Company Overview
In an era when most technology based products follow a path of ever-increasing capability and reliability while simultaneously reducing costs, launch vehicles today are little changed from those of 40 years ago. SpaceX aims to change this paradigm by developing a family of launch vehicles which will ultimately reduce the cost and increase the reliability of space access by a factor of ten. Coupled with the newly emerging market for private and commercial space transport, this new model will re-ignite humanity's efforts to explore and develop Space.
Our company is based on the philosophy that simplicity, low-cost, and reliability can go hand in hand. By eliminating the traditional layers of management, internally, and sub-contractors, externally, we reduce our costs while speeding decision making and delivery. Likewise, by keeping the vast majority of manufacturing in house, we reduce our costs, keep tighter control of quality, and ensure a tight feedback loop between the design and manufacturing teams. And by focusing on simple, proven designs with a primary focus on reliability, we reduce the costs associated with complex systems operating at the margin.
Established in 2002 by Elon Musk , the founder of PayPal and the Zip2 Corporation, SpaceX has already developed two brand new launch vehicles, established an impressive launch manifest, and been awarded COTS funding by NASA to demonstrate delivery and return of cargo to the International Space Station. Supported by this order book and Mr. Musk's substantial resources, SpaceX is on an extremely sound financial footing as we move towards volume commercial launches.
Although drawing upon a rich history of prior launch vehicle and engine programs, SpaceX is privately developing the Dragon crew and cargo capsule and the Falcon family of rockets from the ground up, including main and upper stage engines, the cryogenic tank structure, avionics, guidance & control software and ground support equipment.
Launch and Placement Services
With the Falcon 1, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles, SpaceX is able to offer a full spectrum of light, medium and heavy lift launch capabilities to our customers. We are able to place satellites and other spacecraft into any inclination and altitude, from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit to planetary missions. And we offer open and fixed pricing for such services that is the same for all customers, including a best price guarantee. We currently have launch complexes available in Vandenberg, Kwajalein Island and Cape Canaveral.
The Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy are the only US launch vehicles with true engine out reliability. They are also designed such that all stages are reusable, making them the world's first fully reusable launch vehicles. And our Dragon crew and cargo capsule, currently under development, will revolutionize access to space by providing efficient and reliable transport of crew and cargo to the ISS and other LEO destinations.
Our design and manufacturing facilities are located near the Los Angeles International airport, leveraging the deep and rich aerospace talent pool available in Southern California. Our extensive propulsion and structural test facilities are located in Central Texas.
Falcon 1 at SpaceX launch pad, Kwajalein Atoll. Photo: Thom Rogers
SpaceX People
Elon Musk - CEO and CTO
Elon Musk is the chief executive officer and chief technology officer of Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), which develops rockets and spacecraft for missions to Earth orbit and beyond. Musk served as chief engineer for Falcon 1, the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to reach orbit, as well as Falcon 9 and the Dragon spacecraft. In 2008, SpaceX won the NASA contract to replace the cargo transport function of the Space Shuttle with Falcon 9 and Dragon. President Obama and NASA Administrator Bolden decided in 2010 to outsource astronaut transport to the commercial sector. F9/Dragon is considered by many to be the leading system for that role.
Musk’s other primary activity is serving as CEO and Product Architect of Tesla Motors, where he has overseen product development and design from the beginning, including the all electric Tesla Roadster and Model S sedan. Musk is also the non-executive chairman of SolarCity, the leading provider of solar power systems in California.
Prior to SpaceX, Musk co-founded PayPal, the world's leading Internet payment system, and served as the company's Chairman and CEO. Before PayPal, Musk co-founded Zip2, a provider of Internet software to the media industry.
In 2007, Musk was recognized for his work by Research and Development Magazine’s, receiving their Innovator of the Year Award. He received the 2007/2008 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics award for the greatest contribution to the field of space transportation. In 2008, Musk was named as one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century by Esquire magazine and received the Aviation Week 2008 Laureate for the most significant achievement worldwide in the space industry. In 2009, the National Space Society awarded Musk their Von Braun Trophy, given for leadership of the most significant achievement in space. In 2010, Musk was recognized as a Living Legend in Aviation by the Kitty Hawk Foundation for creating the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft and most recently, Musk was awarded the $250,000 Heinlein Prize for his significant and practical contributions to the commercialization of space.
He has a physics degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a business degree from Wharton and currently serves as a member of the Stanford University Engineering Advisory Board.
Gwynne Shotwell - President
As President of SpaceX, Ms. Shotwell is responsible for day-to-day operations and for managing all customer and strategic relations to support company growth. She joined SpaceX in 2002 as Vice President of Business Development and built the Falcon vehicle family manifest to over 40 launches, representing over $3 billion in revenue. Shotwell is a member of the SpaceX Board of Directors.
Prior to joining SpaceX, Shotwell spent more than ten years at the Aerospace Corporation. There she held positions in Space Systems Engineering & Technology as well as Project Management. She was promoted to the role of Chief Engineer of an MLV-class satellite program, managed a landmark study for the Federal Aviation Administration on commercial space transportation, and completed an extensive analysis of space policy for NASA's future investment in space transportation. Shotwell was subsequently recruited to be Director of Microcosm's Space Systems Division, where she served on the executive committee and directed corporate business development.
