Amir Ansari
Encyclopedia
Amir Ansari is co-founder of venture capital firm Prodea Systems, Inc. Along with his sister-in-law Anousheh Ansari
, he made a multi-million dollar contribution to the X PRIZE
foundation on May 5, 2004, the 43rd anniversary of Alan Shepard
's sub-orbital spaceflight. The X PRIZE was officially renamed the Ansari X PRIZE in honour of their donation.
Born in 1970 in Tehran
, Iran
, Ansari immigrated to the United States
before the Iranian Revolution
. He received his Bachelor of Science
degree in electrical engineering and computer science at George Mason University
.
Amir, along with his brother Hamid and sister-in-law Anousheh Ansari
, founded Telecom Technologies, Inc. (TTI) in 1993, and served as the company's CTO
. TTI was acquired by Sonus Networks, Inc. in 2000.
Most recently, Prodea has announced the formation of a partnership with Space Adventures
, Ltd. and the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation
(FSA) to create a fleet of suborbital spaceflight vehicles for global commercial use.
Anousheh Ansari
Anousheh Ansari is an engineer and the Iranian-American co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems. Her previous business accomplishments include serving as co-founder and CEO of Telecom Technologies, Inc. . The Ansari family is also the title sponsor of the Ansari X Prize. On September 18, 2006,...
, he made a multi-million dollar contribution to the X PRIZE
Ansari X Prize
The Ansari X Prize was a space competition in which the X Prize Foundation offered a US$10,000,000 prize for the first non-government organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks...
foundation on May 5, 2004, the 43rd anniversary of Alan Shepard
Alan Shepard
Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. was an American naval aviator, test pilot, flag officer, and NASA astronaut who in 1961 became the second person, and the first American, in space. This Mercury flight was designed to enter space, but not to achieve orbit...
's sub-orbital spaceflight. The X PRIZE was officially renamed the Ansari X PRIZE in honour of their donation.
Born in 1970 in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Ansari immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
before the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
. He received his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in electrical engineering and computer science at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
.
Amir, along with his brother Hamid and sister-in-law Anousheh Ansari
Anousheh Ansari
Anousheh Ansari is an engineer and the Iranian-American co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems. Her previous business accomplishments include serving as co-founder and CEO of Telecom Technologies, Inc. . The Ansari family is also the title sponsor of the Ansari X Prize. On September 18, 2006,...
, founded Telecom Technologies, Inc. (TTI) in 1993, and served as the company's CTO
Chief technical officer
A chief technology officer is an executive-level position in a company or other entity whose occupant is focused on scientific and technological issues within an organization....
. TTI was acquired by Sonus Networks, Inc. in 2000.
Most recently, Prodea has announced the formation of a partnership with Space Adventures
Space Adventures
Space Adventures, Ltd. is a Virginia, USA-based space tourism company founded in 1998 by Eric C. Anderson. , offerings include zero-gravity atmospheric flights, orbital spaceflights , and other spaceflight-related experiences including cosmonaut training, spacewalk training, and launch tours...
, Ltd. and the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation
Russian Federal Space Agency
The Russian Federal Space Agency , commonly called Roscosmos and abbreviated as FKA and RKA , is the government agency responsible for the Russian space science program and general aerospace research. It was previously the Russian Aviation and Space Agency .Headquarters of Roscosmos are located...
(FSA) to create a fleet of suborbital spaceflight vehicles for global commercial use.