Opening Remarks:
Carolyn began the session by appreciating last night’s inspiring event and welcomed the audience to the morning keynote with Gwen Chotwell, President of SpaceX.

Gwen Shotwell’s Inspirational Message:
Shotwell expressed her gratitude for being invited and praised the welcoming and supportive environment at WITI. She intended to share helpful insights for entrepreneurs, promote her business, and narrate her journey to becoming an engineer.

SpaceX and its Mission:
Shotwell introduced SpaceX, founded in 2002 with the goal of revolutionizing space transportation. The company aimed to develop systems that would eventually enable humans to leave Earth for exploration and survival.

Aircraft-Like Reliability and Affordability:
Shotwell emphasized the need for space transportation systems to achieve aircraft-like reliability, which is significantly higher than current standards. Making space travel less expensive was also a critical aspect of SpaceX’s mission.

Video Presentation:
Shotwell showed a video overview of SpaceX’s background and achievements.

Falcon 9 Launch and Dragon Capsule Mission:
Shotwell discussed the third flight of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and the second flight of the Dragon capsule. The mission aimed to transport cargo to the International Space Station and return with scientific data.

SpaceX’s Dragon Mission:
SpaceX’s Dragon mission involved launching a Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Dragon spacecraft, into orbit to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). The mission delivered supplies and conducted scientific experiments on the ISS.

Public-Private Partnership:
SpaceX and NASA collaborated as partners in this mission, with SpaceX contributing $300 million and NASA contributing $400 million. This partnership allowed for the development and demonstration of the Dragon spacecraft at a much lower cost than traditional government-led projects.

Benefits of the Partnership:
The public-private partnership enabled rapid development, utilizing NASA’s expertise and SpaceX’s innovative approach. This collaboration resulted in a cost-effective and successful mission.

NASA’s Role:
NASA provided funding and expertise in space operations, ensuring the safety and compatibility of the Dragon spacecraft with the ISS. While NASA could specify requirements, they did not dictate the design or implementation methods used by SpaceX.

Dragon’s Capabilities:
Dragon was designed to carry up to seven crew members, although it is typically used for cargo delivery. It can remain docked with the ISS for several weeks, allowing astronauts to unload and load cargo.

Re-entry and Recovery:
Dragon re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down in the ocean, where it was recovered by commercial salvage operators and SpaceX staff. The parachutes initially failed to deploy correctly, resulting in a parasailing effect before the spacecraft was successfully retrieved.

Comparison to Other Nations:
SpaceX’s Dragon mission is comparable to similar efforts by the European Union, Japan, and Russia, but it stands out due to its public-private partnership approach.

Opportunities for Future Partnerships:
SpaceX’s successful partnership with NASA highlights the potential of public-private collaborations in technology development. This model could be applied to other areas, fostering innovation and reducing costs.

SpaceX’s Public-Private Partnerships:
SpaceX sees great value in forming public-private partnerships to leverage taxpayer dollars and increase their impact. Gwynne Shotwell encourages technologists to reach out to SpaceX to explore these partnerships.

SpaceX’s Innovations:
SpaceX has identified opportunities for innovation in space technology, such as solar cells and search engines, where significant cost savings can be achieved.

The Importance of the Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle:
The Falcon 9 launch vehicle has helped establish SpaceX as a leader in the commercial launch market. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is significantly more cost-effective than competing launch vehicles, at a price of $50 million compared to $420 million. The Falcon 9 program received critical support from the public-private partnership with NASA.

Intellectual Property Ownership:
In the public-private partnership, SpaceX retains intellectual property (IP) ownership. The government has march-in rights, allowing them to take over the IP if SpaceX fails to commercialize it within a certain timeframe.

SpaceX’s Plans for Passenger Shuttles:
SpaceX is actively pursuing a contract with NASA to develop a passenger shuttle. The Dragon spacecraft was designed from the outset to carry humans and has windows for this purpose. SpaceX is working on a safety escape system and a more controlled landing system for the passenger shuttle.

SpaceX’s Inspiration from Popular Culture:
SpaceX draws inspiration from popular culture, particularly Star Wars. The Falcon and Dragon spacecraft are named after elements from the Star Wars universe. The company acknowledges its roots in science fiction literature and film.

Origins of the Name “Falcon”:

* Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s President and COO, shared the inspiration behind the name “Falcon.”
* The name was derived from the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars, a beloved science fiction movie.
* Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, chose the name because the Millennium Falcon, though flawed, was fast.

SpaceX’s Competitors in the Global Market:
* SpaceX faces competition from various international launch providers.
* Ariane 5 (Europe), Proton (Russia), and Chinese launch vehicles are significant competitors.
* The US launch vehicles are not considered competitive in the global market.

Concerns about Sharing Intellectual Property (IP):
* Shotwell emphasized that SpaceX sells services, not its launchers.
* The company does not sell its IP and is prohibited from sharing information about its launch vehicle due to US regulations (ITAR).
* SpaceX has programs and practices in place to ensure the protection of its IP.

