Elon Musk’s SpaceX, a private American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company, is looking to lay off around 10 per cent of its workforce in an attempt at better managing costs.
This news comes shortly after the company’s first successful launch of 2019 on January 11, sending the Falcon 9 rocket into orbit to complete the Iridium NEXT satellite network.
In a statement to TechCrunch, SpaceX explained that it aims to become a “leaner company” and that these layoffs are necessary to prepare for “the extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead.” These layoffs will affect the positions of more than 577 employees, including those of production managers, machinists, avionics and propulsion technicians, and inventory specialists.
Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica tweeted a statement on the matter:
SpaceX will reduce its workforce by 10 percent. Statement below. Story later tonight. pic.twitter.com/AxFaz53LI8
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) January 11, 2019
By Daniëlle Kruger
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