MIT150 Symposium 2011: Peter Diamandis, Keynote - The Future of Exploration Opportunities

Full Transcript

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivs3UjKnwmk

[00:16] hello everyone welcome back from lunch
[00:19] hello everyone welcome back from lunch welcome back to the culminating keynote
[00:23] welcome back to the culminating keynote for our exploration symposium it's just
[00:27] for our exploration symposium it's just an incredible pleasure to introduce dr.
[00:29] an incredible pleasure to introduce dr. Peter Diamandis Peters is a chairman and
[00:31] Peter Diamandis Peters is a chairman and CEO of the XPrize foundation the CEO of
[00:34] CEO of the XPrize foundation the CEO of zero gravity corporation the chairman
[00:36] zero gravity corporation the chairman and co-founder of rocket Racing League
[00:38] and co-founder of rocket Racing League co-founder and director of space
[00:40] co-founder and director of space adventures co-founder of the
[00:42] adventures co-founder of the International Space University and the
[00:44] International Space University and the list goes on but more importantly to me
[00:48] list goes on but more importantly to me Peter's a a dear friend colleague help
[00:51] Peter's a a dear friend colleague help me get through graduate school at this
[00:52] me get through graduate school at this place and we had some great great times
[00:55] place and we had some great great times in graduate school in the thing that I'd
[00:57] in graduate school in the thing that I'd like to tell you about Peter is person I
[00:59] like to tell you about Peter is person I know most kind of embodies endless
[01:02] know most kind of embodies endless energy ideas dreams and then makes them come true.
[01:10] So I'm very excited and welcome you all in in welcoming Peter Diamandis to give our keynote the culmination of our symposium thank you.
[01:16] Thank you.
[01:24] Can you guys hear me? Mics up? Great.
[01:28] And I remember the day that Dave a finished her doctorate and and we had the conversation about what was she gonna do next.
[01:37] And I said you should really stay it on my tee and teach you cuz no way no way in the world that's the last place I want to go.
[01:43] And how many years later is it amazing?
[01:50] I want to start with a with a the sense that I love this place.
[01:56] I haven't been here for a decade or two but I love what MIT represents in terms of anything being possible.
[02:01] And I remember when I came here as undergrad I
[02:03] remember when I came here as undergrad I was just impassioned with opportunity I
[02:06] was just impassioned with opportunity I want to take a moment first of all to
[02:08] want to take a moment first of all to recognize my thesis adviser dr. Larry
[02:11] recognize my thesis adviser dr. Larry young and the whole team at mvl when I
[02:14] young and the whole team at mvl when I was a third-year medical student at at
[02:17] was a third-year medical student at at Harvard med school I was panicking
[02:19] Harvard med school I was panicking because I had no interest in practicing
[02:22] because I had no interest in practicing and I was having to pick where I was
[02:24] and I was having to pick where I was gonna do my internship and residency and
[02:26] gonna do my internship and residency and I called him up in a in a panic one day
[02:27] I called him up in a in a panic one day and saying dr. young I really I have to
[02:30] and saying dr. young I really I have to come back and do my course 16 course
[02:32] come back and do my course 16 course work and and Larry said sure and that
[02:36] work and and Larry said sure and that gave me the time to get my head around
[02:37] gave me the time to get my head around it and escape doing the internship and
[02:40] it and escape doing the internship and residency so I want sorry and we ended
[02:47] residency so I want sorry and we ended up doing my my thesis work on short arm
[02:49] up doing my my thesis work on short arm centrifugal artificial gravity sleep or
[02:51] centrifugal artificial gravity sleep or the idea that you can sleep while you're
[02:53] the idea that you can sleep while you're in zero-g and you can use the time eight
[02:57] in zero-g and you can use the time eight hours while you're sleeping 4G loading
[02:59] hours while you're sleeping 4G loading to help reduce the negative effects of
[03:01] to help reduce the negative effects of weightlessness but that's not the
[03:03] weightlessness but that's not the subject of my conversation today I want subject of my conversation today I want to talk to you about really inspiring.
[03:07] to talk to you about really inspiring breakthroughs and innovation and exploration and I'm gonna give you the punchline first and then I want to share with you the stories of the last 20 years of my my travels my endeavor is to try and make this come true.
[03:22] the fact the matter is today more than ever a small group or a group of individuals can literally do what governments could do before that each of you is empowered to be explore in the oceans and the air in space that doesn't take a national budget behind you.
[03:43] the technologies that are coming online in AI and robotics and quantum computing embedded networks and new materials are going to transform the cost and the capabilities so the question is what are your most passionate about going to do because we're about to enter a golden age of exploration that's going to enable not a few governments but hopefully thousands.
[04:04] few governments but hopefully thousands of individuals and thousands of small.
[04:06] of individuals and thousands of small corporations to go out there and explore.
[04:09] corporations to go out there and explore beyond the bonds of earth so let's see.
[04:16] beyond the bonds of earth so let's see there we go so my my passions have been.
[04:20] there we go so my my passions have been embodied in this phrase that the best.
[04:22] embodied in this phrase that the best way to predict the future is created.
[04:24] way to predict the future is created yourself and I believe that we're now.
[04:26] yourself and I believe that we're now entering a period in time where you can.
[04:27] entering a period in time where you can in fact predict the future and go off.
[04:30] in fact predict the future and go off and create it because if you don't do it.
[04:32] and create it because if you don't do it who is and if you're sitting here in the.
[04:34] who is and if you're sitting here in the audience as an undergrad or a graduate.
[04:36] audience as an undergrad or a graduate student please know that the future that.
[04:39] student please know that the future that you create is completely and totally up.
[04:41] you create is completely and totally up to you it's not up to governments not to.
[04:43] to you it's not up to governments not to a corporation it's what you've made a.
[04:45] a corporation it's what you've made a personal commitment to go and do and you.
[04:48] personal commitment to go and do and you can go and explore Mars the asteroids.
[04:50] can go and explore Mars the asteroids the oceans whatever it is the power is.
[04:53] the oceans whatever it is the power is within you to get the capital the.
[04:55] within you to get the capital the technology and the people together to go.
[04:56] technology and the people together to go and make that happen so when I think.
[04:59] and make that happen so when I think about my dreams my dreams were embodied.
[05:02] about my dreams my dreams were embodied when when Buzz was an astronaut his.
[05:04] When when Buzz was an astronaut his missions and his work really got me.
[05:07] Missions and his work really got me excited when I was born in the 60s to want to go and open up space.
[05:10] That's been my mission in life my passions and I've thought about how do I do that and how do I do that outside of the government.
[05:16] How do I do that privately and I starting about what drives exploration.
[05:20] what drives people to go and do this.
[05:22] This is a colleague of Buzzes, this is um, this is December 1972.
[05:27] It's Gene Cernan, he's literally jumping up a meter off the moon and he said if we could have gone from having never put a human into space to landing on the moon eight and a half years later.
[05:36] You tell me what's impossible, nothing is impossible.
[05:39] And I remember those words and I of them that the fact that matter is, especially today, there is no barrier that cannot be overcome.
[05:48] The question is what drives us to explore and I would posit that there are a number of key drivers.
[05:54] First and foremost is fear, fear has been one of the major drivers of exploration beyond our borders and and this is JFK responding to split Nick and
[06:06] this is JFK responding to split Nick and Gagarin and saying we're going to the Gagarin and saying we're going to the moon and coming back for it into the moon and coming back for it into the decade driven in part by the US need to decade driven in part by the US need to demonstrate its capabilities it's a fear demonstrate its capabilities it's a fear response to competition curiosity is response to competition curiosity is there life out there in the universe you there life out there in the universe you know an important response but far know an important response but far weaker than fear in fact you can weaker than fear in fact you can actually measure the ratio of fear to actually measure the ratio of fear to curiosity as a driver it's the ratio of curiosity as a driver it's the ratio of the defense budget to the science budget funny but sad wealth creation one of funny but sad wealth creation one of for me one of the most important elements of me one of the most important elements of exploration can we in fact go out there exploration can we in fact go out there and create wealth wealth of information and create wealth wealth of information wealth of capital if you think about the wealth of capital if you think about the fact that you know in the before 1984 we fact that you know in the before 1984 we had never drilled in more than a hundred had never drilled in more than a hundred feet of water in offshore drilling and feet of water in offshore drilling and that when shell discovered this large that when shell discovered this large deposit literally tens of thousands of deposit literally tens of thousands of feet below the ocean surface and then feet below the ocean surface and then tens of thousands of feet below the tens of thousands of feet below the ocean floor that they bet a billion.
[07:09] ocean floor that they bet a billion dollars to go and look at deep-sea oil.
[07:11] dollars to go and look at deep-sea oil platform drilling and today the average project is between five to fifty billion dollars.
