Gwynne Shotwell is Via Satellite’s 30th Executive of the Year. We know SpaceX is a great company and the “cool kids” of space right now, and while Elon Musk obviously takes a lot of credit for his vision, in Shotwell he found the perfect executive to run it like a finely oiled machine. In 2016, SpaceX suffered a huge setback when a high-profile test failure led to the loss of the Amos 6 satellite. Shotwell led the team back from this demoralizing setback to unprecedented heights in 2017, pulling off 18 successful launches and being the first launch company to refly a rocket. When it came to selecting our 30th Satellite Executive of the Year, there was really only one choice.
VIA SATELLITE: What were the key achievements of 2017 for SpaceX?
Shotwell: Pulling off 18 launches and hitting our stride after the Amos 6 failure was key. Recovery was also an extraordinary accomplishment last year. Reflying five vehicles successfully was great — the market acceptance of flight-proven capability far exceeded what I thought we could achieve. I believe half of our flights in 2018 will be on flight-proven vehicles. It is a pretty significant mindset change — a revolutionary change.
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VIA SATELLITE: How will SpaceX maintain its launch cadence in 2018?
Shotwell: We have 26-30 flights in 2018, but around half will be flight proven. With flight proven missions, this cadence requires a production rate we have already demonstrated. Our launch team worked their butts off, and they will do it again this year. The key was we hit our stride on our production side.
VIA SATELLITE: What does the next decade hold for SpaceX and the industry?
Shotwell: We will see rapid launch; being able to launch something in less than two years is really important. I think the next decade will be extraordinary for our industry. We will see flight-proven vehicles flying more often than those that are not. In the next decade, I think there is a strong chance there will be boots on Mars. It is a very exciting time.
VIA SATELLITE: What does this award mean to you?
Shotwell: I was very pleased and surprised when I found out I was the winner. Frankly, I love awards like this because it showcases all the talent that we have working at SpaceX. Personally, this one got me quite excited. Colleagues that I have known and admire greatly have won this award, so it is nice to be following in their footsteps. VS
