Rocket startup Gilmour Space Technologies today announced, in a press release, the appointment of two space veterans to its advisory board as it prepares to enter the global small launch market in 2020.
“We are very proud to welcome Professor Dava Newman and Colonel Pamela Melroy as senior advisors to the board,” said Gilmour Space Technologies CEO and Founder, Adam Gilmour.
Colonel Pamela Melroy is a retired colonel of the US Air Force, a test pilot and ex-NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle commander. She has held senior roles in the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and in various defence companies in the US and Australia.
Professor Dava Newman (pictured right) is the former deputy administrator of NASA, and current Apollo Program Professor of Aeronautics & Astronautics and Engineering Systems at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has been a key proponent of NASA’s human Journey to Mars, and is a renowned inventor, mentor and engineer.
“Dava and Pamela have both had incredible careers in space. Their deep knowledge and experience across civil, defence and commercial space activities — and their openness to new technologies and innovation — will be invaluable to the team as we grow our launch capabilities and develop frontier technologies in space,” said Mr Gilmour.
“I am very pleased to be joining Gilmour Space’s advisory board at this exciting time,” said Colonel Melroy. “I believe their hybrid rocket technology is poised to make a substantial contribution to the low-cost launch market,” thus spurring the New Space revolution.
“Indeed, we are at the crossroads in commercial space with the advent of new small launch vehicles,” said Professor Newman. “Gilmour Space has demonstrated significant advances in their propulsion technology, and I look forward to seeing more innovative engineering from this promising Australian rocket company.”
