Age, Biography and Wiki

James Benson was born on 3 April, 1945, is an American aerospace engineer. Discover James Benson's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 63 years old?

Popular As N/A
Occupation N/A
Age 63 years old
Zodiac Sign Aries
Born 3 April, 1945
Birthday 3 April
Birthplace N/A
Date of death 10 October, 2008
Died Place N/A
Nationality

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 3 April. He is a member of famous engineer with the age 63 years old group.

James Benson Height, Weight & Measurements

At 63 years old, James Benson height not available right now. We will update James Benson's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Not Available
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

James Benson Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is James Benson worth at the age of 63 years old? James Benson’s income source is mostly from being a successful engineer. He is from . We have estimated James Benson's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income engineer

James Benson Social Network

Instagram
Linkedin
Twitter
Facebook
Wikipedia
Imdb

Timeline

1945

James William Benson (April 3, 1945 – October 10, 2008) was an American aerospace entrepreneur who founded SpaceDev, a commercial satellite and satellite component development company, and the Benson Space Company, a civilian spaceflight venture focused on commercial space tourism.

Benson was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

He spent 30 years associated with the computer field, spanning the era from the introduction of modern mainframe computers to the dominance of the computer industry by microcomputers.

1981

Benson's partner Hal Woodward invented modern full text computer indexing and searching in 1981 based on the Federal Acquisition Regulation – the search system was called FARA (FAR Automated), and Benson exploited the new field through companies he co-founded.

Benson was active in the early days of Internet Relay Chat (IRC).

1990

In the early 1990s, he assembled a large collection of help files that became the predecessor to today's IRChelp.org.

Benson was a founding member of the Personal Spaceflight Federation.

1997

Benson started the trend of successful high tech entrepreneurs moving into the space development arena, by incorporating SpaceDev, Inc. as a publicly owned space exploration and development company in 1997.

Benson and SpaceDev worked to develop the world's first private sector enterprise to profitably explore and develop space beyond earth orbit.

SpaceDev's mission is to help "make space happen" for all of humanity, through the development of a comprehensive private space program, by delivering affordable and practical space technologies, products and solutions to SpaceDev's government and commercial customers, while creating value for SpaceDev stockholders.

Benson searched NASA's archives and "saw the HL-20's potential as a project that had already received huge amounts of development money. [The vehicle had] friendly flying characteristics combined with a thick pedigree of expensive studies."

SpaceDev licensed the HL-20 technology from NASA and extended it to use for its new Dream Chaser suborbital spacecraft.

Later, the Dream Chaser became a candidate for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Program for delivering cargo to and from the International Space Station.

In the event, SpaceDev was not selected for award under COTS, but did sign a non-reimburseable Space Act Agreement to facilitate additional exchange of non-cash project milestones with NASA.

Afterwards, Benson stepped down as Chairman of SpaceDev and founded the Benson Space Company to pursue the Dream Chaser project.

1998

SpaceDev acquired the former Integrated Space Systems, a space systems engineering firm, in 1998.

In 1998, SpaceDev and its chairman James Benson were named in an administrative proceeding alleging securities fraud.

The SEC alleged that SpaceDev and chairman Benson made false and misleading statements through various media in an attempt to increase its stock value.

A settlement was later agreed upon that states that the SEC was founded in its allegations and SpaceDev cease and desist from committing or causing violations or future violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder; and Mr. Benson cease and desist from committing or causing violations or future violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.

1999

SpaceDev acquired the intellectual property of American Rocket Company in 1999 after AMROC's 1996 bankruptcy.

The AMROC-derived hybrid rocket motors were used in several SpaceDev projects that followed.

SpaceDev started developing the science mission CHIPSat for the University of California, Berkeley in 1999.

2003

In 2003, SpaceDev launched the United States' smallest, low-cost, high performance satellite named CHIPSat for NASA.

CHIPSat is a suitcase-size science microsatellite that is also the first U.S. mission to use only TCP/IP Internet communications for end-to-end satellite operations control, becoming the first satellite whose mission control and operations center is any laptop computer located anywhere in the world.

2004

In 2004, SpaceDev's hybrid rocket motors were used by Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize.

During his 10 years with the company, Benson served as founder, chairman, chief executive officer and chief technology officer of SpaceDev.

Under Benson's guidance, SpaceDev developed critical hybrid rocket motor technology and furnished all of the rocket motors for Paul Allen's SpaceShipOne, the craft that earned the $10 million Ansari X Prize in 2004.

Benson Space had completed its first round of financing and submitted a request for proposal to SpaceDev for the design and development of its SpaceDev Dream Chaser spaceships.

2005

Benson was on the board of directors of the California Space Authority from 2005 to 2007 was named one of the "50 People to Watch in 2005" by San Diego magazine, and was named 2005 "Alumnus of the Year" by the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

He founded the non-profit Space Development Institute, and introduced the Benson Prize for Amateur Discovery of Near Earth Objects.

Benson was Vice-Chairman and private sector representative on NASA's national Space Grant Review Panel.

After a successful career as a computer industry entrepreneur, Benson decided to take on the challenge of starting a space commercialization venture.

It combined his lifelong interests in science, technology and astronomy with his successful business experience.

2006

He stepped down on September 28, 2006 to announce that he was starting a new venture called Benson Space Company.

Jim Benson announced on September 28, 2006 that he had launched an ambitious new venture focused on commercial space tourism, Benson Space Company (BSC).

, Benson Space stated intentions to be first to market in the emerging multibillion-dollar space tourism or personal spaceflight industry, with the safest and lowest cost astronaut-making suborbital missions.

"I am dedicated to opening space for all of humanity and, with SpaceDev well-managed and growing, I plan to spend the next several years creating the possibility that anyone who wants to go to space will be able to, safely and affordably," said Benson in September, 2006.

SpaceDev owns many of the patents and intellectual property rights associated with hybrid rocket motors used for safe human spaceflight.

2007

"In the fall of 2007, Benson Space announced a partnership with United Launch Alliance to turn the Dream Chaser into an orbital vehicle by launching it on an Atlas V rocket. Benson and his team were going to try to go all the way to orbit."

2008

Although the nominal mission duration was one year, the satellite operated successfully for almost five years when mission was terminated in April 2008.