LOS ANGELES, Jan 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – SpaceX plans to lay off 10 percent of
its more than 6,000 employees, a source familiar with the decision said on
Friday.
“To continue delivering for our customers and to succeed in developing
interplanetary spacecraft and a global space-based Internet, SpaceX must
become a leaner company,” the California-based company, headed by Elon Musk,
said in a statement to AFP.
“Either of these developments, even when attempted separately, have
bankrupted other organizations,” it added.
“This means we must part ways with some talented and hardworking members
of our team.”
It added that the trim down was “only due to the extraordinarily difficult
challenges ahead.”
Citing an email sent to employees on Friday, the Los Angeles Times said
the company was offering those affected a minimum of eight weeks’ pay and
other benefits, including career coaching and resume assistance.
The announcement came as SpaceX on Friday launched a Falcon 9 rocket from
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California carrying 10 communications
satellites.
Founded by Musk, SpaceX makes most of its money from multibillion dollar
contracts with NASA and satellite launches.
SpaceX in November won authorization from US officials to put nearly
12,000 satellites into orbit in order to boost cheap, wireless internet
access by the 2020s.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the company was raising
$500 million from investors to help launch its satellite internet service.