Andrew Rader

Andrew Rader is a prominent aerospace engineer and author currently serving as a Mission Manager at SpaceX in Los Angeles. He is responsible for coordinating the technical and programmatic aspects of launching multi-satellite missions using the company's reusable Falcon Heavy rocket.12

Early Life and Education

Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Rader developed an interest in aviation at a young age, earning his pilot's license at 17. He completed his undergraduate studies in Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University, where he also earned a Master's degree in the same field. Following this, he pursued a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), specializing in long-duration spaceflight.12

Career

Before joining SpaceX in 2014, Rader worked as a systems engineer on microsatellite missions at Honeywell Aerospace (formerly COM DEV International). His experience includes significant contributions to missions that monitor global maritime activity. He has also participated in astronaut selection campaigns in Canada and was considered for the Mars One project.12

Achievements

Rader gained public recognition as the winner of the Discovery Channel's reality series Canada’s Greatest Know-It-All in 2013. He is also an accomplished author, having written several children's books focused on space exploration, including Epic Space Adventure and Mars Rover Rescue. His non-fiction work, Beyond the Known: How Exploration Created the Modern World and Will Take us to the Stars, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2019.23

Rader's aspirations extend beyond engineering; he aims to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers through his writing and public engagements. He continues to express a desire to become an astronaut and contribute to scientific discovery.12