[07:16] project is between five to fifty billion dollars huge capital investments to create wealth.
[07:20] create wealth the final driver for me is significance.
[07:23] the final driver for me is significance the inner heartfelt drive of a human to need to do something significant in their lifetime.
[07:29] need to do something significant in their lifetime and nobody embodies this better than the story for for Charles Lindbergh.
[07:36] better than the story for for Charles Lindbergh which was the story that got me going on the XPrize which I'll tell a little bit of now.
[07:42] little bit of now turns out that Lindbergh responded to a prize offered up by a Frenchman Raymond Orteig who in 1919 offered up the audacious prize of 25,000 parts.
[07:53] 25,000 parts and most people laughed at the time they said it was impossible cannot be done.
[07:58] said it was impossible cannot be done and there was a promise that it might happen but eight years later in 1927 nine different teams including Lindbergh had spent four hundred thousand dollars.
[08:09] had spent four hundred thousand dollars to try and win this twenty five thousand dollar prize and Lindbergh was the most unlikely guy to do it.
[08:14] had been called the flying fool it all been flying for two years so much so that no one would sell him an airplane or an engine because they were so afraid that he would crash on takeoff and destroy their reputation but just the opposite happened.
[08:29] Lindbergh made the flight in thirty three and a half hours later he made it to Paris but something else really happened which really got my attention as I was reading this book.
[08:41] it turns out that between 1927 just before he took off to 1929 18 months later the number of passengers the United States went from 6,000 to 180,000 was a 30-fold increase in passenger traffic and people who were flying airplanes went from Daredevils and aeronauts to pilots and passengers.
[08:58] his dramatic demonstration of crossing the Atlantic literally changed the face of aviation and made it possible for everybody and so I learned that a dramatic demonstration that
[09:10] that a dramatic demonstration that enters the human psyche whether it's the enters the human psyche whether it's the four-minute mile or Apollo 11 or Charles.
[09:15] four-minute mile or Apollo 11 or Charles Lindbergh can be transformative to create markets and belief of what is possible so if you're looking for changing the world in a big and bold fashion look at a way that's going to penetrate human psyche and do something that people remember for the rest of their lives.
[09:33] their lives so I started studying prizes because I said well here's an idea to get myself and my friends up in space without having to go the route of the government you see while I was in Larry's lab I also got a chance to meet someone you met yesterday Byron Lichtenberg who was sort of an older brother to me and I asked Byron about the realities of becoming an astronaut.
[09:50] and he said well you know your chances are one in a thousand of getting accepted and even if you're accepted you know half the astronauts have never flown to call them penguins because they have wings but they can't fly.
[10:01] and I said well what makes the decision on who gets to fly and they say well if you do what you're told and you're a good boy I said forget it I'm never gonna get a chance to fly so I said prizes that's
[10:11] chance to fly so I said prize is that's how I'm gonna get a chance to go so I.
[10:14] how I'm gonna get a chance to go so I read about the longitude prize we heard.
[10:16] read about the longitude prize we heard about a little bit earlier thousands of.
[10:19] about a little bit earlier thousands of humans were losing their lives and the.
[10:20] humans were losing their lives and the rocks the British Admiralty put up a.
[10:22] rocks the British Admiralty put up a large prize in the early 1700s for the.
[10:25] large prize in the early 1700s for the person who could tell the longitude as.
[10:28] person who could tell the longitude as well as latitude and they all expected.
[10:31] well as latitude and they all expected that an astronomer would win right.
[10:32] that an astronomer would win right astronomers were the coolest dudes the.
[10:34] astronomers were the coolest dudes the smartest guys in fact they were on the.
[10:37] smartest guys in fact they were on the judging panel of the longitude judging.
[10:39] judging panel of the longitude judging panel but here comes this watchmaker.
[10:41] panel but here comes this watchmaker this tinkerer this guy who comes up with.
[10:44] this tinkerer this guy who comes up with these two watches the h1 and the h2 and.
[10:46] these two watches the h1 and the h2 and says I've done it I've solved the riddle.
[10:48] says I've done it I've solved the riddle of telling longitude and everybody said.
[10:50] of telling longitude and everybody said no no you haven't no it's gonna be.
[10:52] no no you haven't no it's gonna be solved by an astronomer they're the.
[10:54] experts it took 40 years for him to.
[10:56] experts it took 40 years for him to actually get the longitude prize and.
[10:58] actually get the longitude prize and what I learned from that is a lot of.
[11:01] what I learned from that is a lot of times a true breakthrough comes from an.
[11:03] times a true breakthrough comes from an orthogonal angle from someplace you.
[11:05] orthogonal angle from someplace you least expect it from someone who's.
[11:07] least expect it from someone who's outside the norm and the experts are.
[11:09] outside the norm and the experts are there telling you exactly how it can't.
[11:10] there telling you exactly how it can't be done so think about that when you're.
[11:15] be done so think about that when you're looking for breakthroughs so the looking for breakthroughs so the question was how was I gonna get myself into space by the time I had finished reading Lindbergh's autobiography spirit of st. Louis the idea of creating a prize for a private spaceflight came to mind it was gonna be a 10 million dollar competition for a vehicle you carry three adults up into space come down safely land and do it again within two weeks all right I figured at the end of this kind of a competition there would be a vehicle that could go into private business so at that point I went on stage in st. Louis and you can see in the audience there to my left is Byron Lichtenberg and to my right is dr. Aldrin I didn't have any prize money and I didn't have any teams but what I did was try to give birth to this idea above the line of super credibility so I had not only Buzz and Byron but we had 20 astronauts on stage the Lindbergh family.
[12:16] astronauts on stage the Lindbergh family the head of the FAA.
[12:17] the head of the FAA and was even able to get dan gold in the.
[12:20] and was even able to get dan gold in the head of NASA there and so we announced.
[12:22] head of NASA there and so we announced his competition for private spaceflight.
[12:23] his competition for private spaceflight with front-page around the world and no.
[12:25] with front-page around the world and no one asked to have any money which we.
[12:27] one asked to have any money which we didn't and do have any teams which we.
[12:28] didn't and do have any teams which we did not but they took it seriously which.
[12:30] did not but they took it seriously which was wonderful because I expected without.
[12:32] was wonderful because I expected without any question it would be a piece of cake.
[12:33] any question it would be a piece of cake who would not want to pay the 10 million.
[12:36] who would not want to pay the 10 million dollars after someone pulled it off well.
[12:40] dollars after someone pulled it off well I was wrong I spent about five or six.
[12:43] I was wrong I spent about five or six years at that point going from CEO to.
[12:45] years at that point going from CEO to CEO to CMO and saying you know we'll.
[12:49] CEO to CMO and saying you know we'll call it the FedEx XPrize we'll call it.
[12:51] call it the FedEx XPrize we'll call it the Virgin XPrize the GM XPrize and so.
[12:53] the Virgin XPrize the GM XPrize and so forth and Branson and Fred Smith and all.
[12:56] forth and Branson and Fred Smith and all the rest said well why isn't NASA doing.
[12:58] the rest said well why isn't NASA doing it and can anyone really do it and you.
[13:01] it and can anyone really do it and you know is someone gonna die trying and.
[13:02] know is someone gonna die trying and does it really have to be that much.
[13:03] does it really have to be that much money and ultimately in 2001 after I had.
[13:09] money and ultimately in 2001 after I had had every team calling me saying.
[13:11] had every team calling me saying Diamandis do you have the money yet I.
[13:13] Diamandis do you have the money yet I met this woman I was reading about.
[13:15] met this woman I was reading about anusha Ansari in the pages of Forbes.
[13:18] Anusha Ansari in the pages of Forbes magazine and it said in her bio she just sold a company to Sonis Networks for a billion dollars and it's in her bio and her dream was to fly on a suborbital flight into space.
[13:30] And I can't tell you many times I read that line a suborbital flight into space.
[13:32] I tracked her down vacationing in Hawaii.
[13:37] I was her first meeting when she got back to Dallas and they literally agreed on the spot and we made it the Ansari X PRIZE in honor to them.
[13:46] Well, it worked.
[13:49] We had 26 teams from seven countries around the world who spent 100 million dollars to try and win the prize and this was the vehicle, SpaceShip One, underneath White Knight One.
[14:02] Were any people in the audience who were at that flight?
[14:07] We've got about a half dozen or so.
[14:08] October 4th, 2004, in the Mojave Desert, we had about 30,000 people show up from around the world to be here at that historic event and here's the vehicle.
[14:21] historic event and here's the vehicle under power burning poly butadiene tire.
[14:24] under power burning poly butadiene tire rubber and nitrous oxide laughing gas.
[14:27] rubber and nitrous oxide laughing gas and one of the things that I've learned.
[14:29] and one of the things that I've learned is when you put on a competition teams.
