Elon Musk's Most Important Engineer in SPACEX History: Tom Mueller

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  • čas přidán 20. 01. 2024
  • Enjoy my interview with SpaceX legend, Tom Mueller. He designed the Merlin engine, the sturdy backbone of the most reliable rocket today!
    Tom may not work at SpaceX anymore, but his impact on the company is lasting!
    ‪@ImpulseSpace‬
    _______________________
    Hi! I am now FULL TIME Ellie in SPACE!
    My channel started as a way to keep people up to date on the world of SpaceX's Starlink, the satellite internet service. The channel has grown to include the broader Elon Musk universe.
    Your support for my channel means a lot. Thanks for watching and if you have any video ideas, shoot me an email, eliana.sheriff@gmail.com.
    Find me on instagram, @elianainspace
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    Join my Patreon here: www.patreon.com/user?u=47580275
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  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 252

  • @ross077
    @ross077 Před 5 měsíci +72

    This excellent, wide ranging interview is a real feather in your cap Ellie. Thanks for sharing the story of Tom Mueller's vital contributions to the space industry and I hope you can make the tour of Impulse Space happen in due course.

    • @Crunch_dGH
      @Crunch_dGH Před 5 měsíci +2

      Huge "get" by EIS!🙇🙇‍♀️🙇‍♂️ THE Mr. Merlin, you kidding us?🤯 17:00 Ground up discovered by EM at an amateur rocketry event, rising from employee #1 to CTO & beyond!

  • @i_might_be_lying
    @i_might_be_lying Před 5 měsíci +28

    It's probably one of the best all-round interviews with Tom Mueller. Great questions! Thanks!

  • @balaji-kartha
    @balaji-kartha Před 5 měsíci +42

    Of course we know who he is. And wonderful that you go to interview him.
    And the part that he was the one who realised they needed a different fuel engine is historic! It is that realisation that will make humankind multiplanetary! Well done 👍❤

    • @irrefudiate
      @irrefudiate Před 5 měsíci +2

      Noticed where he said the Raptor is the max engine right now. Any further step will require "new technology"!? Hmm.

    • @madelineremy5128
      @madelineremy5128 Před 4 měsíci

      😂🎉

  • @keithnance4209
    @keithnance4209 Před 5 měsíci +17

    Cannot have any SpaceX biopic without Tom being a main character…legendary and how lucky are we to be able to witness living history in real time!

  • @mycophyle
    @mycophyle Před 5 měsíci +3

    Ellie, Thank you for interviewing a modern day HERO of rocket science. Tom Mueller is our modern day incarnation of Wernher von Braun!

  • @user-gk9oj3nb1m
    @user-gk9oj3nb1m Před 5 měsíci +9

    This is exactly where informative interviews should be.. With the engineer's (Brilliant video)!

  • @douginorlando6260
    @douginorlando6260 Před 5 měsíci +15

    There are a lot of CZcamsrs focusing on SpaceX and lots of good videos. Ellie … this is one of the top 5 videos ever made. Excellent interview.

    • @douginorlando6260
      @douginorlando6260 Před 5 měsíci +1

      The only other video that comes close is Everyday’s deep dive into rocket engines.

    • @douginorlando6260
      @douginorlando6260 Před 5 měsíci +2

      Anyone wanting to get their message out can see from this interview Ellie is the best way to do it. ElonMusk, Jeff Bezos, I hope you see this video.

  • @Ravenought69
    @Ravenought69 Před 5 měsíci +16

    Awesome. Great that you got Muller vor an interview. He seldomly does any. I have seen some comments by him in documentaries, always wondered what further stories he could share about the spacex early days. I really enjoyed this interview. Thx Ellie.

  • @donotcomply1628
    @donotcomply1628 Před 5 měsíci +4

    I could see Daniel Day-Lewis playing Tom. Not because the roll would be so difficult but because Daniel is a fantastic actor and maybe they resemble each other slightly.

  • @dherman0001
    @dherman0001 Před 5 měsíci +8

    Home run video after home run video!
    Ellie is on a roll!
    Thanks for working to get this interview Ellie!

