Jim Cantrell
Vector Space Systems
Tuscon, AZ USA
"You better be doing with tomorrow exactly what you would be doing if you only had a few days left. "
Career Roadmap
Jim's work combines: Engineering, Technology, and Building Things
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
There are three things: do what you're passionate about, do what you're good at, and do something that people will want to buy/get involved in.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician
Utah State University
Graduate Degree
Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician
Utah State University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Aerospace Engineers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician
Graduate Degree: Small Business Administration/Management
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
He has had a lifelong obsession with machines: “As long as I was building, I was happy.”
2.
Went to high school in Silicon Valley, California, and attended summer programs at Stanford University where he was inspired to pursue a career in entrepreneurship and technology.
3.
Attended Utah State University, where he initially pursued a degree in electrical engineering—quickly realized he hated it, so he switched to mechanical engineering which better suited his interests.
4.
Says the biggest turning point in his career was pursuing a NASA JPL-funded design course; he ended up doing so well that they gave him a one-year fellowship working on Mars exploration technologies.
5.
Got involved with the Planetary Society, working on a joint French-Soviet Mars program where he designed and developed the Mars Snake, a mechanical rope that could move across Martian terrain.
6.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he worked on various joint missile defense programs conducted between America and Russia—became a leading expert on Soviet missile systems.
7.
Began collaborating with Elon Musk in 2001 on projects geared towards showing that humanity could expand into the cosmos; this relationship resulted in the formation of SpaceX.
8.
He now works as the CEO of Vector Launch and serves on the advisory boards of several companies in the aerospace industry.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
Put down the books and get to work.
How I responded:
I was always different and I never felt comfortable with my blue collar family. Education is the great equalizer and got me away from that negativity.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I grew up with an alcoholic father.
I was the first in my family to attend college and didn't have a lot of guidance.
I got a divorce.