[14:30] is when you put on a competition teams or.
[14:31] or to try new things and take risks that.
[14:33] to try new things and take risks that the traditional players might not.
[14:35] the traditional players might not otherwise take and the vehicle at.
[14:37] otherwise take and the vehicle at altitude for the pilots there in the.
[14:39] altitude for the pilots there in the audience the N number here three to.
[14:41] audience the N number here three to eight kilo Foxtrot is 328 thousand feet.
[14:45] eight kilo Foxtrot is 328 thousand feet which is pretty cool which was 100.
[14:48] which is pretty cool which was 100 kilometres by the way and after landing.
[14:52] kilometres by the way and after landing on the second flight they had won the.
[14:54] on the second flight they had won the Ansari X PRIZE it was start of a new era.
[14:56] Ansari X PRIZE it was start of a new era to my right of the Ansari s to my left.
[14:59] to my right of the Ansari s to my left Paul Allen who had funded to his left.
[15:02] Paul Allen who had funded to his left Burt Rutan and to his left Brian Binney.
[15:05] Burt Rutan and to his left Brian Binney who had made the second flight and then.
[15:06] who had made the second flight and then Richard Branson who literally licensed.
[15:08] Richard Branson who literally licensed the rights to that vehicle that week to.
[15:12] the rights to that vehicle that week to go and create a Virgin Galactic so we.
[15:15] go and create a Virgin Galactic so we had 10 billion media impressions which.
[15:17] had 10 billion media impressions which was really cool we made the front page.
[15:20] was really cool we made the front page of Google which almost took down our.
[15:22] of Google which almost took down our servers that was really cool too and we
[15:26] servers that was really cool too and we the vehicle made it into the Air and
[15:29] the vehicle made it into the Air and Space Museum right above Apollo 11 and
[15:31] Space Museum right above Apollo 11 and next the spirit of st. Louis the most
[15:33] next the spirit of st. Louis the most visited spot literally in the world more
[15:35] visited spot literally in the world more than the Louvre I'd like to do is take
[15:37] than the Louvre I'd like to do is take you back via a short video to those
[15:39] you back via a short video to those moments we're announcing today something
[15:47] moments we're announcing today something called the XPrize a 10 million dollar
[15:48] called the XPrize a 10 million dollar contest to privately build a spaceship
[15:51] contest to privately build a spaceship that's able to carry three individuals
[15:54] that's able to carry three individuals fly to 100 kilometers altitude
[15:57] fly to 100 kilometers altitude and do that twice inside of two weeks
[16:00] and do that twice inside of two weeks I have never been myself as creative as
[16:04] I have never been myself as creative as I have pi ball in this goddamn fries
[16:13] welcome to my hobby here in the high
[16:15] welcome to my hobby here in the high desert of California on this incredible
[16:18] desert of California on this incredible day my you are gonna witness history in
[16:21] day my you are gonna witness history in the mating
[16:34] the Ansari X PRIZE inspired international competition drove regulatory reform and made history a personal spaceflight revolution.
[16:50] so after the XPrize was one we saw the birth of a few companies Virgin Galactic for example now selling seats at 200,000.
[16:59] in the midst of its drop test I think it's on its sixteenth or so flight in addition one of my company space adventures partnered with armadillo and is doing vertical take-off vertical landing suborbital.
[17:12] and you can see the price competition already it's coming in a hundred and five thousand we'll see where the prices of Ridge end up finally.
[17:18] the hallmarks of a great prize historically if you can design it properly is the following it's highly leveraged.
[17:26] you get 10 to 40 times the
[17:28] leveraged you get 10 to 40 times the prize purse spent cuman about all the prize purse spent cuman about all the teams to try and win it you only pay the teams to try and win it you only pay the winner you know fixed cost engineering and fixed cost science if you would you spark not one player but an entire industry and for me the most important part is you get non-traditional solutions you get high risk being taken but all of these teams trying to do it and so rather than backing a single approach you back very non-traditional approaches so we're doing prizes now in a range of groups life sciences exploration energy education and global development and I'm gonna just focus a little bit on where we're doing in the exploration realm so the next prize we have up for grabs is the 30 million dollar Google Lunar XPrize and I'm very proud that there is a team here from from MIT giant leap and if this technology well I believe this technology can be developed I believe this prize will be won but when it does it is going to usher in the capability for private individuals universities and corporations literally
[18:29] universities and corporations literally to go and land a rover on the moon.
[18:32] to go and land a rover on the moon and that's transformative so much so that that's transformative so much so that this past year NASA put up an additional 30 million dollars in contracts for teams that are able to go and compete for the Google Lunar XPrize.
[18:45] I like to do is show a short video of Sergey Brin.
[18:54] a lot of companies have a sponsor a variety of things just as kind of marketing to support their brand what not.
[18:59] sometimes sports teams sometimes sailboats.
[19:04] I knew that we never wanted to do something so conventional at Google.
[19:09] I thought if we were ever to sponsor something it should be something ambitious.
[19:18] so we now have 29 teams around the world each vying to go and build these vehicles.
[19:24] if we do the job right this is the youtubes generation Apollo moon race and one of the things that's
[19:30] moon race and one of the things that's very cool is we're gonna have very cool is we're gonna have competitions for the teenager who decides what YouTube video should be sent back from the moon or what's the first text message being sent back from these vehicles in addition to 10 million-dollar prizes we have these X challenges which are typically 1 to 2 million-dollar prizes.
[19:47] I can tell you about one of them this was an X challenge called the Northrop Grumman lunar lander X challenge for developing new vertical take-off vertical landing capabilities.
[19:59] so what was offered was 2 million dollars of money put up by NASA North her put up the put up the Operations dollars and teams had to go up 50 meters translate 50 meters do a land power landing refuel and go back again.
[20:16] so we had nine actually 11 different teams that registered for the competition and at the end of the day two of the teams hit all the requirements but was really cool about this was that John Carmack and Dave Mastan who were the two winners literally did not come out of the
[20:31] literally did not come out of the aerospace industry they were both
[20:32] aerospace industry they were both software programmers so I'm always
[20:35] software programmers so I'm always looking at where the breakthroughs come
[20:37] looking at where the breakthroughs come from traditionally not from the
[20:39] from traditionally not from the traditional players and this is very
[20:42] traditional players and this is very cool Dave Mastan makes the sort of
[20:44] cool Dave Mastan makes the sort of Entrepreneur of the year on Aviation
[20:46] Entrepreneur of the year on Aviation Week I'm gonna take you back to one of
[20:48] Week I'm gonna take you back to one of the early flights now where John Carmack
[20:51] the early flights now where John Carmack is demonstrating one of his vehicles
[20:53] is demonstrating one of his vehicles Pixel and I want you to pay close
[20:55] Pixel and I want you to pay close attention to what he says at the end
[21:04] all right we're gonna start the clock I
[21:07] all right we're gonna start the clock I believe correct the clock is rolling
[21:09] believe correct the clock is rolling there it is two and a half hours folks
[21:10] there it is two and a half hours folks so two and a half hours this team has
[21:13] so two and a half hours this team has got to get the vehicle on the truck
[21:14] got to get the vehicle on the truck they've got to get out to the land the
[21:16] they've got to get out to the land the launch zone a ten meter concrete pad out
[21:19] launch zone a ten meter concrete pad out there in the desert
[21:20] there in the desert takeoff fly at 50 meters altitude flight
[21:23] takeoff fly at 50 meters altitude flight down a path 100 meters long to another
[21:26] down a path 100 meters long to another landing pad if they need to refuel
[21:27] landing pad if they need to refuel refuel come back repeat the same thing
[21:30] refuel come back repeat the same thing and come back to the same pad and then
[21:31] and come back to the same pad and then get back here in two and half hours if
[21:33] get back here in two and half hours if they do it they'll be the first team to
[21:35] they do it they'll be the first team to have done it four three two one
[21:49] what's higher than yesterday's test
[21:51] what's higher than yesterday's test flight
[21:52] flight [Music]
[22:06] [Music] the target
[22:11] [Music]
[22:12] [Music] [Applause]
[22:15] [Applause] all right I think the best benefit that
[22:23] all right I think the best benefit that NASA can possibly get out of this is an
[22:25] NASA can possibly get out of this is an operation like this going from concept
[22:28] operation like this going from concept to successful almost successful flight
[22:30] to successful almost successful flight here in under six months by team of
[22:32] here in under six months by team of eight people part-time for about
[22:33] eight people part-time for about $200,000 that should shame some of their
[22:36] $200,000 that should shame some of their current contractors that are going to be
[22:38] current contractors that are going to be spending tens of billions of dollars
[22:40] spending tens of billions of dollars doing different things
[22:43] I love that we'll come back to that a
[22:49] I love that we'll come back to that a little bit
