Starstruck (company)

Starstruck Inc. was a company cofounded by James Bennett and Phil Salin that attempted to perform low-cost orbital rocket launches using experimental, sea-launched hybrid rockets.^[1] While a commercial failure, it is an important part of hybrid rocket history,^[2] responsible for restarting commercial development of hybrid rockets.^[3][4] One of its core leadership was former first Apple CEO Michael Scott. It was based in Redwood City, California.^[5][1]

The company folded after three rockets were built and one was successfully launched to suborbital space. Several veterans of Starstruck founded the American Rocket Company (AMROC),^[6] which also eventually failed. AMROC's intellectual property was acquired by SpaceDev.^{[citation needed]}