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The Benson Space Company (BSC) was a commercial spaceflight venture, focused on commercial space tourism and founded by Jim Benson, former CEO of SpaceDev. The company was dissolved, following Benson's illness and subsequent death on October 10, 2008.
Jim Benson announced the launch of the new venture on September 28, 2006, stating intentions to be the first to market in the emerging space tourism and personal spaceflight industry.
Retired NASA astronaut Robert "Hoot" Gibson joined Benson Space Company on December 14, 2006, as COO and chief test pilot.
Benson Space Company released plans for the Dream Chaser Spaceship, a vehicle designed and based on NASA Langley Research Center's ten passenger orbital HL-20. The company signed an agreement for Phase I development of the ship on December 19, 2006. The spaceship was planned to use non-explosive hybrid rocket motors, directly improved versions of the motors used by SpaceDev in Paul Allen's SpaceShipOne.
Jim Benson was diagnosed with a gliobastoma multiforme brain tumor in 2007, and died September 9, 2008.