[22:50] little bit so where's XPrize going in exploration
[22:52] so where's XPrize going in exploration we're looking at deep ocean exploration
[22:55] we're looking at deep ocean exploration looking at a new generation of subs for
[22:58] looking at a new generation of subs for taking humans down there we're looking
[22:59] taking humans down there we're looking at robotic competitions for ocean open
[23:02] at robotic competitions for ocean open mapping the ocean floor point-to-point
[23:05] mapping the ocean floor point-to-point beamed power I'll speak about that in a
[23:08] beamed power I'll speak about that in a few minutes electric aircraft
[23:09] few minutes electric aircraft competitions asteroid detection
[23:10] competitions asteroid detection deflection orbital debris even a
[23:13] deflection orbital debris even a competition for sort of an eye gem
[23:15] competition for sort of an eye gem competition can you create a life-form
[23:17] competition can you create a life-form that can grow under Martian conditions
[23:20] that can grow under Martian conditions and taste good so the question for me is
[23:28] and taste good so the question for me is how do we get ourselves into space and
[23:30] how do we get ourselves into space and how do we do it independent of
[23:33] how do we do it independent of government budgets and government cycles
[23:36] government budgets and government cycles and the challenge if you guys don't know
[23:38] and the challenge if you guys don't know this the problem is that in the early
[23:41] this the problem is that in the early 1960s we went to the moon it was a very
[23:44] 1960s we went to the moon it was a very different Congress a very different way
[23:46] different Congress a very different way of budgeting we could make literally a
[23:48] of budgeting we could make literally a decade-long commitment that we can't do
[23:51] decade-long commitment that we can't do anymore and in the beginning we had the
[23:54] anymore and in the beginning we had the ability to do literally cherry-pick
[23:56] ability to do literally cherry-pick things where there would be an event
[23:57] things where there would be an event every six months or an event every year
[23:59] every six months or an event every year Mercury Gemini Apollo that kept
[24:02] Mercury Gemini Apollo that kept literally the eye candy in the sight of
[24:05] literally the eye candy in the sight of the voters it's no longer like that so
[24:08] the voters it's no longer like that so the ability to go into space for me is
[24:10] the ability to go into space for me is about two options number one is how do
[24:13] about two options number one is how do we reduce the activation energy which
[24:16] we reduce the activation energy which means bringing the cost of going into
[24:18] means bringing the cost of going into space down or the flip side of the
[24:21] space down or the flip side of the equation how do we heat up the how do we
[24:23] equation how do we heat up the how do we heat it up how do we get more
[24:24] heat it up how do we get more participation and more demand so that's
[24:27] participation and more demand so that's it those are the two options that we
[24:29] it those are the two options that we have so in terms of how do we bring it
[24:32] have so in terms of how do we bring it down the cost down the situation today
[24:34] down the cost down the situation today is expensive obviously the shuttles
[24:35] is expensive obviously the shuttles going away but as a if you could have
[24:38] going away but as a if you could have bought a ticket you know 120 million
[24:41] bought a ticket you know 120 million dollars a seat my other company space
[24:43] dollars a seat my other company space adventures the seat price now is 45
[24:46] adventures the seat price now is 45 million so you can go to the capitalists
[24:47] million so you can go to the capitalists Russians if you want to lower costume
[24:49] Russians if you want to lower costume and if you've done one of dr. Hoffman's
[24:52] and if you've done one of dr. Hoffman's classes you probably have calculated
[24:54] classes you probably have calculated what the total cost of going into space
[24:56] what the total cost of going into space you can
[24:56] you can calculate MGH 1/2 MV squared for you and
[24:59] calculate MGH 1/2 MV squared for you and your spacesuit and if you buy it at 7
[25:01] your spacesuit and if you buy it at 7 cents a kilowatt-hour off the grid the
[25:04] cents a kilowatt-hour off the grid the cost of getting you and your spacesuit
[25:05] cost of getting you and your spacesuit into orbit is about a hundred bucks so
[25:10] into orbit is about a hundred bucks so somewhere between 100 million in a
[25:12] somewhere between 100 million in a hundred bucks is the efficiencies that
[25:14] hundred bucks is the efficiencies that we're gonna have hopefully not creating
[25:16] we're gonna have hopefully not creating you physics but new engineering how will
[25:19] you physics but new engineering how will we get there reusable Falcons are one
[25:22] we get there reusable Falcons are one way
[25:23] way Ilan's got a commitment to making his
[25:25] Ilan's got a commitment to making his vehicles reusable and if you stop and
[25:27] vehicles reusable and if you stop and you look at what the cost of the
[25:29] you look at what the cost of the kerosene and the locks for a falcon 9
[25:31] kerosene and the locks for a falcon 9 would be it's about you know one hundred
[25:33] would be it's about you know one hundred and fifty thousand dollars if you look
[25:35] and fifty thousand dollars if you look at amateur transportation industry a car
[25:37] at amateur transportation industry a car a boat and a plane the cost of operating
[25:40] a boat and a plane the cost of operating that is about three times the cost of
[25:41] that is about three times the cost of fuel so if you really can make it
[25:44] fuel so if you really can make it reusable and three times the cost of
[25:45] reusable and three times the cost of fuel okay that's for $50,000 seven
[25:48] fuel okay that's for $50,000 seven people on board you've got a price per
[25:50] people on board you've got a price per seat below 100k and that's pretty cool
[25:53] seat below 100k and that's pretty cool ways I'm looking at that I'm excited
[25:55] ways I'm looking at that I'm excited about is can you reinvent how we get
[25:57] about is can you reinvent how we get into space because ultimately all the
[25:59] into space because ultimately all the rockets we use today our multi you know
[26:01] rockets we use today our multi you know our thousand-year-old
[26:03] our thousand-year-old derivatives of Chinese fire work you
[26:05] derivatives of Chinese fire work you burn something the middle hot gases come
[26:07] burn something the middle hot gases come out the other end so this concept of
[26:09] out the other end so this concept of using power on the ground microwave
[26:12] using power on the ground microwave laser and beaming it to the vehicle and
[26:14] laser and beaming it to the vehicle and heating up a work at fluent the working
[26:16] heating up a work at fluent the working fluid hydrogen for me is one of the
[26:18] fluid hydrogen for me is one of the promising ideas because it puts this
[26:21] promising ideas because it puts this system on Moore's law you can get mass
[26:24] system on Moore's law you can get mass fractions of 25 to 30 percent you can
[26:26] fractions of 25 to 30 percent you can get these vehicles reusable and you can
[26:28] get these vehicles reusable and you can really get ISPs upwards of a thousand
[26:30] really get ISPs upwards of a thousand and transform how we get into space so
[26:32] and transform how we get into space so one other idea which of these or others
[26:35] one other idea which of these or others might work
[26:36] might work I don't know but none of these things
[26:38] I don't know but none of these things are gonna happen unless the market is
[26:40] are gonna happen unless the market is there so ultimately the question is how
[26:43] there so ultimately the question is how do you drive participation and demand so
[26:46] do you drive participation and demand so let me speak about that and some of the
[26:48] let me speak about that and some of the things I played with so Eric Anderson
[26:51] things I played with so Eric Anderson Mike McDonald and I started a company
[26:52] Mike McDonald and I started a company called space adventures we have a
[26:56] called space adventures we have a opportunity with the Russians to take
[26:58] opportunity with the Russians to take people up to this up to this 5-star
[27:02] people up to this up to this 5-star multi hundred billion dollar hotel
[27:04] multi hundred billion dollar hotel called ISS we have had eight clients go
[27:08] called ISS we have had eight clients go up so far
[27:10] up so far our fifth and seventh client were in
[27:13] our fifth and seventh client were in fact the same Charles Simoni so from
[27:15] fact the same Charles Simoni so from Dennis Tito who's celebrating next this
[27:18] Dennis Tito who's celebrating next this Friday in fact his tenth anniversary of
[27:20] Friday in fact his tenth anniversary of his flight to Gila liberté from the
[27:23] his flight to Gila liberté from the founder of Cirque de Soleil there's a
[27:24] founder of Cirque de Soleil there's a new Chinon sorry up in the right who is
[27:26] new Chinon sorry up in the right who is the patron saint of my XPrize and an
[27:29] the patron saint of my XPrize and an Richard Garriott whose father was was
[27:33] Richard Garriott whose father was was also an Apollo astronaut Skylab
[27:34] also an Apollo astronaut Skylab astronaut and as Byron mentioned
[27:38] astronaut and as Byron mentioned yesterday one of the new products that
[27:39] yesterday one of the new products that we've signed a deal with the Russians is
[27:41] we've signed a deal with the Russians is for a saloon or flight basically an
[27:42] for a saloon or flight basically an Apollo 8 mission at a price probably in
[27:46] Apollo 8 mission at a price probably in 120 million dollar friend League but you
[27:49] 120 million dollar friend League but you know there's 1,400 billionaires that we
[27:51] know there's 1,400 billionaires that we know of on this planet and you know
[27:53] know of on this planet and you know what's 120 million dollars for a trip to
