Featured
Tom Mueller’s Journey: From Idaho to SpaceX, Navigating the Demands of Elon Musk

Tom Mueller may not be a name that most people instantly associate with aerospace history. But he has made nothing short of a transformative contribution to the space sector, particularly through his collaboration with SpaceX and Elon Musk. Mueller provided a unique perspective on working with the visionary entrepreneur in a recent interview for Walter Isaacson’s book Elon Musk, revealing the demanding nature of Musk’s leadership and the difficulties they faced together.
Tom Mueller’s journey to becoming a key figure in the aerospace world was far from conventional. Tom Mueller’s journey to success in the aerospace industry was anything but typical. Mueller, from the small town of Saint Maries, Idaho, grew up with a keen interest in science fiction and rockets. He was raised with a tough, practical outlook on life owing to his father’s work as a lumberjack, which would be useful in his future career.
After graduating from the University of Idaho, Mueller moved to Los Angeles to begin his career in aerospace, where he joined the Reaction Research Society, the country’s oldest amateur aerospace organisation, and took a job at TRW. These early encounters sharpened his abilities and fuelled his enthusiasm for rocket engineering, laying the groundwork for an innovative collaboration.
The turning point in Mueller’s life came on a fateful Sunday in January 2002. In a garage, he and his buddies were experimenting with a homemade rocket when word came that Elon Musk wanted to meet them. Musk had just sold PayPal for an astounding $1.5 billion. They planned to meet on Super Bowl Sunday, but when they got into discussions about creating a launch vehicle, the game was put on hold. They established Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, subsequently known as SpaceX, along with Chris Thompson, with Mueller in charge of propulsion and addressing the intricate problems associated with rocket thrust.
Mueller made a choice in the early days of SpaceX that unintentionally impacted his relationship with Musk. He asked Musk to put two years’ worth of pay into escrow so that he would have money in the event of failure. Although wise, this action made Musk view Mueller more as a co-worker than a co-founder. Musk believed that co-founders should embody a combination of inspiration, hard work, and risk, and this financial arrangement didn’t align with his vision.
It turned out to be a tough and intense experience working for Musk. SpaceX operated under strict deadlines and a culture of learning from mistakes. Engineers who indicated uncertainty or pessimism were relegated to the periphery and kept out of subsequent discussions. The engineering teams felt a sense of urgency and demoralisation as a result of Musk’s impatience, which frequently led to timelines that were all but impossible to meet.
However, Mueller viewed Musk’s leadership style as having this trait as both a strength and a drawback. Although the sense of urgency frequently resulted in spectacular achievements, it may also have a negative impact on morale, making engineers feel overwhelmed by seemingly impossible targets.
After nearly two decades at SpaceX, Tom Mueller left the company in late 2020 to embark on his own journey. He established Impulse Space, a business with big aspirations in space exploration, with the support of influential investors like Peter Thiel. The goal of Impulse Space is to create a spaceship that can efficiently launch several payloads into various orbits. They hope to work with Relativity Space to be the first company to launch commercial cargo to Mars in 2026 utilising the Relativity Terran R launch vehicle, possibly surpassing Elon Musk in his own quest to reach Mars.
Tom Mueller has had a long career and has achieved much, yet he still has great dreams. He aims to go into space on his own, and one of his dreams is to go to the moon and ride an electric dirt bike across its surface. His journey from a little Idaho town to becoming a significant player in the aerospace business serves as an example of the amazing prospects that can result from a love of science and a willingness to engage in risky partnerships and endeavours.
Tom Mueller’s narrative is a landmark to the strength of perseverance, creativity, and teamwork in space exploration, where the limits of what is possible are continually being pushed, all the while traversing the difficult terrain of working with a visionary like Elon Musk.
Business
Vanessa Kirby Personifies Sarah Burton’s Givenchy at the Fall 2025 Show