In 2004, she was elected statewide to the California Space Authority Board of Directors and served on its executive committee. She has also served as an officer of the AIAA Space Systems Technical Committee. Shotwell participates in a variety of STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics)-related programs, including the Frank J. Redd Student Scholarship Competition; under her leadership the committee raised over $350,000 in scholarships in six years. Shotwell received, with honors, her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Northwestern University in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics. She has authored dozens of papers on a variety of subjects including standardizing spacecraft/payload interfaces, conceptual small spacecraft design, infrared signature target modeling, shuttle integration, and reentry vehicle operational risks.
Bret Johnsen - CFO
Mr. Johnsen is Chief Financial Officer of SpaceX. Mr. Johnsen is responsible for overseeing the long-term financial development of the company, interfacing with the financial community and managing the company's internal financial operations. Mr. Johnsen brings 20 years of financial leadership experience, mostly in high-profile, publicly traded companies, to SpaceX. Mr. Johnsen has served in this role since joining SpaceX in May 2011.
Previously, Johnsen spent nearly a decade at Broadcom Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, where he played a key role in helping transform that company into a leading Fortune 500 technology company. Starting out as Controller for a number of business groups within Broadcom, he quickly rose up the ranks. He ultimately was named Vice President, Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting Officer, overseeing an 80-member accounting organization in nine countries for the cutting-edge technology company.
After leaving Broadcom, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Mindspeed Technologies. Last year, he was named CFO of the Year” by the Orange County Business Journal for bringing the chip maker through the recession by cutting costs, reworking debt, selling stock and raising cash through patent sales. Johnsen holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Southern California and a Master of Science in Finance from San Diego State University. He is a certified public accountant in the State of California.
Tim Buzza - Senior Vice President of Production and Launch Operations
Mr. Buzza joined SpaceX in 2002 as Director of Test Operations, developing the Falcon 1 launch vehicle and Texas Test Site Operations. As Senior Vice President of Production and Launch Operations, Mr. Buzza's responsibilities include production and mission activities in Hawthorne, integration and test work in McGregor, TX and launch site operations in Kwajalein, Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg.
Since joining SpaceX in 2002, Mr. Buzza has lead the development, test and successful launch of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle, the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and the Dragon spacecraft. This includes a state-of-the-art Mission Control Center at the company's Hawthorne headquarters to conduct on-orbit operations, as well as a 700-acre Rocket Development and Test Facility in McGregor, TX, featuring nine different test stands used to certify vehicle components for flight. In addition, Mr. Buzza led development of all three SpaceX launch sites including Cape Canaveral. Under Mr. Buzza's direction, development of the Cape Canaveral launch site--from demolition to fully operational--was completed in less than 2 years.
Prior to joining SpaceX, Mr. Buzza was the test project manager for Boeing's Delta IV 1st Stage. His experience includes structural testing of the LH2 and LOX tanks, engine section, interstage and nosecone, as well as analysis and verification of the booster and stage separation systems. Mr. Buzza was responsible for the schedule and budget for 23 major tests with a total budget of $100 million.
Mr. Buzza has extensive test experience in the aerospace industry ranging from aircraft systems testing (fuel, hydraulics, and environmental) to stage development of a medium to heavy payload rocket. His career has taken him all over the world to most of the major test sites in Europe and America. Mr. Buzza has a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. His work has been published by ASME and several have culminated into US patents.
Tom Mueller - Vice President of Propulsion Development
Mr. Mueller has a track record as one of the world's foremost rocket engine designers and is responsible for building and managing an elite propulsion development group at SpaceX. Before being recruited to SpaceX, Mr. Mueller spent 14 years at TRW where he ran the Propulsion and Combustion Products Department, responsible for all liquid rocket engine activities.
During his career at TRW, he was the lead engineer for development of the 650,000 lbf thrust LOX/hydrogen engine, which was successfully hot fired at NASA Stennis in the summer of 2000. He has a broad range of rocket engine design, development and testing experience, including all common liquid propellants and many advanced propellants, ranging in thrust from 5 lbf to 650,000 lbf.
Mr. Mueller has a Master's Degree in mechanical engineering from Loyola Marymount University. He has received many awards, including the TRW Chairman's Award, which is TRW's most prestigious award for technical achievement and holds several US patents in propulsion technology.
Robert Reagan - Vice President of Machining
Mr. Reagan is responsible for manufacturing operations at SpaceX. As such, he is tasked with building the world's leading launch vehicle manufacturing capability -- simultaneously ensuring high efficiency, low cost and an adherence to exceptional and consistent product quality.
Before joining SpaceX, Mr. Reagan is most noted for being a key founding executive of Certified Fabricator, Inc., where he was responsible for building and running the manufacturing operations. Certified is acknowledged to be one of the leading outsourced manufacturing companies in North America. In particular, during his tenure at Certified, Mr. Reagan oversaw construction of several critical sub-components of the International Space Station and tooling assemblies for construction of the Space Shuttle External Tank.