[27:55] what's 120 million dollars for a trip to the moon and back so when I was a grad
[28:00] the moon and back so when I was a grad student here with byron one of the
[28:02] student here with byron one of the things I got very excited about was the
[28:04] things I got very excited about was the chance to go and do zero-g flights and I
[28:06] chance to go and do zero-g flights and I became passionate about this idea and in
[28:09] became passionate about this idea and in 1993 Byron and I walked into the FAA and
[28:13] 1993 Byron and I walked into the FAA and announced our decision that we were
[28:15] announced our decision that we were going to go and commercialize zero-g and
[28:18] going to go and commercialize zero-g and the conversation went something like
[28:20] the conversation went something like this
[28:21] this Peter Byron can you show me where in the
[28:24] Peter Byron can you show me where in the Federal Aviation Regulations it allows
[28:25] Federal Aviation Regulations it allows you to fly parabolic flights and I said
[28:29] you to fly parabolic flights and I said no can you show me where it doesn't and
[28:32] no can you show me where it doesn't and they proceeded to show me where it
[28:34] they proceeded to show me where it doesn't know
[28:36] doesn't know it didn't really say that but it turns
[28:38] it didn't really say that but it turns out that you know if you think about it
[28:40] out that you know if you think about it somewhere over the last hundred years we
[28:45] somewhere over the last hundred years we went in our regulatory framework from
[28:48] went in our regulatory framework from the point of if it's not used to be if
[28:50] the point of if it's not used to be if it was not explicitly prohibited you
[28:52] it was not explicitly prohibited you could do it to the point now if it's not
[28:54] could do it to the point now if it's not explicitly allowed you can't do it and
[28:56] explicitly allowed you can't do it and that's a very dangerous change that's
[28:58] that's a very dangerous change that's occurred for the you know the policy
[29:00] occurred for the you know the policy students here and it literally took us
[29:03] students here and it literally took us 11 years we went and had our first move
[29:06] 11 years we went and had our first move FAA in May of 93
[29:08] FAA in May of 93 we got operational authority in
[29:11] we got operational authority in September of 2004 so I was talking to
[29:15] September of 2004 so I was talking to some students earlier down in the
[29:18] some students earlier down in the restroom about and don't start with why
[29:20] restroom about and don't start with why we start the conversation there but
[29:22] we start the conversation there but about what do you do in your life
[29:24] about what do you do in your life it's you know you pick something you're
[29:25] it's you know you pick something you're passionate about I guarantee you I would
[29:27] passionate about I guarantee you I would have given up a thousand times and so in
[29:29] have given up a thousand times and so in Byron if we'd not been passionate about
[29:30] Byron if we'd not been passionate about making this happen but now we have our
[29:33] making this happen but now we have our zero-g airplane we have flown 350
[29:35] zero-g airplane we have flown 350 flights we've flown over 12,000 people
[29:37] flights we've flown over 12,000 people into zero-g and you know it's the
[29:41] into zero-g and you know it's the world's largest roller coaster with 30
[29:43] world's largest roller coaster with 30 seconds of weight-loss followed by 30
[29:45] seconds of weight-loss followed by 30 seconds of weight gain
[29:54] you
[31:38] so you get the picture in a in a special
[31:42] so you get the picture in a in a special cameo by dr. Aldrin here who's been kind
[31:45] cameo by dr. Aldrin here who's been kind enough to fly with us on numerous
[31:46] enough to fly with us on numerous occasions one of the coolest things that
[31:49] occasions one of the coolest things that we had a chance to do was to actually
[31:51] we had a chance to do was to actually fly Stephen Hawking into zero-g and I'll
[31:54] fly Stephen Hawking into zero-g and I'll tell that story very briefly I had met
[31:55] tell that story very briefly I had met dr. Hawking through the arc on genomics
[31:58] dr. Hawking through the arc on genomics XPrize where he's one of the genomes
[32:00] XPrize where he's one of the genomes that were sequencing and he said him
[32:01] that were sequencing and he said him during our first conversation his dream
[32:03] during our first conversation his dream was to fly in a space I said I can't fly
[32:05] was to fly in a space I said I can't fly into space but I could take you up into
[32:07] into space but I could take you up into zero-g and which he said absolutely we
[32:10] zero-g and which he said absolutely we announced it the next day and I got two
[32:12] announced it the next day and I got two phone calls one from our aircraft
[32:14] phone calls one from our aircraft operations partner who said what are you
[32:16] operations partner who said what are you crazy
[32:16] crazy another one from a government agency I
[32:19] another one from a government agency I won't say who they are but their
[32:21] won't say who they are but their initials or the FAA and and saying can't
[32:25] initials or the FAA and and saying can't do it and I literally cannot do that
[32:27] do it and I literally cannot do that your rules and regulations allow you
[32:29] your rules and regulations allow you only to fly able-bodied individuals and
[32:32] only to fly able-bodied individuals and I was I was literally taken aback by
[32:34] I was I was literally taken aback by this and everybody I spoke to said
[32:37] this and everybody I spoke to said you're risking your company if you do
[32:38] you're risking your company if you do this this man is as feeble and you know
[32:41] this this man is as feeble and you know osteoporosis and cardiac this and
[32:43] osteoporosis and cardiac this and pulmonary that and I said you know if we
[32:46] pulmonary that and I said you know if we can't fly him that's the reason we
[32:48] can't fly him that's the reason we worked 11 years to go and try and build
[32:50] worked 11 years to go and try and build this company so ultimately as you're out
[32:53] this company so ultimately as you're out there building your companies and your
[32:55] there building your companies and your exploration missions you're gonna be
[32:57] exploration missions you're gonna be faced with choices about do you stand
[33:00] faced with choices about do you stand for what you starred the company or the
[33:02] for what you starred the company or the organization for or are you gonna back
[33:04] organization for or are you gonna back down every time there's a risk because
[33:07] down every time there's a risk because we're killing ourselves in this nation
[33:09] we're killing ourselves in this nation who risk adverse we've gotten so
[33:11] who risk adverse we've gotten so ultimately I said absolutely not we're
[33:13] ultimately I said absolutely not we're gonna make this happen and I went and
[33:15] gonna make this happen and I went and got a panel of for physicians to
[33:16] got a panel of for physicians to literally write the FAA and tell them
[33:19] literally write the FAA and tell them that he was an able-bodied individual
[33:21] that he was an able-bodied individual and we got them on the flight and five
[33:25] and we got them on the flight and five months later here we are at the Kennedy
[33:28] months later here we are at the Kennedy Space Center at the tarmac at a
[33:30] Space Center at the tarmac at a preflight press conference where we
[33:32] preflight press conference where we announced the intention to a single
[33:34] announced the intention to a single 30-second parabola and if things went
[33:36] 30-second parabola and if things went really well
[33:37] really well we might do two or three we took off
[33:40] we might do two or three we took off here out of the SLS we had set up an
[33:44] here out of the SLS we had set up an emergency room on board the airplane we
[33:46] emergency room on board the airplane we were following his po2 his cardiac
[33:48] were following his po2 his cardiac pulmonary everything and we actually did
[33:50] pulmonary everything and we actually did a full up
[33:51] a full up dress rehearsal a day before with a 15
[33:53] dress rehearsal a day before with a 15 year old physics high-school student who
[33:55] year old physics high-school student who had the same height and weight we did
[33:56] had the same height and weight we did every possible emergency routine on this
[33:59] every possible emergency routine on this poor kid in zero-g
[34:01] poor kid in zero-g we're taking off here out of the slf
[34:04] we're taking off here out of the slf here's byron who you met yesterday my
[34:07] here's byron who you met yesterday my co-founder and and sort of older
[34:10] co-founder and and sort of older brothers and i lifting dr. Hawking
[34:14] brothers and i lifting dr. Hawking during the first parabola furious with a
[34:17] during the first parabola furious with a sort of a cautious smile on his face and
[34:20] sort of a cautious smile on his face and at the end of the first parabola
[34:23] at the end of the first parabola he was rock solid I turned the
[34:24] he was rock solid I turned the physicians they gave a thumbs-up here's
[34:27] physicians they gave a thumbs-up here's our second parabola and our third
[34:30] our second parabola and our third parabola we flew an Apple in homage to
[34:34] parabola we flew an Apple in homage to Sir Isaac Newton because dr. Hawking
[34:39] Sir Isaac Newton because dr. Hawking holds the same seat at Cambridge that
[34:41] holds the same seat at Cambridge that Sir Isaac Newton did and so at the end
[34:44] Sir Isaac Newton did and so at the end of three parabolas I said you know we
[34:46] of three parabolas I said you know we should stop and he said no and through
[34:49] should stop and he said no and through his translators and we went to four five
[34:52] his translators and we went to four five and six and finally by the eighth
[34:56] and six and finally by the eighth parabola I said that's it and and this
[35:00] parabola I said that's it and and this is him on his eighth parabola and he had
