Hans-Jörg Königsmann (born 1963) is a German aerospace engineer who was Vice President of Flight Reliability for SpaceX until his retirement in 2021.
Education and career
Hans Königsmann obtained his aerospace engineering diploma at the Technical University Berlin in 1989, followed by a PhD in Aerospace Engineering and Production Technology at the University of Bremen in 1995.
He began working at the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity at the University of Bremen, where he was in charge of avionics and later management of the BremSat satellite. After successful launch and the end of the project one year later, he emigrated to California to work for the satellite manufacturer Microcosm Inc. He met Elon Musk at a rocket launch in the Mojave desert.
In 2002 Hans Königsmann became the fourth technical employee for the newly-founded SpaceX. He was part of the launch team starting as VP of Avionics, then from the third Falcon 1 flight forward was the Launch Chief Engineer. SpaceX promoted him to Vice President of Flight Reliability in 2011 making him responsible for the safe completion of SpaceX missions. Koenigsmann announced his retirement from SpaceX in January 2021.
Dr. Königsmann has been a member of Bremen based space and technology company OHB SE's Supervisory Board since June 24, 2022. Königsmann is also operating as an advisor for the Seattle based rocket company startup Stoke Space.
Honors
Hans Königsmann was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2014. It is the highest form of recognition by NASA for non-Government individuals.
Published works
References
External links
Hans Koenigsmann. Interviewed by Rebecca Hackler NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Office. Edited Oral History Transcript. Hawthorne, California on January 15, 2013 Pre-launch conference for SpaceX CRS-4. Video of Hans Koenigsmann talking about the mission during 14:30–20:19 and 22:04–36:39
Living people
German aerospace engineers
German emigrants to the United States
SpaceX people
Technical University of Berlin alumni
University of Bremen alumni
Engineers from Bremen (state) 1963 births