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My first thought was to enumerate the red flags I see (since there have been a fair number of investor-bait non-serious "space startups"): The team comprises C
by erydo 12y ago
My first thought was to enumerate the red flags I see (since there have been a fair number of investor-bait non-serious "space startups"):
The team comprises CEO, CFO, COO, and VP-BizDev…no engineers, at least in the leadership. To be fair, the COO does have a BS in Physics and almost got a PhD in AE.
No photographs of any facilities, testing equipment, or anything short of 3D mockups. The name is based on a sci-fi TV show and the splash page is also a sci-fi quote.
Looking deeper, however, it looks like they've recently hired their 25th employee (a Systems Engineer) and are building out their engineering team aggressively. Recently funded in January. So perhaps they are legitimately worth keeping an eye on.
- timsally 12y ago> The team comprises CEO, CFO, COO, and VP-BizDev…no engineers, at least in the leadership. Huh? The CEO has a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace engineering from Princeton and was a Principle Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX, Senior Systems Engineer at Blue Origin, and the VP of Propulsion at Virgin Galactic. Put another way, he's been a key engineer at all the major private space companies...
- ceejayoz 12y agoThe CEO and COO are both engineers, according to their bios. CEO: "Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering" COO: "Master's Degree in Astronautics & Space Engineering"
- jccooper 12y agoTom Markusic (CEO) is a real propulsion engineer. He's had a major hand in at least two liquid engines (Merlin and Newton). Which may or may not be a good thing. The overly-ambitious design of their rocket seems like it might be a symptom of having a "bored engineer" in charge. Which could produce some spectacular sci-fi-pulp-like results--but which will more likely kill the company through development hell.