Vanessa Kirby made a striking appearance at Sarah Burton’s highly anticipated inaugural Givenchy runway show for Fall 2025, embodying the essence of the designer’s vision. As a longtime admirer of Burton’s work, the Fantastic Four: First Steps star was eager to witness the debut collection in Paris.
“I really wanted to be here in Paris for Sarah’s first show,” Kirby expressed with enthusiasm. “Sarah has been my favorite designer for years. I absolutely love everything she does—I think she’s a master. She designs clothes truly for women—always extraordinary, feline, and structured in a way that makes you feel so empowered.”
Having collaborated with Burton throughout her tenure at Alexander McQueen, Kirby’s presence at the show was a testament to their ongoing creative synergy. Dressed in a sleek black ensemble with sharp shoulders and a plunging V-neck, Kirby’s outfit embodied Burton’s signature aesthetic: a balance of strength and femininity. “The dress we chose felt very classic—the shape felt architectural and strong, but also daytime and relaxed,” she noted.
Following the intimate runway presentation, Kirby joined an exclusive gathering of fashion and film’s elite at a celebratory dinner honoring Burton’s Givenchy debut. Among the attendees were Rooney Mara, Gwendoline Christie, Raye, Alex Consani, and Yseult, all raising a toast to the designer’s new chapter.
Reflecting on the experience, Kirby shared her admiration for the energy of Paris Fashion Week. “I associate Paris with the amazing shows that happen every year. The shows themselves feel like a real reveal—seeing what Sarah has been working on for months for her first Givenchy collection. Everyone was so excited to see her vision.”
With Burton’s Givenchy era now officially underway, Kirby’s presence at the event was a fitting tribute to the designer’s ability to craft powerful, empowering fashion for the modern woman.
Entertainment
Paris Fashion Week, Day Three: Poise and Manners in Motion

The third day of Paris Fashion Week saw designers exploring the intricate relationship between gestures and clothing, emphasizing how fashion is not just about what we wear but also how we wear it. Collections from Tom Ford, Dries Van Noten, and Courrèges examined the power of poise, movement, and expression in shaping the narrative of style.
Tom Ford: Seductive Refinement
At Tom Ford, the runway exuded understated sensuality with structured silhouettes, slinky fabrics, and sharp tailoring. The collection celebrated the way garments move with the body, emphasizing controlled elegance and effortless allure. The balance between precision and fluidity played a key role in defining the brand’s signature poise.
Dries Van Noten: The Art of Subtle Motion
Dries Van Noten explored grace in everyday movements, showcasing fluid draping, asymmetry, and layered textures that interacted beautifully with body language. Models glided down the runway in sheer overlays, deconstructed tailoring, and muted tones, creating an atmosphere of quiet sophistication.
Courrèges: A Futuristic Take on Gesture
At Courrèges, the focus was on modern minimalism and futuristic silhouettes that adapted to movement. With high collars, sculptural cuts, and sleek monochromes, the collection emphasized how posture and poise can transform a garment. The interplay between rigid and flowing elements created a striking contrast, reinforcing the theme of fashion as an extension of personal expression.
Final Thoughts: Fashion as a Language of Movement
Day three of Paris Fashion Week proved that style is more than aesthetics—it’s about the way clothing interacts with the body and the world around it. From structured confidence at Tom Ford to fluid elegance at Dries Van Noten and futuristic sophistication at Courrèges, each collection redefined the poise and manners of fashion in its own unique way.
Business
Rabanne Fall/Winter 2025: A 1960s Beauty Revival

Rabanne’s Fall/Winter 2025 show was a glamorous throwback to 1960s Paris, with big bouffant hair and bold, smoky eyes dominating the runway. The iconic French-girl aesthetic was on full display, blending vintage inspiration with modern edge.
The Makeup: Statement Eyes & Subtle Rebellion
Rabanne Beauty’s creative director, Diane Kendal, crafted a striking yet effortless makeup look that channeled icons like Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve. Models wore slightly winged, waterline eyeliner and taupe-hued smoky eyeshadow, smudged across the lids and under the eyes for a soft but dramatic effect.
Kendal, known for pushing beauty boundaries, chose to highlight natural skin while focusing on bold eye makeup—a subtle rebellion against the typical all-over glam seen on high-fashion runways. This “done-yet-undone” style perfectly complemented Rabanne’s flamboyant fabrics, sparkles, and sequins.
Hair: The Return of the Bouffant
Fluffy, voluminous bouffants were the crowning statement of the show. The models’ teased, combed-back hair added a touch of vintage glamour, reinforcing the collection’s nostalgic yet playfully modern feel.
Rabanne’s Beauty Revolution
Rabanne Beauty continues to redefine makeup with gender-neutral, statement-making products. The runway featured some of its standout offerings, including:
Shimmer Bomb – An all-over glitter spray for an extra dose of Rabanne’s signature glitz.
Top Coat Mascara – A silver and gold formula that gave lashes a tinsel-like effect.
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