Career at Aerospace Corporation:
Over 10 years of experience in space systems engineering, technology, and project management. Promoted to chief engineer of an MLV-class satellite program. Managed a landmark study on commercial space transportation for the Federal Aviation Administration. Conducted extensive analysis of space policy for NASA’s future investment in space transportation.

Awards and Recognition:
Named the 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year. Awarded the AIAA Goddard Astronautics Award and the ASME Ralph Coates Roe Medal. Ranked 42nd on Fortune magazine’s list of the world’s 50 greatest leaders in 2018. Listed among Forbes’ power women in 2017.

Advisory Committee and Fellowship:
Appointed to the U.S. Export-Import Banks Advisory Committee and the FAA’s Management Advisory Council. Elected to the Honorable Grade of Fellow with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

STEM Advocacy:
Raised over $1.8 million for STEM programs reaching thousands of students nationwide. Leadership in corporate and external science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs.

Education and Publications:
Earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics with honors. Serves on the board of Northwestern University. Authored dozens of papers on various space-related subjects.

Enthusiasm for SpaceX:
Describes the best part of her job as working with the extraordinary people at SpaceX. Excited to be part of a team of nearly 9,000 dedicated individuals.

Gwynne Shotwell’s Role at SpaceX:
She was asked to join SpaceX as the head of the sales team by Elon Musk. Initially, she was hesitant but decided to accept the offer due to her desire for a more innovative and fast-paced work environment.

Challenges in Developing Starship and Super Heavy:
The primary challenge lies in designing a production system capable of producing hundreds of Starships and Super Heavies per week. Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, while great rockets, are challenging to manufacture.

Starlink’s Impact on the Night Sky:
SpaceX underestimated the visibility of Starlink satellites in the night sky, particularly during transit to their operational orbits. Efforts are underway to minimize the obtrusiveness of Starlink satellites, such as adding sunshades. SpaceX is committed to ensuring the space environment remains uncluttered and preserving the night sky for future generations.

Servicing Starlink Satellites:
Currently, there are no plans to service individual Starlink satellites due to their relatively low cost and the ability to maneuver out of the way of space debris. SpaceX aims to use Starship’s capabilities to retrieve and examine troublesome satellites or space debris.

Starlink’s Potential Markets:
Beyond rural internet users, Starlink has the potential to serve underserved and unserved areas globally. Its beams do not discriminate between cities and rural areas, allowing for wide coverage. SpaceX seeks to leverage Starlink to provide internet access anywhere on the globe, particularly to those who lack connectivity.

Direct-to-Consumer Broadband and Enterprise Use:
SpaceX’s primary focus is on direct-to-consumer broadband services, targeting home-based internet. However, the system’s capabilities may also attract enterprise and business users.

In-Flight Wi-Fi:
Gwynne Shotwell expresses frustration with the poor quality of in-flight Wi-Fi services currently available. SpaceX aims to provide reliable and high-quality internet connectivity on aircraft, addressing the frustrations of travelers.

Community Wi-Fi:
While community Wi-Fi is a potential future venture, SpaceX’s immediate priority is to build out its constellation and ensure the quality of its network and services.

Ambitious Goals and Burnout:
Shotwell believes that big and ambitious goals, even seemingly absurd ones, can help prevent burnout. Working towards something truly meaningful and important can make long and hard work more bearable.

Work as a Journey:
Shotwell views careers as journeys rather than mere work, especially in the context of SpaceX’s ambitious mission. Passion for the work can make it feel less like a burden and more like a fulfilling pursuit.

Managing Workload and Burnout:
SpaceX has learned over time what is sustainable for its employees and what is not. The company has adjusted its approach to ensure that employees can maintain a healthy work-life balance and avoid burnout.

Management and Burnout:
Gwynne Shotwell emphasizes the importance of preventing burnout, particularly during periods of high launch frequency. She warns that exhausted individuals may make mistakes that could lead to safety issues, especially when human lives are at stake.

Space Goals and the Next Administration:
Shotwell expresses her admiration for the ambitious goal of sending a woman to the moon by 2024, despite skepticism from some critics. She believes that such audacious objectives align with SpaceX’s ethos of pushing boundaries. Shotwell encourages continued support for lunar missions, whether under the current or a new administration. She advocates for prioritizing important near-term objectives over long-term goals.

Being a Role Model as a Woman Leader:
Shotwell initially felt uncomfortable being seen as a role model for aspiring leaders, especially as a woman in a minority leadership position. She admits her preference for avoiding media attention and awards.

Role Models in Engineering:
Gwynne Shotwell, COO of SpaceX, was inspired to become an engineer by a stylish woman she met at a Society of Women Engineers event. She emphasizes the importance of role models for women interested in pursuing engineering careers.

