| Eric C. Anderson | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Aerospace engineer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Commercial spaceflight |
Eric Anderson is an entrepreneur and aerospace engineer known for co-founding Space Adventures, a commercial spaceflight company that brokers spaceflight experiences.
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Anderson was raised in Colorado, the son of an American real estate entrepreneur father and an Argentine mother. As a child, Anderson had an interest in space and the exploration thereof.[1]
Anderson graduated magna cum laude from the University of Virginia with a degree in aerospace engineering.[1]
Anderson founded the website Starport.com, which was eventually sold to Space.com in 2000.[2] Anderson was also an engineer and business developer for the aerospace software firm Analytical Graphics, Inc. Anderson also held consulting and research roles at NASA for a time.[3]
Co-founding Space Adventures in 1998, Anderson serves as the company’s Chairman. After founding Space Adventures, the company assisted Dennis Tito to become the first space tourist to fly to space in 2001. The company also offers zero gravity flights, orbital spaceflights to the ISS, and plans to offer suborbital spaceflights and flights to circumnavigate the Moon.
In 2008, Space Adventures acquired Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G),[4] the first and only Federal Aviation Administration approved provider of weightless flights to the general public.[5]
In 2010, Intentional Software Corporation announced that Eric Anderson would join the company as President.[6] In this role, Anderson plans to assist orbital spaceflight client Charles Simonyi in his development and marketing of his intentional programming method.
Anderson is a Board Member of the X Prize Foundation[7] and the Koshka Foundation.[8]
Anderson also helped found the recently created Planetary Security Foundation,[9] with the goal to educate the public about the global risk of nuclear weapons.
In 2008, Anderson was chosen by the World Economic Forum to become a member of the Forum of Young Global Leaders.[10]
Anderson is interested in space-based resources and energy such as asteroid mining and space-based solar power.
Anderson is also an active member of Young Presidents Organization.[18]
On December 15, 2010, Anderson was selected as the next chairman of the board of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation.[19]