About World View

World View® is pioneering a new frontier at the edge of space and leading the way in the emerging stratospheric economy.

As an active, full-service commercial launch provider, World View’s technology is already opening up new realms of possibility for commercial customers around the world.

World View’s disruptive Stratollite flight platform enables previously unthinkable applications at a fraction of the cost of existing technology. Stratollites serve a variety of mission functions – from short duration research flights to long-duration flights over specific areas of interest – and serve a broad range of critical commercial needs and applications.

In the near future, World View will leverage the development of its Stratollite technology to pioneer a different type of discovery – private space exploration. In due time, World View will offer an affordable, safe, and gentle way for humans to access near-space for an experience unlike any other.

World View is led by experts in high-altitude ballooning, veterans of human spaceflight, and a team of retired NASA Astronauts, with a flight platform that is rooted deeply in technologies that have been successfully and safely used for decades.

When we saw Earth rising in the distance … it made us realize we all exist on one small globe.

– Frank Borman Astronaut

Our team at World View is truly world class, including a team of retired NASA Astronauts, a former NASA Associate Administrator for Science, Biosphere 2 designers and crew members, International Space Station scientists, and world experts in high-altitude ballooning and human spaceflight. Making innovative use of proven technologies, together we are creating a unique opportunity to open a new frontier for discovery in nearspace.

Jane Poynter

Co-Founder

Ms. Poynter is a member of the Biosphere 2 design team and a member of the original crew who lived inside the sealed, self-sustaining habitat for two years. She was co-founder, President and Chairwoman of Paragon Space Development Corporation, which develops technologies for extreme environments. Experiments in her patented, self-sustaining habitats have flown on the International Space Station (ISS), Mir and the Space Shuttle. Ms. Poynter is a recognized leader in sustainable development. She is the author of The Human Experiment: Two Years and Twenty Minutes Inside Biosphere 2.

Tom Ingersoll

Executive Chairman

Mr. Ingersoll brings over 30 years of experience in the space and communications industry to World View. As President and CEO of Skybox Imaging, Mr. Ingersoll was responsible for the deployment and commercialization of the world’s largest commercial imaging constellation, and ultimately oversaw Skybox’s acquisition by Google in 2014. Prior to Skybox, Mr. Ingersoll served as co-founder and CEO of Universal Space Network (USN). He led the growth of USN from an early stage start-up to its current position as the leading supplier of mission critical ground station services to NASA, the Department of Defense, and others in the satellite industry.

Taber MacCallum

Co-Founder & CTO

Mr. MacCallum was also a member of the Biosphere 2 design team and an original crew member. He is a co-founder of Paragon Space Development Corporation, serving as CEO for the entirety of his tenure. During his time at Paragon, Taber also served as Chief Safety Officer and core team leader of the StratEx Space Dive program, which hoisted Google VP Alan Eustace to ~136,000ft for a record-breaking space dive via high-altitude balloon. Mr. MacCallum holds technology patents in analytical chemistry, spacecraft thermal control, contaminated water diving and spacecraft testing. He has managed experiments on the Soviet BioSatellite, Space Shuttle, Mir and the ISS. He also previously served as Chief Technology Officer for Inspiration Mars, which planned to launch two people on a fly-by mission around Mars in 2021.

Dr. Alan Stern

Co-Founder & Chief Scientist

Internationally recognized planetary scientist, space program executive and aerospace consultant, Dr. Stern formerly served as NASA’s chief of all space and Earth-science programs. He has more than 25 years of experience in space instrumentation development, specializing in ultraviolet technologies. His academic research includes work on spacecraft rendezvous theory, terrestrial polar mesospheric clouds, galactic astrophysics and planetary astronomy. He led the team that planned, built, and flew NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, which in 2015 was the first probe to visit Pluto. Dr. Stern has been involved in 27 space missions and has published more than 250 technical papers about astronomy and the space program.

Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.)

Co-founder & Strategic Advisor

Capt. Kelly is a former NASA astronaut with more than 50 days in space. He piloted two Space Shuttle flights, and commanded two, including the Space Shuttle Endeavour on its final mission. Capt. Kelly retired from the U.S. Navy as a test pilot with 6,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft with 375 aircraft carrier landings. He flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. He has earned many honors, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Distinguished Flying Cross.

Ron Garan, USAF (RET.)

SVP of Mission Operations & Chief Pilot

Ron is a highly decorated combat Fighter Pilot, Test Pilot, Explorer, Entrepreneur and Humanitarian. Ron traveled 71,075,867 miles in 2,842 orbits of our planet over 178 days in space and 27 hours of EVA during four spacewalks. He flew on both the US Space Shuttle and Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Ron is also an aquanaut and has conducted research in Aquarius, the world’s only undersea research laboratory and is author of the highly acclaimed book, The Orbital Perspective.

