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Jim Benson, SpaceDev, Entrepreneur

SpaceDev Founder Jim Benson Dies

Bruce V. Bigelow 10/10/08

Jim Benson, an impatient visionary and aerospace entrepreneur, died today of a brain tumor, according to a statement issued by SpaceDev, the San Diego-based company he founded.

SpaceDev developed the hybrid rocket engine used to power SpaceShipOne, the Burt Rutan-designed spacecraft, in its historic 2004 suborbital flight, which won the $10 million Ansari X-Prize. Benson, who was 63, resigned from an operational role at SpaceDev two years ago, but retained a seat on the board.


Reader Comments

  • Kevin Carroll
    10/13/08 1:46 pm

    Jim was way ahead of his time, privatization of space is on its way. 20 years from now, we will all look back at Space Dev, and say “That is where it started’

    Jim, you will be missed

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