A long-time launch vehicle executive, and son of a famous moonwalker, is leaving United Launch Alliance to become president of one of the leading teams in the Google Lunar X PRIZE competition.
Moon Express announced Tuesday that Andrew Aldrin is the company’s new president. Aldrin will be responsible for day-to-day activities at the company, which is developing its MX-1 lander to travel to the Moon by late next year. Co-founder Bob Richards had been serving as president and CEO; he retains the CEO position with the addition of Aldrin.
Aldrin was previously director of business development and advanced programs at ULA, the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture that manufactures Atlas and Delta rockets. Aldrin had worked at Boeing prior to the formation of ULA. “I am thrilled to be part of an entrepreneurial company that is helping transform the commercial space industry,” he said in a statement. “It is exciting to join a pioneering enterprise filled with passion and dedication to the bold dream of unlocking the Moon’s mysteries and resources, and putting the United States back on the surface of the Moon in a permanent way.”
Aldrin is also the son of Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo 11 astronaut. “Andy’s experience will be invaluable to MoonEx, and I have every confidence in an Aldrin piloting us toward the Moon,” quipped Richards in the announcement.
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