Dr. Matteo Genna

SVP of Engineering and Manufacturing

Dr. Matteo Genna most recently served as Chief Technology Officer of Space Systems Loral (SSL), a leading provider of commercial satellites, and brings decades of experience, leadership, and vision in space systems and engineering to World View. Dr. Genna served SSL for over 20 years in various roles including Manager of the Advanced Systems Group and Systems Engineer. Dr. Genna holds a bachelor of science degree in physics from the University of California, San Diego, and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Sebastian Padilla

Chief Engineer

Mr. Padilla led the StratEx team as Program Manager and Flight Director. He headed a diverse core team of innovative engineers in the development, testing and operations of the entire StratEx System from inception to the record breaking launch. Utilizing multi-disciplinary engineering, Sebastian led the StratEx team in devising a revolutionary launch system that took manned balloon flight to unprecedented heights. At the heart of this enterprise was their novel approach of simply outfitting the StratEx Pilot in a state-of-the-art pressure suit and strapping him to a high altitude helium balloon.

Tom Pirrone

SVP of Stratollite Applications

Prior to World View, Tom held executive roles at Universal Space Network, where he led the team that created PrioraNet, a worldwide network of satellite ground stations, operated by USN in partnership with the Swedish Space Corporation. Today, PrioraNet provides support to over 100 on-orbit programs and communications for more than 220 launches. Tom is a Wharton Fellow and holds a Masters degree from Biblical Theological Seminary and a Bachelor’s degree from Cairn University.

Justin Langlois

VP of Advanced Applications

Prior to World View, Justin held several positions at Google’s Terra Bella (formerly Skybox Imaging, now a subsidiary of Planet Labs), where he focused on product and go-to-market strategy for the satellite imaging company. Justin served as an officer within the Naval Special Warfare community with multiple deployments to combat zones and holds a bachelors (US Naval Academy) and Masters (Michigan) degrees in Aerospace Engineering and an MBA from Harvard.

Mark McKearn, USA (RET.)

Director of Stratollite Applications

Colonel Mark McKearn is a Master Army Aviator with 30 years of leadership and aviation experience in peace and war. He commanded an Aviation Brigade (3000 personal, 100 helicopters) in Afghanistan with additional deployments including Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Kosovo. He is qualified in 11 Army helicopters and his honors include the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star (2) and Air Medal (2). Following his distinguished military career, Colonel McKearn has worked in the aerospace private sector for over 6 years.

Major General John Wharton, USA (RET.)

Strategic Advisor

John Wharton is a retired Major General of the US Army where he most recently served as Commanding General of the United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. There he led 13,800 scientists, engineers, and support personnel at more than 100 global locations controlling 75% of the Army’s R&D budget. He is a Managing Partner, at One Defense, an organization originating out of the Office of the Secretary of Defense focused on national security and technology acceleration. He has also served as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, DC and Senior Advisor to the National Security Technology Acceleration Program (MD5) providing our Nation’s leaders with expertise regarding science, technology, and innovation.

World View Research and Education Advisory Committee

Dr. Robert D. Braun

Is the David and Andrew Lewis Professor of Space Technology at Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Braun has over 25 years of experience performing design and analysis of planetary exploration systems. He was NASA’s Chief Technologist, serving as the senior Agency executive for technology and innovation policy and programs. He created and led the initial implementation of a spectrum of broadly applicable technology programs designed to build the capabilities required for our nation’s future space missions.
Dr. Sean Casey

Is an astrophysicist, and Senior Scientist with the Universities Space Research Association’s (USRA) Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) program, a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center to build and maintain an airborne observatory. Previously, Dr. Casey was Principal Scientist at NASA Goddard’s Infrared Astrophysics Branch with a focus on infrared instrumentation and observations aboard NASA’s Kuiper Airborne Observatory and the National Science Foundation’s Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica.
Dr. Craig DeForest

Is a leading solar physicist with the Southwest Research Institute. He heads the NASA-funded development of a miniature portable observatory to fly onboard suborbital vehicles. His research focuses on the formation and heating of the solar corona, as well as developing tools to conduct such study.
Bobby Russell

Is the CEO and founder of Quest for Stars, a nonprofit that enables students to perform research at the edge of space via high-altitude balloons and other vehicles. Quest for Stars is one of the leading educational organizations working with suborbital flight providers.
Dr. Stan Solomon

Is a Senior Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, High Altitude Observatory, specializing in the physics and chemistry of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. He has received numerous awards from NASA and others, has been on committees for NASA and the National Science Foundation, and served as the Secretary for Aeronomy of the American Geophysical Union.

World View Advisors

Philippe Bourguignon

Is Vice Chairman of Revolution Places LLC, CEO of Exclusive Resorts, and was previously Chairman and CEO of Euro Disney.
Dr. Jonathan Clark

Is a former NASA flight surgeon and the world’s expert in the human physiology of high-altitude manned ballooning. He served as the Chief Medical Officer for the Red Bull Stratos Space Dive and for Alan Eustace’s StratEx Space Dive.
Pamela L. Meredith

Is the Chair of the Space Law Practice Group of Zuckert Scoutt & Rasenberger, specializing in aviation law, as well as FAA licensing and regulation.
Julian Nott

Is the father of modern ballooning, has broken 79 world ballooning records and received many awards for his contributions to the science and art of the field.
Milton Pedraza

Is the Founder and CEO of the Luxury Institute. He is a speaker, author and world expert on the luxury industry and customer relations management, and advises the who’s who of luxury, including Ritz-Carlton, Alexander McQueen, Cartier, BMW, Chanel, Tiffany, Gucci and Four Seasons.
Michael Tanne

Is an entrepreneur and strategist, supporting organizations like ICON Aircraft and Moon Express.