  • @briangroene7756
    @briangroene7756 Před 5 měsíci +20

    Awesome interview, Ellie. My wife and I were just wondering who are/were the inside people behind SpaceX's success. Please do more like this.

  • @dansbrown1313
    @dansbrown1313 Před 5 měsíci +4

    Thank you Ellianna, I suppose Tom is part of the actual magic of Elon Musk. He attracts experts to join his team and then convinces them to do more than they thought they could and then let's them go and hopes they come back for round two.

  • @grantguy8933
    @grantguy8933 Před 5 měsíci +7

    This is the best interview ever and also Tom is one of the most heavy weight among ALL Elons companies. ❤good job

  • @jimparr01Utube
    @jimparr01Utube Před 5 měsíci +1

    So great to listen to Mr. Mueller and his positive attitude to everything. Thank you Ellie.

  • @andycampbell91
    @andycampbell91 Před 5 měsíci +10

    👍👍👍 Tom and Elon are the real deal...thank you Ellie...💛

  • @salty_berserker_channel
    @salty_berserker_channel Před 5 měsíci +7

    Fantastic interview Ellie. Ashlee Vance also did a video with him and tour of his facility recently. I wish this was an hour long. Thank you !

    • @ellieinspace
      @ellieinspace  Před 5 měsíci +1

      My tour with him is next, how can I make it better than the last video you saw?

    • @salty_berserker_channel
      @salty_berserker_channel Před 5 měsíci

      @@ellieinspace I'm a bit biased because I'm a nerdy nerd when it comes to the engines. I understood 100% of what he said in this interview. If he went further into detail including perhaps any 3d renders, mock ups, prototypes, or hands on demos of working flight hardware, id be pretty stoked. Most of this detail might bore your average viewer, I'm not sure. However the working hardware, maybe a test, I'm sure would please all. 😁

  • @melissachasteen4452
    @melissachasteen4452 Před 5 měsíci +14

    Ellie, this was an excellent interview. You do such a nice job on these individual interviews. The knowledge that you bring both of space in general and the individual in particular makes them so good.

  • @bru512
    @bru512 Před 5 měsíci +3

    This is the first time I have heard Tom Mueller speak. Nice catch!

  • @jwestney2859
    @jwestney2859 Před 5 měsíci +7

    I was so excited to see you interviewing Tom Mueller! I admire your work. You have come so so far from being the chicky setting up dishy in your back yard. ROCK ON!

  • @lang1892
    @lang1892 Před 5 měsíci +4

    holly cow you got mueller the goat

    • @ellieinspace
      @ellieinspace  Před 5 měsíci +3

      My next interview with him will be in person!

  • @alanhart9992
    @alanhart9992 Před 5 měsíci +4

    Great grab and interview of Tom. Wishing great success with Impluse for Tom and his team.

  • @gregorychaney7604
    @gregorychaney7604 Před 5 měsíci +2

    This was an excellent interview!
    I can't wait until you are able to tour the facility in Southern California.
    Cheers from Alaska

  • @LegendaryInfortainment
    @LegendaryInfortainment Před 5 měsíci +3

    Zero hyperbole there in the introduction. IMO "one amazing interview" falls a trifle short in accuracy of description. I enjoyed that more than most of the sum total of channel content observed in the past week. Really. And... he should add "most reliable valves in rocket propulsion history" too. Thank you SO much Ellie. You're rocking the -Space- space.
    I'd put an emoji here to personalize, but there isn't an 'old fart with gray beard' to be found.

    • @steveperreira5850
      @steveperreira5850 Před 5 měsíci

      Entertaining to read what you wrote! I’m gray without the beard! No Know if there’s an emoji

  • @john_hind
    @john_hind Před 5 měsíci +9

    Your best interview yet! I knew the name of course, but not the face as he seems to be very rarely interviewed! If you get to interview him, or Gwynn Shotwell, or Elon, some questions that have been bugging me:
    1. Why did SpaceX never operate the Falcon 1 commercially? It was designed for the small launcher market and it was way ahead of the competition like Rocket Lab. Why not fly Falcon 1 while Falcon 9 was being developed? Was it always really just a learning project?
    2. Why is everybody doing methane now? The physics has not changed and methane has always been available. Why was it not used in rockets until now?
    3. Why was there such a reluctance in the US space industry to develop new motors, to the extent of reusing decades old designs and buying from Russians! Has motor development got easier recently (better materials or computation?), or was it just a matter of courage and ambition?

