Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents disrupted five smuggling events leading to 20 arrests. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents disrupted five smuggling events leading to 20 arrests.
On September 20, RGV agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a Chevrolet Traverse near Linn. Agents activated their emergency lights and the vehicle veered off the road, struck a fence and came to a stop where multiple subjects exited the vehicle and attempted to abscond into nearby brush. Two migrants were apprehended. Agents searched the area but were unable to locate any additional subjects.
Later that morning, RGV agents encountered a similar event with a Dodge Durango near Raymondville when multiple subjects fled into nearby brush. Agents apprehended one migrant, but the driver eluded apprehension.
An Abandoned vehicle used for human smuggling. USCBP image
Also on September 20, RGV agents apprehended three subjects near Rudolph. The migrants were located after a Ford F150 failed to yield, veered off the road, and drove through a ranch perimeter fence. Several additional subjects, to include the driver, absconded into nearby brush and eluded arrest.
An Abandoned vehicle used for human smuggling. USCBP image
Later that evening, Harlingen Border Patrol Station (HRL) camera operators observed a Chevrolet Uplander load up migrants in a well-known smuggling area near La Paloma. Moments later, the disabled vehicle was encountered by HRL agents in a ditch. Agents apprehended four migrants in the van and four migrants who absconded into nearby brush. The migrants in the van sustained minor injuries and were transported to HRL for medical evaluation. All were determined to be in the U.S. illegally. Additionally, Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station agents apprehended six noncitizens in a human smuggling event near Roma. One migrant was determined to need emergency medical services and was transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment.
All subjects were processed accordingly.
An Abandoned vehicle used for human smuggling, and a destroyed fence. USCBP image
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and to help save lives by reporting suspicious activity at 1-800-863-9382.
Small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups bolster the small business and U.S. economy. Courtesy Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
By Ted James, Region 6 Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s partnership with lenders across our country to deliver our flagship 7(a) loans has often been hailed as the most successful public-private partnerships ever instituted by the federal government.
The public policy goal of the 7(a) business loan program is to provide credit to small businesses that are unable to secure financing on reasonable terms through conventional channels. Private-sector lenders make 7(a) loans to small businesses that are partially guaranteed by the SBA in case of default to these small businesses. More small businesses are afforded an opportunity for success beyond typical financing options and the partnership also allows lenders to loan a greater amount of their assets.
Small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups bolster the small business and U.S. economy. Even during the unprecedented pandemic through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA,) the SBA and lenders contributed to a record level of small business startups. Through the ARPA and the equitable implementation of emergency relief programs, the Biden-Harris Administration fostered an historic recovery for Main Street, small manufacturers, and startups with 7.8 million new business applications since January 2021 alone — 20 percent higher than any previous 18-month period on record.
Now, lenders and American small businesses can leverage the SBAs’ many programs to support these new entrepreneurs and further build upon success. To ensure capital is available, the SBA is studying ways to change 7(a) program loans with new rules, technologies and processes to make the 7(a) lending program easier to understand, easier to use and more appealing to both lenders and borrowers.
The SBA wants to propel the country’s record level of small business startups from stability to success and after attending the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders conference recently, I am convinced our participating SBA lenders are ready help small businesses reach that goal.
Knowing which lenders are ready to cross this new frontier is key to small businesses looking for capital. To help business owners find these lenders, the Lower Rio Grande Valley District office released the following statistics for their top five 7(a) program lenders in the last fiscal 2022 year:
Wells Fargo, N.A. loaned $1,544,600 to 23 small businesses.
Greater State Bank loaned $2,159,300 to eight small businesses.
Lone Star National Bank loaned $2,263,000 to seven small businesses.
Plains Capital loaned $5,451,700 to three small businesses.
Pnc Bank, N.A. loaned 2,169,400 to three small businesses.
Reopening and revitalizing our communities and our economy will be an enormous task. We are confident that our lending community up to it. If one of the lenders mentioned here cannot finance you, the SBA also offers a nationwide lender sourcing service online called Lender Match at www.sba.gov/lendermatch where businesses can explain their project and request a loan from thousands of lenders who work with the SBA.
