Kam Ghaffarian
{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kam Ghaffarian
| image = Kam Ghaffarian at WEF Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development, 2024.png
| caption = At a WEF special meeting in 2024
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Iran
| nationality = Iranian-American
| title = Founder, CEO
| website =
| occupation = Businessman
| years_active =
| known_for = Axiom Space, X-energy, Intuitive Machines, Quantum Space
| notable_works = Founder of IBX Inc.
Chairman of Axiom Space
Founder of Quantum Space
}}
Kamal "Kam" Ghaffarian ({{langx|fa|کمال غفاریان}}) is an Iranian-born American businessman who focuses on the space industry and new energies and is known as the co-founder of IBX, Axiom Space, Intuitive Machines, X-energy and Quantum Space.
Life and education
Ghaffarian was born in Iran and his passion in space increased when he watched the historic event of the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing on television. He came to the United States at the age of 17 and began attending college at 18.{{Cite web |title=The New Age of Space Exploration with Pioneer & Entrepreneur Kam Ghaffarian |url=https://cressetcapital.com/events/the-new-age-of-space-exploration-with-pioneer-entrepreneur-kam-ghaffarian |website=Cresset Capital}}
He holds dual B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Electronics Engineering, an M.Sc. in Information Management, and a PhD in Management Information Systems.{{Citation needed|reason=Which universities he has been studying at? first link doesn't provide this information|date=January 2025}}
Beside his work in industry, Kam is an active philanthropist focused on education, STEM initiatives, scientific research, and promotion of projects towards achieving interstellar travel.{{Cite web |title=The New Age of Space Exploration with Pioneer & Entrepreneur Kam Ghaffarian |url=https://cressetcapital.com/events/the-new-age-of-space-exploration-with-pioneer-entrepreneur-kam-ghaffarian/ |website=Cresset Capital}}{{Cite web |title=First Reaction: Kam Ghaffarian, CEO of X-Energy |url=https://www.thirdway.org/interview/interview-with-kam-ghaffarian |website=Third Way}}{{Cite web |title=DR. KAM GHAFFARIAN |url=https://www.aerodyneindustries.com/kam-ghaffarian |website=Aerodyne Industries}}
In 2019, he established Limitless Space Institute, a non-profit organization focused on scientific research, engaging students, and enabling future interstellar human space exploration.{{Cite magazine |title=NASA's EmDrive Leader Has a New Interstellar Project |url=https://www.wired.com/story/nasas-emdrive-leader-has-a-new-interstellar-project |magazine=Wired |last1=Oberhaus |first1=Daniel }}
Career
During his college, Kam began working for Lockheed Martin when he was doing contract for NASA. He also previously held numerous technical and management positions at companies like Ford Aerospace, and Loral. After that he launched his own space company, Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT), co-founded with Harold Stinger in 1994.
The company operated as a contractor to government agencies focusing on IT, engineering, science applications, and mission operations. It became NASA’s second-largest engineering services contractor and generated over half a billion dollars in annual revenues. The company was acquired by KBR for $355 million in February 2018.{{cite news |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=KBR to acquire NASA contractor SGT |url=https://spacenews.com/kbr-to-acquire-nasa-contractor-stg/ |publisher=Space News |date=February 26, 2018}}
Ghaffarian founded X-energy LLC in 2009. The company designs high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors.{{cite news |last1=Fehrenbacher |first1=Katie |title=Meet a Startup Making a New Kind of Safer, Smaller Nuclear Reactor |url=https://fortune.com/2016/02/04/nuclear-startup-x-energy/ |publisher=Fortune |date=February 4, 2016}} He also co-founded a space exploration company Intuitive Machines in 2013.{{Cite web |title=Kamal Ghaffarian |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/kamal-ghaffarian/ |website=Forbes}}{{Cite web |title=Houston-based Intuitive Machines to be among first private U.S. Companies to land on the moon |url=https://www.chron.com/business/bizfeed/article/Houston-based-Intuitive-Machines-to-be-among-13938130.php |website=Chron|date=June 5, 2019 }}{{cite news |last1=Sheetz |first1=Michael |title=Lunar company Intuitive Machines' stock jumps more than 40% after NASA moon satellite contract |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/18/intuitive-machines-stock-nasa-moon-satellite-contract.html |access-date=24 September 2024 |work=CNBC |date=18 September 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Fernholz |first1=Tim |title=NASA taps Intuitive Machines to build a lunar communications network |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91193890/intuitive-machines-is-tapped-by-nasa-to-build-a-lunar-communications-network |access-date=24 September 2024 |work=Fast Company}} The company holds multiple contracts with NASA.{{cite news |last1=Hart |first1=Connor |title=Intuitive Machines Receives NASA Contract Worth Nearly $5 Billion |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/intuitive-machines-receives-nasa-contract-worth-nearly-5-billion-65f98a21 |access-date=24 September 2024 |work=WSJ}}
In 2016, he co-founded another company, Houston-based Axiom Space, with Michael Suffredini.{{cite news |last1=Wray |first1=Dianna |title=Who Will Build the First Commercial Space Station? |url=https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2019/10/28/who-will-build-the-first-commercial-space-station |publisher=Houstonia |date=October 28, 2019}} The company is focusing on private space missions and facilities and planned to build the first private space station.{{Cite web |title=Axiom Space targeting May 8 for launch of 2nd private crewed mission to space station |url=https://www.space.com/axiom-space-ax-2-astronaut-launch-may-2023 |website=Space.com|date=April 6, 2023 }}
As of October 2019, Ghaffarian was appointed to the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Board of Directors.{{cite web |title=Board of Directors and Executive Committee |url=https://www.nei.org/CorporateSite/media/filefolder/Membership/board-list.pdf |website=www.nei.org}}{{Primary source inline|date=October 2021}}
In 2020, he co-founded Quantum Space, whose mission is to build satellites that provide communications, navigation and space domain awareness in the cislunar space, the area between the Earth and the Moon.
He became a billionaire several times over in first quarter of 2023 after his company, Intuitive Machines, wrapped up a SPAC merger and shares skyrocketed as much as 1,200% in one week.{{Cite news |title=Space Mogul Becomes Multibillionaire With De-SPAC on Wild Ride |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-23/space-billionaire-s-fortune-surges-on-ambition-to-beat-china-to-moon |website=Bloomberg|date=February 23, 2023 }}
On February 22, 2024, a robotic lander from Intuitive Machines landed semi-autonomously on the moon.{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=February 22, 2024 |title=Highlights From the Successful Lunar Landing of the Spacecraft Odysseus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/22/science/nasa-moon-landing-odysseus |work=The New York Times}} The original plan was for the lander to be autonomous, but "a problem surfaced with the spacecraft’s autonomous navigation system that required engineers on the ground to employ an untested work-around at the 11th hour."{{Cite news |last1=Gorman |first1=Steve |last2=Roulette |first2=Joey |date=February 23, 2024 |title=Moon landing: US clinches first touchdown in 50 years |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/us-achieves-first-moon-landing-half-century-with-private-spacecraft-2024-02-23/ |archive-url= |publication-date=February 23, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://i-b-x.com/ IBX]
- [https://AxiomSpace.com Axiom Space]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghaffarian, Kam}}
Category:Nonprofit businesspeople
Category:American company founders