    • @Coyote27981
      @Coyote27981 Před 5 měsíci +2

      I can answer 2 for you.
      Multiple reasons.
      From reusability standpoint, specially for off planet missions, which is something relatively recent, methane is a better fuel. So right out of from the start, Kerosene is out due to coking. SpaceX has to really scrub down those Merlins after each flight. Not a thing you want to do off planet.
      Sure the shuttle engines running hydrogen where reusable. But compared to hydrogen, methane is way easier to manage.
      Methane has better energy density than hydrogen, so that means smaller and lighter tanks.
      Hydrogen leaks like crazy. It needs way colder temperatures to keep it liquid (and this matters, because you need lots of insulation, even from "hotter" liquid oxygen). Methane and oxygen are liquified at similar temps, so its easier to keep them closer.
      ISRU is a big part of future missions so being able to keep fuel liquid easier matters a lot.
      In both cases you can manufacture it with resources in Mars.
      Hydrogen does have an upper hand here as you can manufacture it in the moon, but not methane.
      At the end of the day, its a very good halfway compromise between whats good from hydrogen, and whats good from kerosene.

    • @MichaelWinter-ss6lx
      @MichaelWinter-ss6lx Před 5 měsíci +2

      To nr. 3: US American rocket engine production has always been a senat job program. Russian rocket engines were cheaper and faster to get. Now they're off limits.
      SpaceX were the first to commercialy produce rocket engines, and also rockets. That includes streamlining production to reduce costs. The part of the buissiness that NASA never wanted to learn from their captured Germans and why SpaceShuttle costs went too high. See it again on SLS.
      A shame that SLS needs these solid boosters as they are too dangerous for human space flight and even were prohibited before the SpaceShuttle.

    • @john_hind
      @john_hind Před 5 měsíci +1

      @@Coyote27981 The question was 'why methane (only) now' not 'why methane'. None of the reasons you give has changed since the dawn of the space age. Indeed, it should be easier to handle hydrogen today than in the past (better materials, more experience). Hydrogen has better specific impulse, but the larger tanks required to hold it tend to cancel out that benefit (plus it makes everything else harder). My theory is early rockets were designed by scientists while recent ones more by engineers who pay more attention to the practicalities!

  • @Cape_Cod_Steve
    @Cape_Cod_Steve Před 5 měsíci +6

    👍👍 This , was , the , Best ! So cool Ellie . Well done putting this together, making it look easy , but it takes so many ingredients to pull it off as you did . 🎉

  • @MolloRelax
    @MolloRelax Před 5 měsíci +3

    I like the fact that it was mentioned that Elon is SO busy with everything that is going in his carreer. And yet ; he took a tiny portion of his precious time , to respond to a comment that I made a couple months ago; regarding the FAA's decision that SpaceX had to do some insignificant study of acoustics on marine mammals before he was allowed to pursue his attempt at his second launch ot starship.

    • @clarasorchard88
      @clarasorchard88 Před 4 měsíci +1

      Oh yeah, the seal with headphones…. That was ridiculous….

  • @cuisinartOH1
    @cuisinartOH1 Před 5 měsíci +4

    Great interview Ellie.

  • @MissingTools
    @MissingTools Před 5 měsíci +4

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Top notch episode! Totally enjoyed this interview!

  • @kstaxman2
    @kstaxman2 Před 5 měsíci +3

    Great interview with one of amazing people who was there with Elon from the very beginning. His work was fundamental to SpaceX. Few people could have done what this visionary has. Truly a genius who designed so much of all the rocket engines SpaceX needed.

