SpaceX Co-Founder and University of Idaho Alumnus Tom Mueller to Keynote Engineering Design EXPO in Moscow, Idaho
MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho alumnus and rocket propulsion pioneer Tom Mueller will deliver a free public keynote address at the College of Engineering’s annual Engineering Design EXPO on Friday, May 1, at ICCU Arena on the Moscow campus.
Mueller, a native of St. Maries, Idaho, is scheduled to speak from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. following a morning of student project showcases. The event is free and open to the public, with student exhibits running from 9 a.m. to noon before Mueller takes the stage.
A Career That Helped Reshape Modern Spaceflight
Mueller’s career represents one of the more remarkable trajectories in modern aerospace history. After excelling in University of Idaho’s engineering program, he went on to become a co-founding member and one of the first employees at SpaceX, where he spent more than three decades developing some of the most consequential rocket engines in recent history.
As the lead engineer behind the Merlin, Draco, and SuperDraco engine families, Mueller played a central role in the development of the propulsion systems powering SpaceX’s Falcon rockets and Dragon spacecraft — vehicles that carry both crew and cargo to orbit and have fundamentally altered the economics of space access.
Mueller’s expertise spans advanced propulsion architectures, rapid development cycles, and flight-proven engineering. His work helped demonstrate that private industry, driven by competitive market forces rather than government contracting bureaucracy, could dramatically reduce the cost of reaching space while improving reliability.
In 2021, Mueller founded Impulse Space, where he serves as CEO. The company focuses on chemical propulsion systems, orbital transfer vehicles, and planetary landers — technologies central to the next generation of commercial space operations.
Student Innovation on Display at Idaho’s Longest-Running Engineering Showcase
The Engineering Design EXPO itself is no small event. Recognized as the Pacific Northwest’s longest-running showcase of student engineering and technological innovation, the EXPO draws industry partners, educators, and the public each year to evaluate the work of graduating engineering seniors.
Students from the College of Engineering’s Interdisciplinary Senior Capstone Design Program — recognized by the National Academy of Engineering for integrating real-world experiences into undergraduate education — will display interactive projects spanning a range of disciplines. Teams work throughout the academic year on projects sponsored by industry partners, private individuals, or University of Idaho departments, emphasizing the full engineering design process from concept through testing and prototype validation.
The University of Idaho has recently been in the news for its engineering and research programs. Federal officials reinstated a record-setting U of I grant program earlier this year, a development that research advocates said would support continued innovation across the university’s science and engineering disciplines.
Industry partners and members of the public are invited to participate as project judges, and regional educators are encouraged to bring students to the event to observe how U of I undergraduates are applying engineering principles to real-world problems. The College of Engineering views the EXPO as both a capstone for graduating students and an outreach opportunity to inspire younger generations toward careers in science, technology, and engineering.
As the University of Idaho continues to attract high-profile speakers and navigates evolving questions about the cost of higher education in Idaho, events like the Engineering EXPO underscore the institution’s commitment to connecting students with industry leaders and practical engineering challenges.
More information about the Engineering Design EXPO, including how to participate as a judge or arrange a classroom visit, is available at go.uidaho.edu/engr-expo.
What Comes Next
The Engineering Design EXPO takes place Friday, May 1, at ICCU Arena on the University of Idaho’s Moscow campus, with student project exhibits open from 9 a.m. to noon and Mueller’s keynote address scheduled from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. Admission is free. Media seeking interviews with Mueller or student presenters may contact the University of Idaho College of Engineering’s marketing and communications office at 208-885-7511 or alexisst@uidaho.edu.