Chris Lewicki is an entrepreneur, engineer and "near-futurist" focused on the economic development of space. Chris co-founded and later as CEO led Planetary Resources, the asteroid mining company, launching satellites, creating space policy, and impacting the public discourse on space mining.[1] He helped design, build and operate the Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, as well as the Phoenix Mars Lander while at NASA, serving as Flight Director for the Mars rovers Spirit[2] and Opportunity, and as the Surface Mission Manager for Phoenix. He has served on NASA review boards for the Insight Mars Lander, the Curiosity rover, and the Psyche mission to a metal asteroid.[3] Chris is the recipient of two NASA Exceptional Achievement Medals, and has asteroid 13609 Lewicki named in his honor.[4]
Chris Lewicki received both his bachelor's degree and his master's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Arizona.[5] He was a member of SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space), later serving as chair of SEDS-USA, and a member of the organization's Board of Advisors.[6]
Chris serves as space advisor to the non-profit XPRIZE Foundation, where he focuses on exponential technologies, integrating ideas from disparate industries, and creating space infrastructure.[7]