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A pivotal moment came during high school when a teacher asked whether Mueller wanted to fix planes or design them. Mueller chose the latter, studying engineering at the University of Idaho, where he worked summers as a logger to fund his education. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1985 and later acquired a master’s from Loyola Marymount University in 1992.
Building a Foundation in Propulsion Technology
Mueller spent over a decade at TRW Inc., where he managed propulsion and combustion systems. His work culminated in the development of the TR106 engine—a hydrogen-fueled powerhouse with 650,000 pounds of thrust—featuring pintle injectors that simplified engine design. These technological innovations would later underpin Mueller’s work at SpaceX.