Personal Moonshot:
Shotwell’s personal moonshot is to develop space transportation capabilities that can take humans much further and faster, enabling them to meet other intelligent beings. She acknowledges that achieving this goal may not be possible in her lifetime but finds the prospect thrilling.

Transport to Mars:
While Shotwell herself is not eager to go to Mars, she recognizes that many people, including a substantial percentage of SpaceX employees, are passionate about the idea. She believes that a market will emerge for space travel once humans are regularly traveling and living in space. Deploying satellite constellations like Starlink using Starship makes financial sense, even without considering Mars missions.

Spacesuits for Moon or Mars EVA:
SpaceX is planning to develop its own spacesuits for Moon and Mars Extravehicular Activities (EVA). Shotwell has not seen a prototype or rendition of the suit design yet but knows that the team is actively working on it.

Starship Launch Cost:
Shotwell declines to discuss pricing for lunar missions due to ongoing competition. The ultimate goal is to reduce the cost of a Starship mission to the fuel cost plus operational expenses, aiming for a few million dollars per mission.

SpaceX’s Cost-Effective Starship Delivery Goal:
Gwynne Shotwell envisions a future where Starship delivery capability matches Falcon 9 prices, targeting the $50 million range. This would be a significant achievement in reducing the cost of space travel.

SpaceX’s Focus on Building the Starship:
Currently, SpaceX is fully dedicated to building the Starship itself. They believe that once they demonstrate substantial progress, others will step in to address the challenges associated with living on other planets.

Challenges of Space Colonization:
Shotwell highlights the numerous challenges that need to be solved for successful space colonization, including protection, healthcare, and the impact on human health. She hopes that others will collaborate to tackle these issues.

NASA’s Role in Space Exploration:
Shotwell acknowledges NASA’s ongoing work on space exploration, including their involvement in Europa. SpaceX has only considered Europa in the context of launching spacecraft for potential future missions.

SpaceX’s Transition from Cargo to Human Missions:
SpaceX initially focused on cargo missions before transitioning to human spaceflight, aiding in the revival of human spaceflight. This transition required different preparations, such as ensuring human safety, developing life support systems, and meeting stringent requirements for human space travel.

Cargo First, Then People:
SpaceX’s initial focus on cargo transportation was beneficial, providing a foundation for later human transportation endeavors. Starship will likely carry cargo to the moon before carrying humans to its surface.

Safety and Reliability:
Understanding and operating technology effectively is crucial, especially when dealing with human lives. Failure of cargo missions, even expensive satellites, is preferable to accidents involving human lives. The commercial crew program’s significant development was the escape system on Dragon, enabling the capsule to leave Falcon 9 in emergencies. Reliability is a top priority for SpaceX due to the high stakes of human missions and the numerous customer missions they execute.

Advice for Young Professionals:
To young women aspiring for management or leadership roles in the industry: Embrace challenges and recognize that setbacks are opportunities for growth. Be persistent and resilient in pursuing your goals. Seek mentors and role models who can provide guidance and support. Focus on building strong technical and leadership skills. To someone aiming to fill Gwynne Shotwell’s shoes: Understand the importance of the customer and always prioritize their needs. Build a strong team and empower them to make decisions. Be willing to take risks and push boundaries to achieve ambitious goals. Maintain a positive and inspiring company culture that attracts and retains top talent.

Success in Diverse Roles:
Gwynne Shotwell attributes her success to her willingness to take on new roles and responsibilities beyond her initial job description. Starting as head of sales, she gradually assumed roles such as mission manager, finance manager, and government affairs manager as the company grew. She emphasizes that women tend to underestimate their abilities and encourages them to embrace new roles even if they lack prior experience.

Personal Growth and Learning:
Shotwell emphasizes the importance of listening and learning from others, both superiors and subordinates. She stresses the value of hard work and dedication in achieving success. She acknowledges that taking on new roles can be uncomfortable, but urges women to push through discomfort and seize opportunities for growth.

SpaceX’s Influence and Future Goals:
Shotwell believes that SpaceX is influencing how people think about careers, space exploration, and space-related businesses. She aims to continue raising the bar and keeping people engaged with space through exciting launches and innovative initiatives. Her goal is to inspire more people, especially women, to pursue careers in space and related fields.

Recognizing Time’s 100 Designation:
Shotwell expresses mixed feelings about being named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People, as she prefers to keep a low profile. She interprets the recognition as an acknowledgment of SpaceX’s impact on the space industry and the public’s perception of space exploration. She intends to use this platform to advocate for space exploration and encourage more people to consider careers in the space sector.