James Benson

James William Benson (April 3, 1945 – October 10, 2008) was an American aerospace entrepreneur known for founding SpaceDev, a commercial satellite and satellite component development company, and the Benson Space Company, a civilian spaceflight venture focused on commercial space tourism. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Benson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. With 30 years of experience in the computer field, Benson played a significant role in the evolution of the industry from mainframe computers to microcomputers. He co-founded companies that capitalized on advancements in computer indexing and searching, such as the innovative search system called FARA (FAR Automated). Benson was also involved in the early days of Internet Relay Chat (IRC).