Kathy Lueders, the recently retired top human spaceflight official at NASA, has joined SpaceX, led by Elon Musk. Lueders will assume the position of general manager and will be based at the company’s renowned “Starbase” facility in Texas. Reliable sources have confirmed that she will directly report to Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and COO.

This hiring marks a crucial milestone for SpaceX, as the company endeavors to ensure the safety of its colossal Starship rocket for future manned missions. Lueders, a highly regarded authority in the field, brings invaluable experience and is already well-acquainted with SpaceX’s human spaceflight endeavors.

While SpaceX has yet to respond to CNBC’s request for comment on Lueders’ appointment, it is evident that her addition to the team holds immense significance. Lueders retired from NASA in April after dedicating 31 years of her career to the agency. Her notable achievements include overseeing NASA’s Commercial Crew program and successfully managing the initial SpaceX missions carrying NASA astronauts.

It is worth mentioning that Lueders follows in the footsteps of William Gerstenmaier, another former NASA official, who joined SpaceX in 2020. Gerstenmaier currently holds the position of vice president of build and flight reliability at the company.

By bringing Lueders on board, SpaceX reinforces its commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and ensuring the continued success of its ambitious projects. This strategic move highlights the company’s determination to assemble a team of industry experts who will contribute to the realization of its vision for the future of space travel.

By: Isabella Lucas