Asad Malik, Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc. (iRocket), was named as one of 20 young space professionals expected to have a profound impact on the industry, by the Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) organization. The prestigious 20 under 35 cohort will be celebrated at the Future Leaders Celebration on October 18th, in conjunction with Silicon Valley Space Week organized by SatNews Events in Mountain View, California.
Asad was recognized for his outstanding work to develop a new launcher and establish a rocket company which addresses the industry’s need for faster, more frequent, and less costly access to space.
The company that Asad founded four years ago is transforming how launch vehicles are powered with clean, sustainable propellant and 24-hour turnaround launch cycles. He plans to contribute to closing the “digital divide” by transporting small satellite payloads to LEO for IoT, 5G high-speed internet, online education, biotech research, and National security. iRocket also plans to provide point to point cargo delivery service, which can be used for national security and humanitarian missions in the case of either man made or natural disasters.
Among Asad’s many achievements, in June of this year, iRocket announced that it signed a TACFI contract with the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) to further develop its rocket engine. Under the contract the company will perform a full-duration static fire test for 120-180 seconds to demonstrate its 37,000 lbs. thrust using a combination of liquid oxygen (LOX) and methane fuel.
Then in early August, building on this momentum, the company announced a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) West, which provides iRocket with resources, expertise and site facility support to conduct propulsion, stage, and potentially grasshopper testing at the High Thrust Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base, one of only four stands in the United States capable of 10 million pounds of thrust.
“Establishing a company and getting support from the U.S. Air Force Space Systems Command and the U.S. Space Force is a huge career accomplishment at any age and even more so for someone so young. Every year it is my honor to celebrate and introduce to the industry 20 amazing young people who were selected for their achievements and future potential.” — Robert Bell, Executive Director, SSPI