Stay tuned to learn how the SBA is making funding the American Dream more streamlined and easier for both lenders and borrowers to meet the needs of today’s entrepreneurs and our communities.You can access the biography for Ted James, Region 6 Administrator of the U.S. Small Business
The Successful team at the Laredo EDC (Left to Right) Gene Lindgren, President and CEO; Yvette Peña, Chief Administrative Officer; Joseph Mendiola, VP of Business Attraction and Retention; Yvette Sanchez, VP of International Business Recruitment; Ana B. Del Bosque, Administrative Support Specialist; Cesar Hernandez, Program Director; Zaira Lopez, Marketing Coordinator; and Gabriela Martinez, Administrative Assistant. Courtesy Images, Bgd. Googlemaps
Texas Border Business
Governor Abbott
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today congratulated the Laredo Economic Development Corporation (EDC) on its strong record for attracting new jobs and nearly $50 million in capital investments by expanding and relocating companies in Laredo and Webb County in 2021.
“Texas continues to attract new jobs, new businesses, and new investments, and as a result, more Texans are working than ever before in our state’s history,” said Governor Abbott. “Critical to that growth is our dominance in global trade as the top exporting state for 20 years and the top tech exporting state for nine years in a row. With its strategic location, the Port of Laredo is the No. 1 inland port along the U.S.-Mexico border with over $248.5 billion in imports and exports in 2021. The Laredo region and Webb County are well-positioned for continuing economic expansion, and I want to thank our local, regional, and state economic development partners for their dedication to attracting, retaining, and growing jobs in South Texas and all across this great state. Working together, we will keep Texas the best state to live, work, build a business, and raise a family.”
Speaking on Governor Abbott’s behalf at the Laredo EDC’s 29th annual Pathway’s for Trade Symposium Event last night, Adriana Cruz, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism, noted the region’s significant contribution to our state’s economy. “The community of Laredo supports the Lone Star State’s status as an economic powerhouse,” said Executive Director Cruz. “Not only is Laredo one of the top cities in the nation to start a business, but it also serves as a gateway for global trade with Mexico and beyond.”
About the Laredo EDC: A private non-profit corporation focused on promoting and fostering economic and industrial development in the Laredo region, the Laredo EDC provides community data and economic indicators for business prospects and investors, site selection services, assistance with and screening for incentives from the city, county, and state, and research information requested by clients.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism is charged with marketing and promoting the state of Texas as a premier business location and travel destination and works closely with regional and community partners to ensure Texas remains the top state for business in the nation. Under Governor Abbott’s leadership, Texas continues to set new records for total employment and jobs. Texas has also remained the Best State for Business for a record 18 years in a row and received the Governor’s Cup for the most job-creating corporate relocation and expansion projects the last 10 consecutive years.
Javier Villalobos, Mayor of McAllen was joined by Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, City Manager of McAllen, and Elizabeth Suarez, Director of McAllen International Airport to welcome the partnership with Eric Sudol, Dallas Cowboys Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnership & Marketing, and Dallas Cowboys legends Tony Hill and Charles Haley. Photo by Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – On September 21, 2022, McAllen International Airport and Dallas Cowboys announced a new partnership that designated McAllen International Airport as the South Texas Airport of the Dallas Cowboys.
As the South Texas Airport of the Dallas Cowboys, McAllen International Airport will create year-round fan experiences for travelers. Upcoming guest programming will feature exclusive giveaways, social media and photo experiences, and special appearances by Dallas Cowboys players and legends, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Rowdy, and more.
Javier Villalobos, Mayor of McAllen along with city officials and others during the announcement. Photo by Roberto Hugo Gonzalez.
Javier Villalobos, Mayor of McAllen was joined by Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, City Manager of McAllen, and Elizabeth Suarez, Director of McAllen International Airport to welcome the partnership with Eric Sudol, Dallas Cowboys Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnership & Marketing, and Dallas Cowboys legends Tony Hill and Charles Haley.
“This partnership is going to be amazing for Dallas Cowboys fans, especially with more nonstop flights to Dallas from McAllen International Airport,” said Javier Villalobos, the mayor of McAllen. Nonstop flights from McAllen International Airport to Dallas gives South Texas quicker access to their favorite sports brand. And with more nonstop flights to major destinations from McAllen, fans will have a direct link to more Cowboys away games.
“Dallas Cowboys team victories are a lot like our business successes. When we work together, we achieve even more,” said Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, City Manager, the City of McAllen. “We chose the Cowboys to entertain our travelers and provide yet another reason why the McAllen International Airport is the Rio Grande Valley’s preferred airport.”
“McAllen International Airport is always looking for new ways to connect our travelers with relevant experiences. The Dallas Cowboys are unquestionably the most engaging sports brand in South Texas and the world, so our new partnership was a natural fit,” said Elizabeth Suarez.