[35:02] is him on his eighth parabola and he had an extraordinary experience but our goal
[35:04] an extraordinary experience but our goal here was again to give the public the
[35:07] here was again to give the public the chance to personally participate in
[35:09] chance to personally participate in space and exploration just like like
[35:13] space and exploration just like like Geoff Grayson and XCore and virgin and
[35:15] Geoff Grayson and XCore and virgin and armadillo and all of these companies are
[35:17] armadillo and all of these companies are doing it's how do you make it possible
[35:19] doing it's how do you make it possible for everybody to have a chance to play
[35:21] for everybody to have a chance to play so that there's a real vibrancy and it's
[35:24] so that there's a real vibrancy and it's not just for one of those 500 astronauts
[35:27] not just for one of those 500 astronauts so one of the other things I've been
[35:29] so one of the other things I've been working on is building a real a real
[35:32] working on is building a real a real business and I went to my first auto
[35:35] business and I went to my first auto race in 2001 and after the cars went me
[35:39] race in 2001 and after the cars went me immune I got bored and when I get bored
[35:43] immune I got bored and when I get bored I think about putting rockets on things
[35:44] I think about putting rockets on things and so the rocket racing league was born
[35:48] and so the rocket racing league was born at that point and we made the cover of
[35:50] at that point and we made the cover of popular science we first announced it I
[35:52] popular science we first announced it I will call out to the XCore and Geoff
[35:56] will call out to the XCore and Geoff Grayson who did a lot of the early
[35:57] Grayson who did a lot of the early engine development and helped us get the
[35:59] engine development and helped us get the company off the ground I'm very greatly
[36:01] company off the ground I'm very greatly appreciative for that
[36:03] appreciative for that here's the the vehicle at a recent Air
[36:06] here's the the vehicle at a recent Air and Space show that we did we're trying
[36:08] and Space show that we did we're trying to reinvent racing for the 22nd century
[36:10] to reinvent racing for the 22nd century and if you stop and you realize that
[36:12] and if you stop and you realize that NASCAR and Formula One racing are each
[36:15] NASCAR and Formula One racing are each five billion dollar properties I think
[36:19] five billion dollar properties I think there's plenty of opportunity to create
[36:20] there's plenty of opportunity to create technology and new businesses so this is
[36:24] technology and new businesses so this is the vehicle it's a single pilot vehicle
[36:26] the vehicle it's a single pilot vehicle that is flied through a
[36:28] that is flied through a three-dimensional racecourse and I'll be
[36:30] three-dimensional racecourse and I'll be showing you video here in a second here
[36:32] showing you video here in a second here we are in Tulsa Oklahoma where we are
[36:36] we are in Tulsa Oklahoma where we are loading up liquid oxygen and kerosene on
[36:38] loading up liquid oxygen and kerosene on these vehicles both the same time I
[36:40] these vehicles both the same time I think it's one of the only operations
[36:41] think it's one of the only operations that two vehicles are being loaded with
[36:43] that two vehicles are being loaded with rocket fuels simultaneously here's Dez
[36:46] rocket fuels simultaneously here's Dez Ramon are doing the the loading of the
[36:48] Ramon are doing the the loading of the kerosene in this and this in the alcohol
[36:50] kerosene in this and this in the alcohol in this case and here's two vehicles on
[36:53] in this case and here's two vehicles on the runway and you can see literally
[36:56] the runway and you can see literally from from zero to take off in under four
[36:58] from from zero to take off in under four seconds which is quite the kick in the
[37:01] seconds which is quite the kick in the pants
[37:02] pants and one of the things that we've done is
[37:04] and one of the things that we've done is part of this company is really to merge
[37:06] part of this company is really to merge in all of the cutting-edge technologies
[37:08] in all of the cutting-edge technologies so we have brought in augmented reality
[37:11] so we have brought in augmented reality and augmented television we're literally
[37:14] and augmented television we're literally on the jumbotron
[37:15] on the jumbotron at the TV at home or on your iPad you
[37:19] at the TV at home or on your iPad you see the racecourse superimposed the same
[37:22] see the racecourse superimposed the same racecourse the pilot sees and their
[37:23] racecourse the pilot sees and their heads up display and at the same time
[37:26] heads up display and at the same time we've developed a whole video game
[37:27] we've developed a whole video game multiplayer series that allows you to
[37:29] multiplayer series that allows you to actually play the video game in real
[37:31] actually play the video game in real time as these vehicles are transmitting
[37:34] time as these vehicles are transmitting the differential GPS signal so you can
[37:36] the differential GPS signal so you can fly against them and find out who's
[37:37] fly against them and find out who's better so I'm gonna go to video here so
[37:40] better so I'm gonna go to video here so you can see get a feeling for where this
[37:42] you can see get a feeling for where this company is going
[37:45] here's a site and a sound that will get
[37:48] here's a site and a sound that will get your heart pumping pair of rocket racers
[37:53] your heart pumping pair of rocket racers in the sky thousands of spectators
[37:55] in the sky thousands of spectators cheering them on and coming along for
[37:58] cheering them on and coming along for the ride virtually it's great the
[38:01] the ride virtually it's great the technology is awesome you know how in
[38:03] technology is awesome you know how in the world they can pull this off and
[38:05] the world they can pull this off and it's just amazing it was the first time
[38:08] it's just amazing it was the first time two rocket racers flew together in front
[38:11] two rocket racers flew together in front of more than 30,000 people it happened
[38:13] of more than 30,000 people it happened at the Kwik Trip Tulsa air and rocket
[38:15] at the Kwik Trip Tulsa air and rocket racing show and it was the realization
[38:18] racing show and it was the realization of a decade old dream of rocket racing
[38:21] of a decade old dream of rocket racing league founder Peter Diamandis but when
[38:23] league founder Peter Diamandis but when I saw those two vehicles coming off the
[38:25] I saw those two vehicles coming off the runway one afternoon that wasn't that
[38:27] runway one afternoon that wasn't that was the payoff for all the hard work
[38:28] was the payoff for all the hard work rocket racing is a mash-up between star
[38:30] rocket racing is a mash-up between star wars pod racers and NASCAR DeltaWing
[38:34] wars pod racers and NASCAR DeltaWing velocity aircraft are rigged up with
[38:36] velocity aircraft are rigged up with rocket motors built by armadillo
[38:38] rocket motors built by armadillo aerospace which can generate 2,000
[38:40] aerospace which can generate 2,000 pounds of thrust in an instant now
[38:42] pounds of thrust in an instant now that's a kick in a propeller or a driven
[38:45] that's a kick in a propeller or a driven aircraft or we're near to jet you wind
[38:48] aircraft or we're near to jet you wind up on the power and you can feel it
[38:49] up on the power and you can feel it coming in as you move the throttle
[38:51] coming in as you move the throttle forward here you flip a switch and you
[38:54] forward here you flip a switch and you go from no thrust to full thrust in less
[38:56] go from no thrust to full thrust in less than a second and you feel that kick in
[38:58] than a second and you feel that kick in your back rocket racing uses high
[39:03] your back rocket racing uses high technology to bring fans along for the
[39:05] technology to bring fans along for the ride
[39:05] ride using augmented reality the primary
[39:08] using augmented reality the primary augmented reality technology that the
[39:10] augmented reality technology that the pilot sees comes from a company called
[39:12] pilot sees comes from a company called elbit systems which makes sophisticated
[39:15] elbit systems which makes sophisticated helmet mount displays for the military
[39:17] helmet mount displays for the military the capability is extended with some
[39:20] the capability is extended with some technologies from the Maryland advanced
[39:21] technologies from the Maryland advanced development laboratory and what's
[39:23] development laboratory and what's presented to the audiences in addition
[39:25] presented to the audiences in addition to the pilot point of view is created by
[39:28] to the pilot point of view is created by orad leader in broadcast quality
[39:30] orad leader in broadcast quality augmented reality systems the rocky
[39:33] augmented reality systems the rocky racers essentially fly inside this
[39:35] racers essentially fly inside this tunnel that's the track they compete in
[39:37] tunnel that's the track they compete in the shape of it can be infinitely varied
[39:41] the shape of it can be infinitely varied from something that's very simple and
[39:43] from something that's very simple and reminiscent of an automobile racing
[39:45] reminiscent of an automobile racing track like an oval or something far more
[39:48] track like an oval or something far more complex that has many many curves in it
[39:51] complex that has many many curves in it and verticals and overlaps and loops and
[39:53] and verticals and overlaps and loops and and portions of the sky for aerobatic
[39:56] and portions of the sky for aerobatic flight
[39:57] flight fans can enjoy rock and racing on
[39:58] fans can enjoy rock and racing on Jumbotrons or iPhones and iPads and when
[40:02] Jumbotrons or iPhones and iPads and when the race is over you can still enjoy the
[40:04] the race is over you can still enjoy the action yes there is now an app for that
[40:06] action yes there is now an app for that the long range goal fans will be able to