Cost of Space Travel and Personal Aspirations:
* Shotwell expressed her desire to travel to space but acknowledged the high cost.
* The estimated cost for a seat on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft for NASA’s program is around $20 million.
* Shotwell shared an anecdote about Elon Musk asking SpaceX employees who would go to space, reflecting the company’s passion for space exploration.

Challenges in Astronaut Selection:
SpaceX employees are eager to fly as astronauts, but it is unclear how astronaut spaces will be allocated, leading to potential competition and a more aggressive dynamic among employees.

Space Marketing and Brand Identity:
SpaceX considered commercial marketing opportunities, including placing logos on their spacecraft, but ultimately decided against it to protect their brand image. Launches are seen as potentially becoming ubiquitous and commonplace, reducing the appeal of branding on rockets.

International Sales and Regulatory Approvals:
SpaceX must obtain government approval for various aspects of its business, including international sales. The company has a strong presence in international markets, with almost half of its business coming from overseas customers.

Talent Acquisition and Workforce Challenges:
SpaceX experienced difficulty hiring during its early failures but saw a surge in interest after achieving success. Attracting mid-level engineers with families to the expensive Los Angeles area can be challenging. SpaceX’s fast-paced, meritocratic culture may not suit all potential employees.

Sourcing and Manufacturing:
SpaceX’s rockets are manufactured almost entirely in the United States. The company sources some raw materials and components from overseas, including GPS receivers from Germany and star trackers from the UK.

Finding Inspiration:
Gwynne Shotwell excelled in high school but struggled in college. Her mother recognized her potential in technology and bought her a book about cars, sparking her interest in engineering. Shotwell initially envisioned engineers as train drivers.

An Encounter That Changed Her Life:
Shotwell attended a Society of Women Engineers event at Illinois Institute of Technology. She was particularly drawn to a mechanical engineer who spoke about green building materials. Inspired by this encounter, Shotwell decided to pursue a career as a mechanical engineer.

Pursuing Engineering:
Shotwell enrolled in a mechanical engineering program at a university and obtained her degree. She joined Chrysler Motors as a mechanical engineer but was disappointed with the work. Chrysler outsourced most of its engineering overseas, leaving Shotwell managing projects for engineers in Japan.

Transition to Aerospace:
Shotwell returned to academia to pursue a PhD in applied math, focusing on engineering analysis. She left after completing her master’s degree due to financial constraints. Shotwell joined Aerospace Corporation in 1988, where she worked for a decade.

Gwynne Shotwell’s Journey to SpaceX:
Shotwell started her career at SpaceX as the seventh employee, joining after a decade at Microcosm and four years at a small company called Microcosm. Over the past 10 years, SpaceX has grown from a small company to a large organization with nearly 1,900 employees. Shotwell values the extraordinary team of dedicated individuals she works with at SpaceX.

SpaceX’s Recent Mission Video:
Shotwell shared a video of SpaceX’s latest mission, which included a view from the Dragon capsule looking up at the International Space Station. Astronaut Don Pettit expressed his satisfaction with the engineering and layout of the human-rated Dragon capsule.

Balancing Work and Family:
Shotwell emphasizes that balance does not necessarily mean equal proportions, but rather a stable and harmonious state. She is open to answering questions about balancing work and family.

Family and Work Balance:
Shotwell has a supportive husband and well-behaved children who understand her work commitments. She manages to balance her work and family life by setting aside an hour or two in the evening to focus on her family after work.

Serendipitous Career Path:
Shotwell’s career path has been influenced by serendipitous events, including her mother’s encouragement to pursue engineering, a chance encounter with a professor who led her to a job at Aerospace Corporation, and a meeting with Elon Musk that resulted in her joining SpaceX.

Importance of Embracing Random Events:
Shotwell emphasizes the value of taking risks and embracing uncertain opportunities, as these can lead to unexpected outcomes and new possibilities. She encourages engineers to step out of their comfort zones and explore different paths, even if they seem unrelated to their field of study.

Encouraging Women in STEM:
Shotwell believes that science and engineering are no longer as intimidating for girls as they once were, thanks in part to the influence of Silicon Valley. She advocates for girls to pursue engineering degrees, as they provide a solid foundation for problem-solving and critical thinking skills, which can be applied to various career paths. Shotwell highlights the importance of getting girls involved in STEM education early on, as evidenced by the success of young students whose science projects were taken to the International Space Station.

Personal Anecdotes:
Shotwell shares personal anecdotes about her childhood, her children, and her experiences at SpaceX, which provide insights into her personality and values. She shows a photo of herself as a cheerleader in her teenage years, contrasting it with a photo of a young girl who was a principal investigator of a science project taken to the International Space Station, highlighting the progress made in encouraging girls in STEM.