Hans Koenigsmann

Hans-Jörg Königsmann (born 1963) is a German aerospace engineer who was Vice President of Flight Reliability for SpaceX until his retirement in 2021.

Hans J. Königsmann
Born	1963 (age 61–62)[1]
Nationality	German
Alma mater	Technische Universität Berlin (Dipl.-Ing.), University of Bremen (Dr.-Ing.)
Awards	NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal (2014)
Scientific career
Fields	Aerospace engineering
Institutions	SpaceX
Thesis	Magnetische Lageregelung von Kleinsatelliten in niedrigen Höhen (1995)

Education and career

Hans Königsmann obtained his aerospace engineering diploma at Technische Universität Berlin in 1989, followed by a PhD in Aerospace Engineering and Production Technology at the University of Bremen in 1995.^[2][3]

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.^[4]

In 2002 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.^[4] Koenigsmann announced his retirement from SpaceX in January 2021.^[5]

Königsmann has been a member of Bremen based space and technology company OHB SE's Supervisory Board since June 24, 2022.^[1] Königsmann is also operating as an advisor for the Seattle based rocket company startup Stoke Space.^[6]

Honors

• Hans Königsmann was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2014.^[7] It is the highest form of recognition by NASA for non-Government individuals.^[8]

Published works

• Königsmann, Hans-Jörg (1995). Magnetische Lageregelung von Kleinsatelliten in niedrigen Höhen [Magnetic position control of small satellites at low altitudes] (Dissertation) (in German). Bremen.