  • @c0t1
    @c0t1 Před 5 měsíci +7

    Great interview, Ellie! Awesome job. Thank you, Tom Mueller, for your time and amazing insight. God speed, Impulse!

  • @calvincheney7405
    @calvincheney7405 Před 5 měsíci +6

    Outstanding interview Ellie. It would have been great to ask what he perceived of the issue with fuel slosh in the Starship booster 2nd launch during hot staging separation.

  • @Readerb86g
    @Readerb86g Před 5 měsíci +2

    Great interview Ellie. And Thanks to Tom for his time and passing on the insights!!

  • @MediaWML
    @MediaWML Před 5 měsíci +2

    Without knowing what went on behind closed doors (there are always unsung heroes), I would say the three most important SpaceX people are Elon Musk, Tom Mueller and Gwynne Shotwell (negotiation of the Commercial Resupply Services contract with the NASA etc etc).

  • @anthonyd.8067
    @anthonyd.8067 Před 5 měsíci +4

    Wow never realized how much time he spent on dedicating to Mars. Despite obviously being the ultimate destination we aren’t at the point yet where we see all the work SpaceX has already put in on getting to Mars beyond the point of Starship getting into orbit.
    You would think they would first be working on getting Starship into orbit and then point their attention and resources to Mars but fascinating how it has all been happening side by side this whole time.

    • @MichaelWinter-ss6lx
      @MichaelWinter-ss6lx Před 5 měsíci +2

      It needs an explicit goal to develope a space craft. It's a complex job and many things must be considered and taken into account.

    • @clavo3352
      @clavo3352 Před 5 měsíci +2

      Great comment. We must learn to walk and chew gum at the same time, now add a paper route (the realities of commerce) to that.

  • @alkimball8920
    @alkimball8920 Před 3 měsíci

    I just discovered this channel a couple of days ago (better late than never) and the thing that's attracting me the most are these insider technical interviews. As an engineer with 40 years of experience, I love it when guests and topics are aimed at my own experience level. Thank you for doing this... I don't work with Impulse but I have done work with ULA, Sierra Space, and Space Force just over the last 10 years alone. This video stimulates my brain's synergy response. Thank you!

    • @ellieinspace
      @ellieinspace  Před 3 měsíci

      Well, you will be happy to know I’m interview tom IN PERSON in less than a month! I’m so happy you enjoyed this interview, get ready for an even better round 2!

  • @randyscorner9434
    @randyscorner9434 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Yep, Tom is the guy who figured out all the propulsion problems. He gets great credit for persevering even sometimes in contrast to Elon. It was not always easy but Tom got it done. Tom, I hope you're still racing that Porsche!

  • @GarretL757
    @GarretL757 Před 5 měsíci

    This was great, thanks Ellie and Tom for your time!

  • @BrainDamagedBob
    @BrainDamagedBob Před 5 měsíci +3

    Congrats on this interview Ellie. Your charm and charisma opened this door. I'd like to hear from the top guys in project management. I am amazed how they manage to have so much coordinated activity going on at the same time. Is there a single piece of project management software that helps tie things together is it all in Elon's head or what?

  • @regolith1350
    @regolith1350 Před 5 měsíci

    Excellent interview. Really looking forward to the Impulse Space tour!

  • @tarkajedi3331
    @tarkajedi3331 Před 5 měsíci

    ANOTHER BRILLIANT INTERVIEW................
    TOM MUELLER IS A LEGEND IN THE INDUSTRY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    SUCH A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW TO GET A GUEST TO REVEAL IMPORTANT DETAILS COMFORTABLY.......
    GREAT JOB ELLIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @doug3691
    @doug3691 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Another great interview, Ellie, thank you!

  • @jeffrey5961
    @jeffrey5961 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Thank Tom Mueller for all of his contributions. Thank Ellie for her reporting.