[40:10] the long range goal fans will be able to join in and race virtual x-ray sirs
[40:12] join in and race virtual x-ray sirs beside the real thing rocket racing may
[40:15] beside the real thing rocket racing may be the first participatory spectator
[40:18] be the first participatory spectator sport in Tulsa Oklahoma I'm Miles
[40:22] sport in Tulsa Oklahoma I'm Miles O'Brien
[40:29] so I'm excited about bringing that
[40:31] so I'm excited about bringing that forward in the next year or two
[40:34] forward in the next year or two so that's about getting the public
[40:37] so that's about getting the public involved but ultimately to really drive
[40:40] involved but ultimately to really drive this we need to do what the United
[40:41] this we need to do what the United States did 100 and 200 years ago which
[40:45] States did 100 and 200 years ago which is create a resource draw create
[40:48] is create a resource draw create something that is so powerful that it
[40:51] something that is so powerful that it can literally drive the development of
[40:53] can literally drive the development of new technologies and if you stop and you
[40:55] new technologies and if you stop and you think about the fact that everything we
[40:57] think about the fact that everything we fight wars over metals minerals real
[40:59] fight wars over metals minerals real estate energy are infinite quantities in
[41:01] estate energy are infinite quantities in space and the earth it's a crumb and a
[41:04] space and the earth it's a crumb and a supermarket filled with resources you
[41:07] supermarket filled with resources you can stop to realize that we're now on
[41:08] can stop to realize that we're now on the verge of being able to gain access
[41:10] the verge of being able to gain access to all of the resources of our solar
[41:12] to all of the resources of our solar system and the universe this is an
[41:15] system and the universe this is an average-sized asteroid about a half
[41:17] average-sized asteroid about a half kilometer in size it's makeup the things
[41:20] kilometer in size it's makeup the things that we care about the things of life
[41:22] that we care about the things of life hydrogen oxygen carbon the things that
[41:24] hydrogen oxygen carbon the things that we build buildings with you know iron
[41:26] we build buildings with you know iron and nickel and cobalt the things which
[41:28] and nickel and cobalt the things which we call rare earth metals platinum gold
[41:31] we call rare earth metals platinum gold and so forth that are escalating in
[41:33] and so forth that are escalating in price rapidly 7,000 of them that we know
[41:37] price rapidly 7,000 of them that we know of astronomers believe that's about 10%
[41:40] of astronomers believe that's about 10% of the known population the value of
[41:44] of the known population the value of these imagine if you could go out and
[41:47] these imagine if you could go out and capture these mine them in space
[41:49] capture these mine them in space bring back the rare earth elements and
[41:51] bring back the rare earth elements and create an economy no different than the
[41:54] create an economy no different than the gold rush no different than the
[41:55] gold rush no different than the California land rush a single half
[42:00] California land rush a single half kilometre sized asteroid of this
[42:03] kilometre sized asteroid of this platinum group market has more platinum
[42:07] platinum group market has more platinum group metals than we've ever mined in
[42:08] group metals than we've ever mined in the history it's about a trillion
[42:10] the history it's about a trillion dollars worth of metals and I think that
[42:13] dollars worth of metals and I think that could set off a nice space rush so I'm
[42:17] could set off a nice space rush so I'm gonna end with a few comments which is
[42:21] gonna end with a few comments which is to remind you that I believe that we're
[42:25] to remind you that I believe that we're living in a day and age where single
[42:28] living in a day and age where single individuals and small groups can do what
[42:31] individuals and small groups can do what only large corporations and governments
[42:32] only large corporations and governments could do before the tools the
[42:34] could do before the tools the technologies are at your fingertips and
[42:36] technologies are at your fingertips and they're becoming more and more so AI
[42:38] they're becoming more and more so AI robotics nanomaterials biotechnology
[42:41] robotics nanomaterials biotechnology quantum computing embedded network
[42:43] quantum computing embedded network systems all of these things they're an
[42:44] systems all of these things they're an exponential growth are empowering you to
[42:46] exponential growth are empowering you to make your dreams come true the question
[42:49] make your dreams come true the question is what are you passionate about what do
[42:51] is what are you passionate about what do you want to go and do because the age of
[42:53] you want to go and do because the age of personal exploration under the seas in
[42:56] personal exploration under the seas in the air and in space is just about to
[42:59] the air and in space is just about to begin
[43:00] begin thank you
[43:16] Thank You Peter that was just fantastic
[43:19] Thank You Peter that was just fantastic what a great culmination peter is
[43:22] what a great culmination peter is willing to field a few questions
[43:25] willing to field a few questions go ahead sure a great question everybody
[43:42] go ahead sure a great question everybody hear it what happens if there's an
[43:43] hear it what happens if there's an accident commercial space I know that
[43:45] accident commercial space I know that during the Ansari X PRIZE I was very
[43:48] during the Ansari X PRIZE I was very clear in saying this is dangerous there
[43:51] clear in saying this is dangerous there is a possibility someone will die and
[43:53] is a possibility someone will die and and and we have to be flat-out about
[43:56] and and we have to be flat-out about that it's you know if you try and hide
[43:58] that it's you know if you try and hide it and say it's safe and so forth and
[44:00] it and say it's safe and so forth and the chance of one in a hundred thousand
[44:01] the chance of one in a hundred thousand you're gonna defeat yourself the fact
[44:03] you're gonna defeat yourself the fact there's a lot of people who are going
[44:05] there's a lot of people who are going first are doing it because it's
[44:06] first are doing it because it's dangerous because it's significant it
[44:07] dangerous because it's significant it was easy like flying an airplane it
[44:09] was easy like flying an airplane it wouldn't mean as much so my point of
[44:12] wouldn't mean as much so my point of view is I think we have to be honest
[44:14] view is I think we have to be honest about the fact that we're gonna do
[44:15] about the fact that we're gonna do everything we possibly can to make it
[44:17] everything we possibly can to make it safe and let me just take a second and
[44:21] safe and let me just take a second and and say buzz thank you for all that
[44:23] and say buzz thank you for all that you've done for this industry I'm very
[44:25] you've done for this industry I'm very grateful
[44:26] grateful [Applause]
[44:38] but at the same time we can't we cannot
[44:43] but at the same time we can't we cannot set expectations that when you know a
[44:48] set expectations that when you know a ship blows up the industry shuts down
[44:50] ship blows up the industry shuts down and I think that was the problem on on
[44:54] and I think that was the problem on on shuttle I think that's the problem on
[44:56] shuttle I think that's the problem on any place where there's a false belief
[44:59] any place where there's a false belief so that's my belief you know whether or
[45:02] so that's my belief you know whether or not my colleagues and the in the
[45:04] not my colleagues and the in the personal space my industry feel the way
[45:05] personal space my industry feel the way and the same that's up to them other
[45:09] and the same that's up to them other questions please this is the fun part
[45:11] questions please this is the fun part sure so I actually had a slide over here
[45:33] sure so I actually had a slide over here that talked about the rare earth
[45:35] that talked about the rare earth elements required for like even the
[45:37] elements required for like even the Prius and for various battery
[45:39] Prius and for various battery technologies and a lot of the future
[45:42] technologies and a lot of the future renewable resource economies we look at
[45:44] renewable resource economies we look at are very rare earth element dependent
[45:48] are very rare earth element dependent and I do believe that asteroid mining
[45:50] and I do believe that asteroid mining it's something that I've made a personal
[45:51] it's something that I've made a personal commitment to and something that I
[45:53] commitment to and something that I believe is very doable if you look at
[45:55] believe is very doable if you look at the degree of difficulty that the large
[45:59] the degree of difficulty that the large deep-sea oil platforms undertake in
[46:01] deep-sea oil platforms undertake in terms of setting up robotic operations
[46:03] terms of setting up robotic operations twenty-five thousand feet under water
[46:05] twenty-five thousand feet under water and then drilling down ten thousand feet
[46:07] and then drilling down ten thousand feet I mean the pressures the corrosive
[46:09] I mean the pressures the corrosive natures and so forth I personally think
[46:12] natures and so forth I personally think that's you know going to an asteroid for
[46:14] that's you know going to an asteroid for robotic operations a cakewalk compared
[46:16] robotic operations a cakewalk compared to that but the economics haven't been
[46:18] to that but the economics haven't been proven yet so my goal is actually to to
[46:22] proven yet so my goal is actually to to buy puts on the Platinum market an ounce
[46:24] buy puts on the Platinum market an ounce an asteroid mission cash in on the puts
[46:27] an asteroid mission cash in on the puts and then fund the mission and go and do
