Chris Boshuizen

Chris Boshuizen
Born
Australia
OccupationsEntrepreneur, musician, aeronautical engineer

Chris Boshuizen is an Australian entrepreneur, aeronautical engineer, and musician.

Early life and education

Chris Boshuizen grew up in Tumbarumba, Australia.[1]

He was awarded a PhD from the University of Sydney in 2005.[2][3]

Career

In 2010 Boshuizen co-founded Planet Labs — a company that designs and manufactures 3U-CubeSat miniature satellites.[1][4] While working for NASA as an aeronautical engineer, Boshuizen co created PhoneSat.[5]

Space tourism

In 2021 Bosheizen went to space aboard NS-18 along with William Shatner, Audrey Powers, and Glen de Vries.[6][7][8] Boshuizen is the third person of Australian descent in space, preceded by Paul Scully-Power and Andy Thomas;[9] however, by a technicality of Australian law at the time, specifically section 17 of the Citizenship Act 1948 at the time of both Scully-Power and Andy Thomas's flights, their status as American citizens invalided their existing Australian citizenship. In 2002 section 17 of the 1948 Citizenship Act was applied granting Scully-Power and Thomas dual citizenship.[10][11]

Music career

In 2021 Boshuizen released an album titled VHS under the stage name Dr Chrispy,[12][13] a nickname given to him by colleagues at NASA[14] in tandem with his space flight aboard the Blue Origin space flight NS-18. In 2023 Boshuizen released a second album commemorating two years since his space flight.[15]

Awards and honours

References

  1. ^ a b Grubb, Ben (21 January 2015). "From Tumbarumba to beyond: It's blast off for Aussie Chris Boshuizen's satellite start-up Planet Labs". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. ^ "Chris Boshuizen". University of Sydney. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  3. ^ "About Chris Bosheizen". Spaceforhumanity. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Our Team". Planet. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  5. ^ Bogel, Ariel (2 June 2016). "Space entrepreneur: Why build apps when you can make satellites?". Mashable.
  6. ^ "Blue Origin announces next customers to fly on New Shepard's upcoming human flight on October 12". Blue Origin. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  7. ^ "NS-18". Everyday Astronaut. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Blue Origin launches six tourists to the edge of space after nearly two-year hiatus". CNN. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Australians in Space". Australian Space Agency. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Are you a dual citizen? You might have lost your Australian rights without knowing it". ABC News. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  11. ^ Lauder, Jo (8 October 2021). "A billionaire, William Shatner, and a Tumbarumba local: The story of Australia's first space 'traveller'". ABC.
  12. ^ "Dr Chrispy". Dr Chrispy. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  13. ^ "I took your songs to space". Dr Chrispy. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Dr Chrispy Bio". Dr Chrispy. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  15. ^ Howell, Elizabeth (20 October 2023). "Two Years After Blue Origin Spaceflight, Chris Boshuizen Celebrates With "The Great Unknown"". Spaceref.
  16. ^ "Advance Global Australian of the Year: Christopher Boshuizen". SBS News. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  17. ^ Lei, Jomya (30 September 2023). "Dr. Chris Boshuizen is the 2023 recipient of the SGAC Alumni Award!". Space Generation Advisory Council. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Members | The Karman Project". www.karmanproject.org. Retrieved 13 August 2025.