“We couldn’t be happier about a partnership that connects us to one of our biggest fan bases,” said Eric Sudol of the Dallas Cowboys. McAllen International Airport kicked the partnership off with the first of many share-to-win giveaways, offering the public a chance to with a Dallas Cowboys travel package with game tickets. Follow McAllen International Airport’s Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages to stay connected with this and future Dallas Cowboys themed events and giveaways.
Governor Greg Abbott today issued an executive order designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations and instructing the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to take immediate action to keep Texans safe amid the growing national fentanyl crisis. Photo: Office of the Governor
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today issued an executive order designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations and instructing the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to take immediate action to keep Texans safe amid the growing national fentanyl crisis. At a roundtable discussion and press conference in Midland today, the Governor also sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris requesting federal terrorist classifications for the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel, as well as other cartels producing and distributing deadly fentanyl.
“Fentanyl is a clandestine killer, and Texans are falling victim to the Mexican cartels that are producing it,” said Governor Abbott. “Cartels are terrorists, and it’s time we treated them that way. In fact, more Americans died from fentanyl poisoning in the past year than all terrorist attacks across the globe in the past 100 years. In order to save our country, particularly our next generation, we must do more to get fentanyl off our streets.”
Governor Abbott during the meeting with the Texas DPS. Photo: Office of the Governor
The Governor was joined at the roundtable discussion and press conference by DPS Director Steve McCraw, DPS Regional Director West Texas Region Jose Sanchez, Midland County Judge Terry Johnson, Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis, Midland County Sheriff Chief Deputy Benny Matlock, Odessa Police Chief Mike Gerke, Midland Police Chief Seth Herman, and Midland Memorial Hospital District Police Chief Steve McNeill.
Governor Abbott also directed DPS and law enforcement agencies to identify Texas gangs that support Mexican drug cartels and seize their assets in order to disrupt cartel networks operating in Texas communities, as thousands of Texans have been poisoned unwittingly by counterfeit pills laced with the deadly synthetic opioid.
Governor Abbott greeting a law enforcement officer at the meeting. Photo: Office of the Governor
With Mexican drug cartels disguising fentanyl as counterfeit pills and targeting children with “rainbow fentanyl” pills, the Governor emphasizes in his letter that immediate decisive action is needed from the Biden Administration to combat this deadly crisis impacting the nation.
Yesterday, the Governor sent a letter to state agency leaders directing them to ramp up efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis by preparing for the next legislative session with statutory changes, budget priorities, and other initiatives that will enhance Texas’ ability to combat fentanyl deaths across the state. The letter further directs state agencies to coordinate efforts to raise awareness of fentanyl’s lethality and prevalence.
Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted five human smuggling events and identified a U.S. citizen as a possible migrant foot guide. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted five human smuggling events and identified a U.S. citizen as a possible migrant foot guide.
More Illegal Migrants arrested. USCBP Image
On September 19, McAllen Border Patrol Station agents apprehended four subjects in Mission claiming to be in the U.S. illegally. During processing, it was discovered a female subject had provided a false name/identity at the time of apprehension and is a U.S. citizen with prior migrant smuggling charges.
Later that morning, a Falfurrias Border Patrol Station agent observed several subjects load into a Jeep at the Brooks County Rest Area. The driver and passenger, both U.S. citizens, were arrested after the vehicle failed to yield, led agents on a vehicle pursuit, and eventually came to a stop. During the pursuit, the driver stopped the vehicle and two passengers exited, fleeing into the brush. One was later apprehended. The U.S. citizens were turned over to the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office to face state migrant smuggling charges and the migrant apprehended in the brush was transported to the station.
An Abandoned vehicle used for human Smuggling. USCBP Image
Just before noon, RGV agents and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office deputies received information of migrants being harbored at a hotel in McAllen. They convened at the hotel and apprehended seven migrants unlawfully present in the U.S. No caretaker was identified.
Just after midnight on September 20, RGV agents attempted two vehicle stops within half an hour on U.S. Highway 281 near Linn. Both concluded with the vehicles driving through ranch fences and the occupants bailing out. Agents apprehended six migrants in the brush. The drivers were not located.
Packages containing more than 23 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Brownsville Port of Entry. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
BROWNSVILLE, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge intercepted a load of alleged cocaine valued at approximately $314,965 hidden within a 2012 Jeep.
“Our mission is to facilitate legitimate trade and travel while maintaining a robust enforcement posture and this seizure is the product of our officers’ dedication to our mission,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.
