Business · Companies · 7 hrs ago
Former NASA research chief Thomas Zurbuchen joins Blue Origin
Thomas Zurbuchen has left ETH Zurich to join Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos.
The Swiss astrophysicist previously led NASA’s research work under three US presidents and spent three years helping build ETH Zurich’s space program.
He says projects move much faster at Blue Origin, where he has already helped start or shape several projects in his first four weeks.
His work focuses on space infrastructure, including satellites and lunar robots.
One project aims to make solar panels on the Moon by processing lunar dust into materials such as silicon and metal.
Zurbuchen says the speed of private space companies has risks, including too much technological power in the hands of a few people.
He argues that decisions affecting war and peace should remain under democratic oversight, and says Switzerland can be too slow to adopt new technology.
Thomas Zurbuchen has left ETH Zurich to take a senior management role at Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’s space company.
The former NASA research chief had worked at ETH Zurich for three years, helping build its space sector.
Zurbuchen said his team had started or influenced six projects in his first four weeks at Blue Origin.
His work focuses on space infrastructure, including satellites, lunar robots and a project to make solar panels on the Moon.
He said private space companies can move faster, but warned that concentrated technological power and monopolies pose risks.
- Who
- Thomas Zurbuchen, a former NASA research chief and astrophysicist, has joined Blue Origin.
- What
- He left ETH Zurich for a senior management role at the space company.
- When
- He had been at Blue Origin for four weeks when he spoke to the SonntagsZeitung.
- Where
- Blue Origin. Zurbuchen previously worked at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.
- Why
- He said Blue Origin offers greater flexibility and allows projects to move faster.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Zurbuchen moved to ETH Zurich and helped build its space sector.
Zurbuchen left to work for Blue Origin.
His team started or influenced six projects.
- Previous role
- NASA research chief
- ETH Zurich tenure
- Three years
- Blue Origin tenure at interview
- Four weeks
- Projects at Blue Origin
- Six started or influenced
- Lunar solar-panel project
- Make solar modules on the Moon using lunar dust (regolith)
2 sources
What people are saying
We are sometimes ten times faster.