Dr. Hans Koenigsmann - Launch Chief Engineer
Dr. Koenigsmann is Launch Chief Engineer for all of SpaceX. His experience includes two suborbital launches with newly developed vehicles, a satellite development and launch and several attitude control systems; his specialties are attitude control (in particular magnetic attitude control), orbit and attitude dynamics, systems engineering and guidance and control systems.
Dr. Koenigsmann has served as head of the Space Technology Division of Germany’s Center for Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen. In that role, he was responsible for the development and operation of the satellite BREMSAT.
Dr. Koenigsmann then worked for Microcosm as a Chief Scientist and a Flight Systems Manager for their Scorpius sub-orbital launch vehicles, where he led a team that developed the vehicle’s avionics, guidance and control systems, as well as supported the thrust vector control development. For their Space System Division, he developed satellite attitude control systems, using a variety of control concepts, including wheels and magnetic torquers, for which he received a US patent.
Dr. Koenigsmann has a Ph.D. in Aerospace and Production Technology from the University of Bremen and an M.S. Aerospace Engineering from the Technical University of Berlin.
Adam Harris - Vice President of Government Sales
Mr. Harris is the Vice President of Government Sales and is responsible for implementing and overseeing SpaceX interactions with Federal agencies. In concert with the SpaceX leadership team, Mr. Harris works to secure financial support for SpaceX business activities and programs.
Prior to SpaceX, Mr. Harris most recently served as the Staff Director of the House Select Intelligence Oversight Panel on the Appropriations Committee. He also held the position of space budget analyst on the professional staff of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
Mr. Harris' government experiences include serving as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Mr. Harris served as an officer for eight years in the United States Air Force with assignments at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Wright Patterson Air Force Base and at the National Reconnaissance Office.
Mr. Harris received his bachelor's degree in Astronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy and a master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Lawrence Williams - Vice President of Strategic Relations
Mr. Williams responsibilities include managing governmental affairs and developing the base of international customers and strategic partners. Prior to Space X, he served as Senior Vice President for Business Development for the satellite communications company ICO Global Communications and Vice President of International and Government Affairs for Teledesic Corporation. His government experience includes having served as a special assistant to the administrator of the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a member of the Presidential transition team for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Ray Thornton on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
Larry is currently a member of the U.S. Council of Foreign Relations and has served on the Board of Directors of the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) and the Satellite Industry Association (SIA). He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and Masters in Business Administration from Georgetown University’s International Executive MBA program.
Marv Vander Weg - Vice President OF EELV Customer Office
Mr. Vander Weg is responsible for acquiring and managing Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELV) missions for SpaceX's U.S. Government customers.
Vander Weg joins SpaceX from United Launch Alliance (ULA) where he was the Vice President for the Customer Program Office. In that role, Vander Weg was responsible for developing customer interfaces and enhancing customer satisfaction during the acquisition and execution of the contractual obligations for the Atlas and Delta launch vehicle programs.
Prior to his time at ULA, Vander Weg served as the Director of the Atlas Government Program Office for Lockheed Martin's (LM) Atlas Program. Through this role, and various other assignments in acquisition and program management at LM, he gained extensive experience with the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, the NRO's Office of Space Launch, and the NASA-Kennedy launch programs.
Mr. Vander Weg received his BS from the United States Air Force Academy in 1972. In 1976, he received his MBA from the University of Missouri.
Timothy Hughes - Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Mr. Hughes is responsible for the company's legal, regulatory, and government affairs. These responsibilities include oversight of the company's commercial and government contracting, export controls, insurance, litigation, and federal legislative agenda. Prior to joining SpaceX, Mr. Hughes served as Majority Counsel to the Committee on Science and Technology in the United States House of Representatives. In this capacity, he provided counsel to the Science Committee generally, with a particular focus on the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. Among other things, Mr. Hughes was the principal House staff attorney responsible for drafting and shepherding the passage of commercial human spaceflight legislation, H.R. 3752 and H.R. 5382, the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004 (enacted into law as P.L. 108-492), which established the legal and regulatory framework for private human spaceflight in the United States.
Mr. Hughes currently serves as a Board Member on the FAA's Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). A graduate of William and Mary Law School and honors graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Mr. Hughes previously worked for as a senior associate with the Communications and Litigation groups of Drinker Biddle & Reath and as an attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel for the United States Secret Service.
Jerry Fielder - Vice President of Human Resources
Mr. Fielder's responsibilities include recruiting, benefits and 401k administration, and all employee relation related activities.
Prior to joining SpaceX, he was the Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for Integrated Device Technologies, Inc., a public semiconductor company (IDTI). During his 5 years at IDTI, he also served as Secretary of the Board of Directors, was responsible for the legal department, and also served as interim Chief Financial Officer for 6 months. Prior to IDTI, he was the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration at Rohm Corporation, another semiconductor company and a subsidiary of Rohm Co. Ltd., for 9 years. He also served on the Board of Directors and was the Corporate Secretary
Mr. Fielder received his Business Administration degree from the University of California Berkeley, and was a Certified Public Accountant in California. He worked 9 years with Price Waterhouse & Co. (now Price Waterhouse Coopers).