Primary Job Title Founder and CEO Primary Organization Impulse Space
Location Greater Los Angeles Area, California, United States Regions West Coast, Western US Gender Male
Investor Type
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Mr. Mueller has a track record as one of the world's foremost rocket engine designers and is responsible for building and managing an elite propulsion development group at SpaceX. His department is responsible for all propulsion development at SpaceX, including propulsion systems and engines for the launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft.
Prior to joining SpaceX as a founding employee, Tom spent 15 years at TRW, where he ran the Propulsion and Combustion Products department and was responsible for liquid rocket engine development activities.
Tom has more than 26 years of relevant experience in the aerospace industry and led development of the Merlin rocket engine, the highest-performing US-made hydrocarbon engine ever and the first American hydrocarbon booster engine made in 40 years.
During his career at TRW, he was the lead engineer for development of the TR-106 650,000-lbf thrust LOX/hydrogen engine. Tom has a broad range of rocket engine design, development and testing experience, including all common liquid propellants and many advanced propellants, ranging in thrust from 5 lbf to 650,000 lbf.
Tom has a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from Loyola Marymount University and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Idaho.
He has received many awards, including the TRW Chairman's Award, the company's most prestigious award for technical achievement, and he holds several US patents in propulsion technology.
