Fri, Feb 25, 2011
College’s "Technology Review" Selected Companies Which
Have Demonstrated Technological Superiority
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has been named one of
the 50 most innovative companies in the world by MIT’s
Technology Review.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch
“I believe that humanity is fundamentally inspired through
understanding and exploring the universe around us and to do so we
must push the technological boundaries of what’s
possible,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Technology
Officer. “SpaceX was founded with the goal of revolutionizing
rocket and space technology in order to take space exploration to
the next level. Making this list is one more sign that we are
making that dream a reality.”
Musk explained, “Our Dragon spacecraft is capable of
carrying the same number of astronauts as the Space Shuttle at one
tenth of the cost. It will also be much safer due to technological
improvements such as a launch escape system, being automatically
stable on reentry, and having a far more robust heat
shield.”
To select the 50 most innovative companies in the world, the
editors of Technology Review looked for those that have
demonstrated superiority at inventing technology and using it both
to grow as businesses and to transform how we live. They identified
the companies that have the most promising technologies and
examined their business models, their strategies for deploying and
scaling up their technologies, and the likelihood that they will
succeed.
SpaceX joined the list after becoming the first commercial
company to recover a spacecraft returning from orbit, a feat
achieved by only a few nations in the history of space travel. The
Dragon’s December flight was SpaceX’s first
demonstration flight under NASA’s COTS program to develop
commercial supply services to the International Space Station.
SpaceX has a contract to fly at least 12 cargo missions for NASA,
the company's biggest customer.
Dragon In Orbit Artist's Concept
Both the Dragon and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket were designed
from the beginning to carry astronauts and are well positioned to
fly the first-ever commercial, manned space missions.
SpaceX matches its engineering strength with a solid business
model. The company has grown to over 1,250 employees since it was
founded in 2002. SpaceX has also been profitable four years running
– from 2007 to 2010.
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