SpaceX is a private company that designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has achieved several "firsts" such as being the first private company to launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft. It has also developed reusable rockets and technologies like Falcon 9 and Dragon to further reduce costs. SpaceX's ultimate goal is to enable human life on other planets to ensure long-term survival of humanity.
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SpaceX Overview
2. SpaceX DNA Select Achievements
SpaceX brings together people who share two key ?? In just 9 years, SpaceX has designed, built, and tested 5 rocket
characteristics, regardless of their discipline: engines, 2 launch vehicles, and 1 reusable, multipurpose spacecraft ¡ª
all at a fraction of historical costs.
1. The drive to be exceptional
2. The talent to back it up ?? SpaceX¡¯s Merlin rocket engines are the first American engines
to be designed, built, and see space flight since the Space Shuttle
Main Engines almost 30 years ago.
Our employees represent some of the most talented individuals in
their fields. They thrive under pressure and are driven by a need to ?? SpaceX is one of only two commercial companies authorized by NASA
make a difference. to produce PICA-X, a high performance heat shield material that will
protect the Dragon spacecraft on re-entry.
Engineering staff works closely with production teams to create
hardware that can be seen and touched hours after a design is ?? September 28, 2008: Falcon 1 became the first privately
complete. We believe in hands-on, hard-core engineering, and a work developed liquid fuel rocket to achieve Earth orbit.
environment that allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible.
?? December 23, 2008: SpaceX was awarded a $1.6 billion NASA contract
to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) ¡ª the first time NASA
BENEFITS has outsourced this function to private companies.
?? July 13, 2009: Falcon 1 became the first privately developed liquid
?? Equity opportunity through stock options
fuel rocket to put a commercial satellite in orbit.
?? Competitive base salary
?? Comprehensive health benefits for medical, dental, and vision ?? June 4, 2010: SpaceX¡¯s Falcon 9 reached orbit on its first attempt,
achieving 100% of mission objectives including a near bulls-eye
?? Three weeks starting time off and 10 paid holidays per year
insertion into its target orbit.
?? Life/Disability insurance
?? Paid gym membership ?? December 8, 2010: SpaceX became the first commercial company to
successfully return a spacecraft from Earth orbit ¡ª a feat previously
?? 401k and Roth 401k
only accomplished by 6 nations or government agencies.
?? Casual work environment
Looking Ahead
Falcon Heavy: Debuting in 2013, Falcon Full Reusability: A fully reusable launch Mars: SpaceX was founded with the singular
Heavy will be the world¡¯s most powerful rocket, vehicle is the fundamental breakthrough needed mission of making human life multi-planetary.
generating a liftoff thrust equal to that of fifteen to substantially lower costs in the aerospace Whether leading or supporting this effort, we
Boeing 747 aircraft at full power. industry. This is a core goal for SpaceX. have our sights firmly set on Mars.
3. Profiles
¡°Just as a spacecraft is more than the sum of its parts, SpaceX is an amazing group of smart, passionate people
who have come together to make something bigger than themselves. Ever since I started as an intern, I have been
challenged to do my best and give everything I¡¯ve got. I still feel lucky that I am allowed to play a part in our success.¡±
Tina Hsu
B.S. Electrical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
Title: Manager, Avionics Space Vehicle Systems and Integration
Role: Lead the avionics systems integration team for Dragon.
¡°Having worked in production automotive design, motorsports, and aerospace engineering, SpaceX truly combines
the best of all three fields. With the production development cycle of Formula 1, the cost effective design
requirements of high-volume automotive, and the allure of space flight; it is truly an engineer¡¯s company. I can¡¯t
imagine working anyplace else.¡±
Bill Riley
B.S., M.Eng. Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University
Title: Senior Structures Engineer
Role: Create the design criteria for structures engineering flight hardware.
¡°SpaceX gives new employees the challenge and responsibility to really make them grow and learn at a pace faster
than the norm. It is an inspiring and motivating atmosphere filled with people who want to make a difference and
are actually given the chance to do so.¡±
Florence Li
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware
M.S. Aeronautics & Astronautics, Stanford University
Title: Manager, Launch Mechanical Systems
Role: Oversee the mechanical operations group for the launch sites.
¡°Being an astronaut is the coolest job ever. It was very, very difficult to voluntarily hang up my spacesuit and leave
NASA, but it¡¯s an engineer¡¯s dream to design a spaceship. To me, it was obvious that SpaceX is the unequivocal
leader as we approach a new golden age of spaceflight; that¡¯s where I wanted to be.¡±
Garrett Reisman
Former NASA Astronaut
Title: Senior Mission Assurance Engineer
Role: Manage the development of human-rated spacecraft.