  • @jamesg7822
    @jamesg7822 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Great interview, this why I am a patron supporter 😊

    • @ellieinspace
      @ellieinspace  Před 5 měsíci +1

      And it really makes a difference! Thank you so much for going above and beyond

  • @JohnWilliams-nj2nd
    @JohnWilliams-nj2nd Před 5 měsíci +1

    Great interview Ellie. I have just recently read a book about the early days of SpaceX, so it really hit home. Such a genius. Good luck on Impulse Space Tom Mueller!

  • @darrellpugh6186
    @darrellpugh6186 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Brendan Fraser to play Elon Musk. Excellant Interview.

  • @zapfanzapfan
    @zapfanzapfan Před 5 měsíci +2

    Oh, this will be interesting!

  • @Ugottahaveit
    @Ugottahaveit Před 5 měsíci +1

    Fantastic interview Ellie!

  • @richardduede9767
    @richardduede9767 Před 5 měsíci

    Wonderful interview. Thank you.

  • @chrissmart9625
    @chrissmart9625 Před 5 měsíci

    Top stuff Ellie,,, great interview, can’t wait for the tour video 👌💯

  • @gannong1
    @gannong1 Před 5 měsíci +2

    Very nice job, Ellie, thank you!

  • @daviddipasquale5479
    @daviddipasquale5479 Před 5 měsíci

    Great interview. Very informative and interesting. Keep up the good work Ellie. And excellent engineering to the gentleman Tom
    !

  • @deekay1810
    @deekay1810 Před 5 měsíci

    Thanks for sharing the wisdom, so exciting to be here now! 💖

  • @royjohnson366
    @royjohnson366 Před 5 měsíci

    Good work scoring this interview. 👍

  • @mymodely7755
    @mymodely7755 Před 5 měsíci

    Good interview, nice catch!

  • @calarndt
    @calarndt Před 5 měsíci

    Very, very good interview Ellie!

  • @paulruscito4885
    @paulruscito4885 Před 5 měsíci

    Awesome interview, great job Ellie. I hadn’t seen a Tom interview yet. I’m going to look for more, doubt I’ll find better though.

  • @winstonmontgomery8211
    @winstonmontgomery8211 Před 5 měsíci +1

    It would be cool to see a bio pic of Elon especially if they accurately depict a potential future showing us what a moon base could look like and then jump farther into the future showing Elon as an elderly man and having the first person land on Mars right before he dies. That would be a cool ending 😅

  • @DroidURLuking4
    @DroidURLuking4 Před 5 měsíci

    Thanks for this one Ellie!

  • @jamesdubben3687
    @jamesdubben3687 Před 5 měsíci

    Great interview!

  • @Primaate
    @Primaate Před 5 měsíci +1

    Good interview. Awesome to see entrepreneurs and engineers given recognition in modern culture, if only via a movie.
    Last time was arguably during Apollo.

  • @TimFrench-tx1xj
    @TimFrench-tx1xj Před 5 měsíci

    Great interview’ Thanks!

  • @davecurtis8833
    @davecurtis8833 Před 5 měsíci

    Excellent content. I think Tom enjoyed the interview too.

  • @robertdujin1365
    @robertdujin1365 Před 4 měsíci

    Top interview!👏👏👏

  • @datamatters8
    @datamatters8 Před 5 měsíci

    Great interview. Thanks.

  • @myyklmax
    @myyklmax Před 5 měsíci +3

    LMU ... Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA.
    The Elon Movie may be waiting for the successful test flight of Starship before making or announcing the film.

  • @zmm978
    @zmm978 Před 5 měsíci

    Great interview, lots of good questions.

  • @chrisroger2000
    @chrisroger2000 Před 3 měsíci

    Great interview and nice suit Eliana!

  • @richardstewart1784
    @richardstewart1784 Před 5 měsíci

    One of your best. Great interview. Thank you

    • @ellieinspace
      @ellieinspace  Před 5 měsíci

      WOW! I am shocked by how much people love this interview. Here I was feeling nervous about it because I was in a hotel room in Vegas LOL

  • @edwinhensley
    @edwinhensley Před 5 měsíci

    Excellent interview.

