions that solve problems for our clients.
Reliability
Reliability is more than just meeting expectations, it’s about consistently exceeding them through every claim, renewal or client interaction. We aim to build lasting relationships so that when it matters most, you can depend on us.
Collaboration
We understand that we do not operate alone and to provide the best service possible we need clear and effective communication with all stakeholders. We highly value and prioritise all opportunities to collaborate and provide the best coverage possible.
Meet Our Team
Morten Pahle
Director
Morten has over 20 years of risk management experience in the space industry and over 15 years in the insurance market. His technical knowledge gives Aesir Space a unique perspective on the space insurance market.
During his underwriting career, he was Founder and Managing Director of ViVet Limited, an MGA focused on space, aviation and energy. He was also UK Branch Manager at Glacier Insurance (now Starstone Insurance) and a Space Underwriter at Assicurazioni Generali.
His risk management credentials stem from his work as Group Risk & Insurance Manager at EADS Astrium Satellites (now Airbus Defence and Space) starting his career as a Reliability engineer on LEO meteorological satellites.
Anastasia Balina
Director
Anastasia has over 15 years of experience in Space and Aviation (Re)Insurance. Her extensive experience as a broker gives her understanding of insureds’ needs and an ability to define suitable insurance coverage solutions for a broad spectrum of risks.
In her last role as Divisional Director for Space at United Insurance Brokers, Anastasia was responsible for placing reinsurance for CIS clients including Roscosmos and Russian aerospace manufacturers, including not just launch and in-orbit but also AIT, pre-launch and third party liabilities.
Making good use of her MBA and drawing on her network and multicultural background, she strengthens and broadens Aesir Space’s diversified and structured underwriting approach.
Matthew Sweatman
Assistant Underwriter
Matthew joined Aesir Space as part of Volante Global in early 2024, transferring from the Civil Aviation Authority. Prior to joining his career spanned weapons system engineering and space regulation after graduating with a Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering.
As weapons engineer for the first 5 years of his career his work focused predominantly on test and evaluation of weapons and energetic systems as part of safety and suitability for service assessments. This included work in support of qualification of new systems through to surveillance and life extension activities.
From 2022 Matt worked in the space engineering team at the UK Civil Aviation Authority as part of the space regulation team working in support of space licensing in the UK. He was involved with licensing of new launch systems and sites as well as satellites.
As an assistant underwriter Matthew looks to build on his experience in risk assessment to support Aesir Space’s diversified and structured underwriting approach.