This is a consequential hire for SpaceX — it is difficult to

overstate the influence Gerstenmaier has over human

spaceflight both in the United States and abroad. He led

NASA’s space shuttle, International Space Station,

commercial crew, and exploration programs for more than a

decade. He immediately brings credibility to the company’s

safety culture. Former Space Shuttle Program Manager

Wayne Hale, who now chairs the human spaceflight

committee of NASA’s Advisory Council, told Ars last

summer, “Bill was recognized by everybody as being

technically well-grounded and very astute. He was known to

listen carefully and to make his judgments based on good

technical reasons….”

Although the role is officially a consultancy, it is expected to

become a full-time position. SpaceX is poised to launch the

first crewed mission of its Dragon spacecraft by June of this

year. [Or possibly even in early May.] Gerstenmaier will play

a key role in ensuring the safety of those missions and

helping SpaceX secure certification for the Crew Dragon

vehicle. The hiring could have longer-term implications as

well. Few people in the global aerospace community have as

much gravitas as Gerstenmaier or as much understanding of

how to build coalitions to explore space…

In December 2008, Gerstenmaier saved a cash-strapped

SpaceX with a Commercial Resupply Service contract for

operational cargo missions to the International Space

Station. Gerstenmaier’s decision to maintain two competitors

as part of the commercial crew program in 2014 (SpaceX

and Boeing) was also essential, although it was not a

company-saving move. Boeing was lobbying hard for all of

the funds and very nearly got them. Gerstenmaier was the

deciding official who kept two providers in the competition.

It has proven to be a smart decision, as SpaceX is poised to

beat Boeing into space by months, if not years, at 50

percent less cost.