On January 4th, 2004, the Mars rover
Spirit
landed on Mars. The first pictures sent back included
the logo of a small company in Boulder, Colorado--Starsys Research--which had built 27 motors
powering the rover and its instruments. Starsys was founded by Scott Tibbitts, an ex-ski
bum/nuclear engineer, from an invention made of hardware-store parts and wax.
Starsys ultimately flew 3,500 devices on 350 spacecraft, its success a direct result of a corporate
culture that became legend in the space business for its emphasis on Fun and Family.
Scott brings the reader along for the ride of creating a space company from scratch, providing a visceral
experience of the extraordinary highs and soul-wrenching lows.
It is a must-read for space enthusiasts,
Shark Tank
junkies, and entrepreneur-CEOs who will
benefit from the hacks and tools Scott shares for creating legendary corporate cultures.