Chris Thompson

Thompson is responsible for Phantom Space's direct development and oversight of launch vehicles and satellites including the Daytona rocket, which the company aims to start flying in 2023.

Previously, Thompson was the Chief Engineer of Advanced Projects at Astra, where he led the development of rocket and launch systems. Prior, he was the Vice President of Advanced Programs at Virgin Orbit, as well as the second official employee of SpaceX, serving as the Vice President and Senior Director of Structures Production Development. At SpaceX, he was responsible for the development of vehicle structures, new manufacturing techniques and operations, with a focus on optimizing the product transition from design to production. He produced many key launch system innovations and his expertise in rocket development has become a critical component of the private space industry's massive growth trajectory.

Thompson started his career in the Marine Corps before joining McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), where he successfully managed production and test of the Delta II, III, and IV, and Titan IV launch vehicles. Shortly before joining SpaceX, Thompson was given responsibility for all Test and Verification activities at the Boeing Huntington Beach Engineering Labs, which supports all development and qualification tests on Delta II, III, and IV, Titan IV, and Space Station. The T&V activities ranged from structural, dynamic, space simulation, material and mechanical properties, and complete system tests at Huntington Beach and various government test facilities.