SpaceX Faces Rare Executive Departure as VP of Commercial Business Resigns

By Thea Felicity

Feb 21, 2024 02:03 PM EST

(Photo : Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with its Crew Dragon capsule launches from pad LC-39A during Axiom Mission Three (Ax-3) at the Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 18, 2024. An all-European crew including Turkey's first astronaut are poised to blast off to the International Space Station in a mission with Axiom Space, as countries hungry for a taste of space turn increasingly to the private sector.

Tom Ochinero, a senior executive at SpaceX, has tendered his resignation, citing family medical reasons. According to CNBC, this is a move that stands out as a rare occurrence in the hierarchy of Elon Musk's space enterprise.

Ochinero, Senior Vice President of Commercial Business at SpaceX, has been instrumental in the company's efforts to augment its market presence, particularly in commercial satellite launches and securing contracts for privately crewed space missions since assuming the role in 2019.

While SpaceX is yet to issue an official statement regarding Ochinero's departure, sources indicate that Stephanie Bednarek is poised to step into his shoes.

Recent SpaceX Executive Resignation

The last time a SpaceX executive resigned was in 2021. In another report by CNBC, the business leadership underwent significant change due to the departure of two vice presidents.

Will Heltsley left the company as a Vice President of Propulsion. Heltsley, who had been with SpaceX since 2009, was apparently reassigned from Raptor engine development due to a reported lack of progress.

In addition to Heltsley's departure, Lee Rosen, the Vice President of Mission and Launch Operations, and Ricky Lim, Senior Director of Mission and Launch Operations, have also left SpaceX.

Now, Ochinero's departure coincides with SpaceX's active preparations for the upcoming third test flight of its revolutionary Starship rocket and the concurrent expansion of its Starlink satellite internet project.

A key executive's exit occurs when SpaceX continues to wield significant influence and dominance in the fiercely competitive U.S. satellite launch market, further underscoring the notable developments within the organization amidst Musk's ambitious undertakings.

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