  • @sxsignal
    @sxsignal Před 5 měsíci

    great interview! thnx

  • @johnlynch5007
    @johnlynch5007 Před 5 měsíci

    Great interview Elie.

  • @airmagic2199
    @airmagic2199 Před 5 měsíci

    Kudos on this interview!!
    Brilliant guest.

    • @ellieinspace
      @ellieinspace  Před 5 měsíci

      Thank you for watching, I've been trying to interview Tom for a long time now!

  • @richardtrustallen4192
    @richardtrustallen4192 Před 5 měsíci

    Great interview, thank you

  • @donfields1234
    @donfields1234 Před 5 měsíci

    Awesome Job Ellie. You go girl. 😊

  • @MarkTimeMiles
    @MarkTimeMiles Před 5 měsíci

    Excellent Ellie and Tom. 🙌

  • @techiheed1845
    @techiheed1845 Před 5 měsíci

    What a great interview, I loved it. I'm going to have a look at these new companies. Nice one Ellie. Did @Farzad edit this one ;-)

  • @steveewing9601
    @steveewing9601 Před 5 měsíci

    Excellent interview!

  • @minisurfboardscouk
    @minisurfboardscouk Před 5 měsíci +2

    Amazing interview love this interview would be great to see Elon and Tom do a catch up video chat in a Space bar with yourself as the interviewer Ellie

  • @Edward-tz7xz
    @Edward-tz7xz Před 5 měsíci

    Wow! Excellent. My favorite by far. Thank you.

  • @joseorozco1383
    @joseorozco1383 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Congrats on securing an interview with a legend. ❤

  • @solomonkassa778
    @solomonkassa778 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Elle thank you letting us know the most decisive people that made spaceX to be where it is now🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥♥♥

  • @Urgelt
    @Urgelt Před 5 měsíci

    Good catch!

  • @andrewkeating3690
    @andrewkeating3690 Před 5 měsíci

    Good job seeking out worthy interviewees. Keep it coming.

  • @ourwetdogs5232
    @ourwetdogs5232 Před 4 měsíci

    You make a good listener Ellie and that brings out the best in your guests 😎

  • @Shew0000
    @Shew0000 Před 5 měsíci

    Awesome video.

  • @gregwise5377
    @gregwise5377 Před 5 měsíci

    Another awesome interview, Ellie!!

  • @michaelp1258
    @michaelp1258 Před 5 měsíci

    Very informative and COOL VIDEO ❤

  • @william53
    @william53 Před 4 měsíci

    Very nice - enjoyed!

  • @richardrogers7339
    @richardrogers7339 Před 5 měsíci

    Very interesting thank you 🙏 from Australia 🇦🇺

  • @jw_yt
    @jw_yt Před 5 měsíci

    This is excellent!

  • @stevehockley5613
    @stevehockley5613 Před 5 měsíci

    Great interview.

  • @ValenHawk
    @ValenHawk Před 5 měsíci +1

    Great interview !!!

  • @tomumn4216
    @tomumn4216 Před 5 měsíci

    Great interview❤

  • @TurinTurambar72
    @TurinTurambar72 Před 5 měsíci

    Favourite interview of him so far from the bunch he has done

    • @ellieinspace
      @ellieinspace  Před 5 měsíci

      Wow, that means a lot. What stood out about this one?

  • @MicrogravityMischief
    @MicrogravityMischief Před 5 měsíci

    super cool interview!!! what a guy.....

  • @randycharland806
    @randycharland806 Před 5 měsíci

    Awesome interview Ellie!

  • @kennethwilliams7731
    @kennethwilliams7731 Před 4 měsíci

    Great interview! A brilliant man! If only America's schools could churn out thousands of brilliant and curious young men & women like him each year,we would be not only on Mars in the short term,but even beyond!

  • @YouT-DJ
    @YouT-DJ Před 5 měsíci

    Very good! Thanks!

  • @darrylthayer2692
    @darrylthayer2692 Před 5 měsíci

    Really eye opening, thanks from a space inthueadt

  • @lordinquis8r679
    @lordinquis8r679 Před 5 měsíci

    Thanks, Ellie!