The seizure took place on Friday, Sept. 16, at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge when a 42-year-old male Mexican citizen who resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, attempted entry into the United States driving a 2012 Jeep. The vehicle was referred to CBP secondary for further examination after a primary inspection. While in the secondary inspection area, with the aid of a non-intrusive inspection system (NII) and a canine unit, CBP officers discovered 10 packages hidden within the vehicle. CBP officers removed the packages which contained a total of 23.58 pounds of alleged cocaine.
The estimated street value of the cocaine from the seizure is approximately $314,965.
CBP officers seized the narcotics along with the vehicle, arrested the driver and turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.
Packages containing more than 98 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Pharr International Bridge. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge Cargo Facility intercepted $1,312,000 in alleged cocaine.
“The Pharr commercial environment continues to be a route smugglers use to try to bring narcotics into the country, but our CBP officers remain vigilant and relied on their experience and all available tools and resources to thwart this smuggling attempt,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
On September 17, 2022, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility encountered a commercial tractor trailer arriving from Mexico. A CBP officer referred the conveyance for further inspection, which included utilizing non-intrusive inspection systems (NII). After physically inspecting the conveyance, officers extracted 40 packages weighing 98.28 pounds (44.58kg) of alleged cocaine concealed within the trailer.
CBP OFO seized the narcotics and tractor trailer, and the case remains under investigation by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI).
Laredo Sector Border Patrol closed a stash house while working with Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in Laredo, Texas. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol closed a stash house while working with Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in Laredo, Texas.
On September 19, Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo South Station were working their assigned duties when they assisted Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), with a welfare check of a residence located on Moonstone Road. A total of 13 individuals were found inside the residence.
Border Patrol agents conducted an immigration inspection of the individuals, agents determined that they were in the country illegally. All the undocumented non-citizens were from the countries of Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. All were taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol and will be processed accordingly.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-343-1994.
You are disconnected from this world if you have not heard about Elon Musk. He is a professional and businessman out of this world. Texas Border Business has been following the successes of Musk for years and waited several months on the list until his constellation of satellites was ready to serve South Texas with broadband service. We are pleased and honored to feature him on Texas Border Business.
His latest endeavor among many, is that SpaceX files plans for ‘shell building’ in Bastrop County. SpaceX recently filed for construction of a massive building in Bastrop County, Texas which is just east of Austin. According to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, SpaceX is constructing a ‘shell building’ that will be 521,521 square feet. The facility was assigned the name “Project Echo.” The estimated cost of the project is $43 million, and the building is expected to begin its construction by October 2022 and be completed in June 2023.
While the filing does not list SpaceX by name, it does use the address for the company’s test facility in McGregor, Texas — a town of fewer than 5,000 residents outside of Waco. The SpaceX site is within an hour of a number of other ambitious projects associated with Elon Musk. The Tesla Gigafactory covers 2,500 acres along the Colorado River with over 10 million square feet of factory floor.
About Elon Reeve Musk, he is a naturalized American business magnate and investor. He is the founder, CEO, and Chief Engineer at SpaceX; the angel investor, CEO, and Product Architect of Tesla, Inc.; the founder of The Boring Company; and co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI. With an estimated net worth of around US$253.4 billion as of September 7, 2022, Musk is the wealthiest person in the world according to both the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and Forbes’ real-time billionaires list.
Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, where he grew up. He briefly attended the University of Pretoria before moving to Canada at age 17, acquiring citizenship through his Canadian-born mother. Two years later, he attended Queen’s University and then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he received bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Physics. He moved to California in 1995 to attend Stanford University but decided instead to pursue a business career. He co-founded the web software company Zip2 with his brother Kimbal. The startup was acquired by Compaq for $307 million in 1999. That same year, Musk co-founded online bank X.com, which merged with Confinity in 2000 to form PayPal. eBay bought PayPal in 2002, for $1.5 billion.
In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company, which he serves as CEO and Chief Engineer. In 2004, he was an early investor in the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors, Inc., now Tesla, Inc. He became its chairman and product architect, eventually assuming the position of CEO in 2008. In 2006, he helped create SolarCity, a solar energy company that was later acquired by Tesla and became Tesla Energy. In 2015, he co-founded OpenAI, a nonprofit research company promoting friendly artificial intelligence (AI). In 2016, he co-founded Neuralink, a neurotechnology company focused on developing brain–computer interfaces, and then he founded The Boring Company, a tunnel construction company. Musk has proposed a hyperloop high-speed vactrain transportation system. He is the president of the Musk Foundation, which donates to scientific research and education.