4. Our Mission Is To Provide the safest, most reliable, and most economical access to space.
Our Story
Elon Musk founded SpaceX because he believed a future where humanity Our philosophy is simple: with robust design and efficient operations, low-
is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where cost and reliability can go hand-in-hand. Today, SpaceX is not only the lowest
we are not. cost-per-kilogram launch provider in the world, but one of the first private
companies contracted by NASA to service the International Space Station.
In an era when most technology-based products become exponentially
more capable and affordable, space technology remains much the same At SpaceX, we are driven to help build a future where space transportation
as it was 40 years ago. SpaceX was started in 2002 to reverse this trend becomes as commonplace as commercial aviation is today. With our exceptional
by creating highly reliable rockets and spacecraft at a lower cost. team leading the way, we see no reason that this future will not become a reality.
5. Leadership
Elon Musk CEO AND CTO
SpaceX is the third company founded by Musk. Musk¡¯s other primary activity is serving as CEO and
Product Architect of Tesla Motors; Musk is also the non-executive chairman of SolarCity, the leading
provider of solar power systems in California. At SpaceX, Musk served as chief engineer for Falcon 1,
the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to achieve Earth orbit, as well as Falcon 9 and the
Dragon spacecraft. Prior to SpaceX, Musk co-founded PayPal, the world¡¯s leading electronic payment
system, and served as the company¡¯s chairman and CEO. Before PayPal, Musk co-founded Zip2
Corporation in 1995, a leading provider of enterprise software and services to the media industry.
Musk has won a series of awards, including being named one of the 75 most influential people of the
21st century by Esquire magazine and recognition as a Living Legend in Aviation by the Kitty Hawk
Foundation. Musk holds 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
Shotwell joined SpaceX in 2002 as Vice President of Business Development, where she developed
a customer database representing over 30 missions and nearly $3B in revenues before being
promoted to President in 2008. Prior to SpaceX, Shotwell spent ten years at Aerospace
Corporation with positions of increasing responsibility, including Chief Engineer of an MLV-class
satellite program. Shotwell also received numerous awards for her technical work at Aerospace,
including Woman of the Year and the prestigious Achievement Award for outstanding support to
STS-39, the twelfth mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Shotwell also headed the Space
System Division at Microcosm where she grew division revenues from $300k to $3.5M annually.
Shotwell received her Bachelor¡¯s and Master¡¯s Degrees from Northwestern University in
Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, with honors.
6. At SpaceX we build over 80% of our vehicles in-house. In fact, we are one of the few companies in the world
Avionics Propulsion Structures
Hardware Software Turbomachinery Mechanical Design and Analysis
Flight Computers Vehicle Control In-Space Propulsion Systems Structural Dynamics
Engine & Stage Controllers Guidance & Navigation Rocket Nozzles Thermodynamic & Aerodynamic Modeling
Battery Design Fault Detection & Recovery Pressurization Systems Vehicle & Component Structural Testing
Harness Routing & Design Command & Data Handling Hot Fire Testing Space Mechanisms Development
Environmental Testing Embedded Systems Rotordynamics Thermal Protection Systems
RF & Communications Real-Time Systems Thrust Chambers Test Stands
Power Systems Propellant Feed Systems
GNC Analysis & Design Valves & Components
7. where you can visit one location and see an entire launch vehicle coming together. We build it, test it and fly it.
Launch & Mission Operations Production Business OPerations
Mission Operations & Simulations Advanced Welding Business Development
Ground Support Systems Precision Machining Finance
Mechanical Launch Pad Design & Operations Spin Forming Human Resources
Telemetry Tracking Manufacturing Engineering Information Technology
Spacecraft Integration Tooling Design & Development Legal
Recovery Operations Vehicle Assembly Marketing
Fluid System Design & Operations Stage & Vehicle Integration Mission Assurance
Spacecraft Operations Composites Product Quality
Mission Operations Software Development Security
8. ¡°I like to be involved in things that change the world.
The Internet did, and space will probably be more
responsible for changing the world than anything else.¡±
Elon Musk, CEO & CTO, SpaceX
www.spacex.com
310-363-6000
SpaceX Locations: Hawthorne, CA | McGregor, TX | Washington D.C.
SpaceX Launch Sites: Omelek Island, U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) | Cape Canaveral, FL | Vandenberg, CA