James William Benson (April 3, 1945 – October 10, 2008)[1][2] was an American aerospace entrepreneur who founded SpaceDev, a commercial satellite and satellite component development company, and the Benson Space Company, a civilian spaceflight venture focused on commercial space tourism.

[citation needed] He founded the non-profit Space Development Institute, and introduced the Benson Prize for Amateur Discovery of Near Earth Objects.

[2] After a successful career as a computer industry entrepreneur, Benson decided to take on the challenge of starting a space commercialization venture.

Later, the Dream Chaser became a candidate for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Program for delivering cargo to and from the International Space Station.

In the event, SpaceDev was not selected for award under COTS, but did sign a non-reimburseable Space Act Agreement to facilitate additional exchange of non-cash project milestones with NASA.

The SEC alleged that SpaceDev and chairman Benson made false and misleading statements through various media in an attempt to increase its stock value.

In 2003, SpaceDev launched the United States' smallest, low-cost, high performance satellite named CHIPSat for NASA.

SpaceDev owns many of the patents and intellectual property rights associated with hybrid rocket motors used for safe human spaceflight.

BSC expected to be one of SpaceDev's largest customers, purchasing multiple spaceships and safe hybrid rocket motors for use in personal spaceflight.