Elon Musk. Photo by Steve Jurvetson on Flickr, under CC BY 2.0. Background photo courtesy of SpaceX.
Another Big Win is when SpaceX Invited World’s Carriers to Collaborate
SpaceX’s Chief Engineer Elon Musk and T-Mobile’s CEO and President Mike Sievert announced a breakthrough plan to provide truly universal cellular connectivity.
Despite powerful LTE and 5G terrestrial wireless networks, more than 20% of the United States land area and 90% of the Earth remain uncovered by wireless companies. These dead zones have serious consequences for remote communities and those who travel off the grid for work or leisure. The telecom industry has struggled to cover these areas with traditional cellular technology due to land-use restrictions (e.g., National Parks), terrain limits (e.g., mountains, deserts, and other topographical realities), and the globe’s sheer vastness. In those areas, people are either left disconnected or resort to lugging around a satellite phone and paying exorbitant rates.
Leveraging Starlink, SpaceX’s constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, and T-Mobile’s wireless network, the companies are planning to provide customers text coverage practically everywhere in the continental U.S., Hawaii, parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico, and territorial waters, even outside the signal of T-Mobile’s network. The service will be offered starting with a beta in select areas by the end of next year after SpaceX’s planned satellite launches. Text messaging, including SMS, MMS, and participating messaging apps, will empower customers to stay connected and share experiences nearly everywhere. Afterwards, the companies plan to pursue the addition of voice and data coverage.
In addition, Elon and Mike shared their vision for expanding Coverage Above and Beyond globally, issuing an open invitation to the world’s carriers to collaborate for truly global connectivity. T-Mobile committed to offer reciprocal roaming to those providers working with them to enable this vision.
This service will have a tremendous impact on the safety, peace of mind, and individual and business opportunities around the globe. The applications range from connecting hikers in national parks, rural communities, remote sensors and devices, and people and devices in emergency situations, such as firefighters.
This satellite-to-cellular service will provide nearly complete coverage anywhere a customer can see the sky—meaning you can continue texting and eventually make a cell phone call even when you leave terrestrial coverage. We’ve designed our system so that no modifications are required to the cell phone everyone has in their pocket today, and no new firmware, software updates, or apps are needed. As a complementary technology to terrestrial networks, SpaceX can enable mobile network operators to connect more people, fulfill coverage requirements, and create new business opportunities.
What a Big Fiesta when Tesla Inaugurated its Gigafactory Texas Plant with a “Cyber Rodeo”
Gigafactory Texas (also known as Giga Texas or Gigafactory 5) is an automotive manufacturing facility near Austin, Texas built by Tesla, Inc. Construction began in July 2020, limited production of Model Y began before the end of 2021, and initial deliveries of vehicles built at the factory took place at an opening party called “Cyber Rodeo” on April 7, 2022.
The factory is also planned to be the main factory for the Tesla Cybertruck and the Tesla Semi and produces Model Y cars for the eastern United States. It also serves as the site of Tesla’s corporate headquarters. It is the country’s second biggest factory by size as well as the second largest building in the world by volume. “We needed a place where we could be really big, and there is no place like Texas,” Musk said.
Another Win when SpaceX Announced the Launch of Polaris Program Missions, coming the Fourth Quarter of 2022
Jared Isaacman, founder, and CEO of Shift4 who commanded the Inspiration4 mission, announced the Polaris Program, a first-of-its-kind effort to rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities, while continuing to raise funds and awareness for important causes here on Earth. The program will consist of up to three human spaceflight missions that will demonstrate new technologies, conduct extensive research, and ultimately culminate in the first flight of SpaceX’s Starship with humans on board.
The first mission, Polaris Dawn, is targeted to launch no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2022 from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This Dragon mission will take advantage of Falcon 9 and Dragon’s maximum performance, flying higher than any Dragon mission to date and endeavoring to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown. Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will spend up to five days in orbit, during which the crew will attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk, conduct scientific research designed to advance both human health on Earth and our understanding of human health during future long-duration spaceflights. This will be the first crew to test Starlink laser-based communications in space, providing valuable data for future space communications systems necessary for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The Polaris Dawn mission has many first-time objectives, so the Polaris Program chose a crew of experts who know each other well and have a foundation of trust they can build upon as they undergo the challenges of this mission. In addition to Isaacman, the crew includes Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a veteran member of Jared’s team, and two SpaceX employees, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.
Sources: SpaceX, Tesla Inc., Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and Wikipedia.
Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 3.0.