[46:29] and then fund the mission and go and do it those are in the finance world might
[46:31] it those are in the finance world might understand them better but so besides
[46:34] understand them better but so besides that I don't have much else please
[46:35] that I don't have much else please squeeze in one more question if I'm a
[46:40] squeeze in one more question if I'm a student okay
[46:42] student okay you're all young people do it one there
[46:44] you're all young people do it one there one back there please sir you're a young
[46:47] one back there please sir you're a young person life expectancy is about 200 at
[46:49] person life expectancy is about 200 at this point well I mean the challenge is
[47:14] this point well I mean the challenge is that space is a risky hardware centric
[47:18] that space is a risky hardware centric operation right and it is hard to get
[47:22] operation right and it is hard to get investments God knows I you know that's
[47:25] investments God knows I you know that's all I've done Flast 20 years is raise
[47:27] all I've done Flast 20 years is raise capital for my different organizations
[47:29] capital for my different organizations and I think there are what's different
[47:31] and I think there are what's different today is that there's a generation of
[47:33] today is that there's a generation of folks ranging from Elon to Paul Allen
[47:37] folks ranging from Elon to Paul Allen and Richard Branson you know in their
[47:39] and Richard Branson you know in their late 30s 40s and 50s who grew up on
[47:42] late 30s 40s and 50s who grew up on Apollo or early shuttle and have now
[47:45] Apollo or early shuttle and have now made billions of dollars transforming a
[47:47] made billions of dollars transforming a field and are now prepared to take huge
[47:50] field and are now prepared to take huge risks to make their childhood dreams
[47:52] risks to make their childhood dreams come true so a lot of times it's an
[47:54] come true so a lot of times it's an irrational investment right they're
[47:56] irrational investment right they're doing it because goddammit I'm so sick
[47:58] doing it because goddammit I'm so sick and tired of waiting for NASA to do this
[47:59] and tired of waiting for NASA to do this I'm gonna go off and do it myself it's
[48:01] I'm gonna go off and do it myself it's sort of an attitude that comes out of
[48:03] sort of an attitude that comes out of this or there's a better way to do it so
[48:05] this or there's a better way to do it so an excuse me I would be too overly
[48:08] an excuse me I would be too overly negative about my my friends at Darren's
[48:10] negative about my my friends at Darren's basement administration but the fact the
[48:13] basement administration but the fact the matter is people when they have the
[48:16] matter is people when they have the capital like Elon did out of PayPal said
[48:19] capital like Elon did out of PayPal said oh I'm gonna go and make it happen and
[48:20] oh I'm gonna go and make it happen and that is for me one of the most important
[48:23] that is for me one of the most important opportunities right now the second is
[48:25] opportunities right now the second is hooking it up into real business models
[48:26] hooking it up into real business models so like we did with rocket racing or
[48:28] so like we did with rocket racing or with zero-g but zero-g still has taken
[48:31] with zero-g but zero-g still has taken from the time we started it you know 11
[48:33] from the time we started it you know 11 years get operational we just turned
[48:34] years get operational we just turned profitable last year I mean it's
[48:37] profitable last year I mean it's incredible timelines on some of these
[48:38] incredible timelines on some of these things so it's a passion driven
[48:40] things so it's a passion driven investment for a lot of folks in the
[48:42] investment for a lot of folks in the back please
[48:50] so what types of problems are prizes
[48:53] so what types of problems are prizes good for in terms of exploration they're
[48:55] good for in terms of exploration they're great for things that have a telegenic
[48:59] great for things that have a telegenic finish things that include humans things
[49:03] finish things that include humans things that are could be done but people aren't
[49:06] that are could be done but people aren't taking the risk so our capital is not
[49:08] taking the risk so our capital is not flowing into the market so you know
[49:10] flowing into the market so you know could we have a New York to Paris
[49:12] could we have a New York to Paris electric aircraft race for example
[49:14] electric aircraft race for example creating a Lindbergh like modern-day
[49:18] creating a Lindbergh like modern-day version of that obviously the Ansari X
[49:20] version of that obviously the Ansari X PRIZE we lucked out and worked hard to
[49:23] PRIZE we lucked out and worked hard to create an event that had a great great
[49:26] create an event that had a great great finishing so again it people care about
[49:29] finishing so again it people care about people period you know they may be
[49:32] people period you know they may be interested in the technology but they
[49:34] interested in the technology but they become passionate about the news media
[49:36] become passionate about the news media follows people so whenever we're
[49:38] follows people so whenever we're creating a prize we need to tell the
[49:40] creating a prize we need to tell the human interest story of the teams and
[49:41] human interest story of the teams and even on the Google Lunar XPrize it's
[49:43] even on the Google Lunar XPrize it's going to be about the teams and what
[49:44] going to be about the teams and what they're risking and what they're doing
[49:45] they're risking and what they're doing and that the ads the promoters a shoe
[49:47] and that the ads the promoters a shoe anthropomorphize a shoe but is that word
[49:49] anthropomorphize a shoe but is that word again whatever you guys get it of the
[49:51] again whatever you guys get it of the vehicle on the moon that's what's going
[49:54] vehicle on the moon that's what's going to be getting people excited last
[49:59] to be getting people excited last question
[50:12] [Music]
[50:23] so great question and thank you for
[50:25] so great question and thank you for asking it it's a great place to close on
[50:27] asking it it's a great place to close on and it's the conversation I was having
[50:29] and it's the conversation I was having earlier with a couple of students which
[50:31] earlier with a couple of students which is the notion is you need to find
[50:34] is the notion is you need to find something that you're gonna do whether
[50:35] something that you're gonna do whether you're paid or not you to find something
[50:38] you're paid or not you to find something that is so significant and gives meaning
[50:40] that is so significant and gives meaning to your life that you wake up in the
[50:42] to your life that you wake up in the morning and you're excited to be awake
[50:43] morning and you're excited to be awake and you go to sleep at night and you
[50:45] and you go to sleep at night and you can't wait to start the next day and you
[50:47] can't wait to start the next day and you will be told no over and over and over
[50:50] will be told no over and over and over again and believe me on the Ansari X
[50:52] again and believe me on the Ansari X PRIZE there were there were countless
[50:55] PRIZE there were there were countless noes and when Columbia failed and I
[50:57] noes and when Columbia failed and I hadn't raised the money and people
[50:59] hadn't raised the money and people called me and said how are you gonna
[51:00] called me and said how are you gonna raise ten million dollars when shuttle
[51:01] raise ten million dollars when shuttle just just fell apart or when 9/11
[51:05] just just fell apart or when 9/11 happened when you gonna raise ten
[51:06] happened when you gonna raise ten million dollars when you know the trade
[51:08] million dollars when you know the trade centers are coming down but for me I
[51:10] centers are coming down but for me I knew in my heart it was something I had
[51:12] knew in my heart it was something I had to make happen so ultimately what will
[51:15] to make happen so ultimately what will you do not for the money not because
[51:16] you do not for the money not because your parents told you not because your
[51:17] your parents told you not because your professor told you but because it gives
[51:19] professor told you but because it gives meaning to your heart and your soul and
[51:21] meaning to your heart and your soul and when you find that no one can stop you
[51:24] when you find that no one can stop you thank you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivs3UjKnwmk

Summary

TL;DR — Peter Diamandis, a pioneer in private space exploration and founder of XPRIZE, argues that a new era of exploration is dawning, empowered by individuals and small groups, not just governments. He emphasizes that technological advancements are drastically reducing the cost and increasing the capabilities for exploration, making it accessible to a broader range of participants.

Key points

• The future of exploration is being democratized, allowing individuals and small companies to achieve what was once only possible for nations.

• Technological advancements in AI, robotics, quantum computing, and new materials are key drivers reducing the cost and complexity of exploration.

• Historical examples like Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight and the Longitude Prize demonstrate how audacious goals and prizes can spur innovation and market creation.

• The XPRIZE model leverages competition to drive breakthroughs, attract non-traditional solutions, and create significant market and public interest.

• Key drivers for exploration include fear, curiosity, wealth creation, and the human desire for significance, with prizes effectively tapping into these motivations.

• Future exploration opportunities lie in areas like asteroid mining, deep ocean exploration, and the development of new space technologies, all fueled by private enterprise.

Takeaway — The future of exploration is open to anyone with passion and a vision, driven by technological progress and innovative incentive models like XPRIZE, enabling a new generation to create the future.