this image is the patch that I were on my spacesuit when I went to
my spacesuit when I went to
my spacesuit when I went to International Space Station I design it
International Space Station I design it
International Space Station I design it myself and the words on top basically
myself and the words on top basically
myself and the words on top basically describes the three chapters of my life
describes the three chapters of my life
describes the three chapters of my life I was born a long long time ago in a
I was born a long long time ago in a
I was born a long long time ago in a country far far away in a city called
country far far away in a city called
country far far away in a city called Mashhad Iran when I was growing up I
Mashhad Iran when I was growing up I
Mashhad Iran when I was growing up I looked at the night skies and I could
looked at the night skies and I could
looked at the night skies and I could look at the night skies and see the
look at the night skies and see the
look at the night skies and see the stars back then the pollution wasn’t as
stars back then the pollution wasn’t as
stars back then the pollution wasn’t as bad and I could look at the Stars and
bad and I could look at the Stars and
bad and I could look at the Stars and imagine myself floating up and touching
imagine myself floating up and touching
imagine myself floating up and touching them it was an amazing feeling and it
them it was an amazing feeling and it
them it was an amazing feeling and it made me want to learn how to fly learn
made me want to learn how to fly learn
made me want to learn how to fly learn about space about science and how
about space about science and how
about space about science and how everything is built I also came across
everything is built I also came across
everything is built I also came across this wonderful book in my early years
this wonderful book in my early years
this wonderful book in my early years called the little prince and I fell in
called the little prince and I fell in
called the little prince and I fell in love with it mostly because it was about
love with it mostly because it was about
love with it mostly because it was about an alien from space which I was longing
an alien from space which I was longing
an alien from space which I was longing to meet but also because I could relate
to meet but also because I could relate
to meet but also because I could relate with the narrator the pilot who talked
with the narrator the pilot who talked
with the narrator the pilot who talked about his frustration with the adults
about his frustration with the adults
about his frustration with the adults and the fact that the adults just don’t
and the fact that the adults just don’t
and the fact that the adults just don’t get it and I have to admit I’ve never
get it and I have to admit I’ve never
get it and I have to admit I’ve never grown since then and I’m still a child
grown since then and I’m still a child
grown since then and I’m still a child at heart so don’t look at me like this
at heart so don’t look at me like this
at heart so don’t look at me like this I’m still a child and I am proud of it
I’m still a child and I am proud of it
I’m still a child and I am proud of it and I hope I never grow up so in the
and I hope I never grow up so in the
and I hope I never grow up so in the spirit of the little prince I drew a
spirit of the little prince I drew a
spirit of the little prince I drew a picture of my flight to space I drew
picture of my flight to space I drew
picture of my flight to space I drew this beautiful spaceship that would take
this beautiful spaceship that would take
this beautiful spaceship that would take me to my stars and I showed it to
me to my stars and I showed it to
me to my stars and I showed it to everyone I showed it to my parents to
everyone I showed it to my parents to
everyone I showed it to my parents to friends to family to everyone to my
friends to family to everyone to my
friends to family to everyone to my teachers and I told them I’m gonna go to
teachers and I told them I’m gonna go to
teachers and I told them I’m gonna go to space and of course you know they looked
space and of course you know they looked
space and of course you know they looked at me they smile they said oh nice this
at me they smile they said oh nice this
at me they smile they said oh nice this is really good how are you going to go
is really good how are you going to go
is really good how are you going to go up there I said this is my spaceship and
up there I said this is my spaceship and
up there I said this is my spaceship and it looked at me and AI could tell that
it looked at me and AI could tell that
it looked at me and AI could tell that they were not taking me seriously so I
they were not taking me seriously so I
they were not taking me seriously so I decided I’m gonna prove them wrong so I
decided I’m gonna prove them wrong so I
decided I’m gonna prove them wrong so I did I did go to space and I did go to
did I did go to space and I did go to
did I did go to space and I did go to space on a rocket ship that resembled
space on a rocket ship that resembled
space on a rocket ship that resembled what I drew just to prove them I could
what I drew just to prove them I could
what I drew just to prove them I could predict the future
and that has been the story of my life
and that has been the story of my life everyone who knows me they know not to
everyone who knows me they know not to
everyone who knows me they know not to challenge me if you tell me I cannot do
challenge me if you tell me I cannot do
challenge me if you tell me I cannot do something I’m gonna prove you wrong I
something I’m gonna prove you wrong I
something I’m gonna prove you wrong I grew up in a very modest simple family
grew up in a very modest simple family
grew up in a very modest simple family when I was about five years old my
when I was about five years old my
when I was about five years old my parents divorced and I was like the
parents divorced and I was like the
parents divorced and I was like the major change in my life it was very
major change in my life it was very
major change in my life it was very difficult to get adjusted before I knew
difficult to get adjusted before I knew
difficult to get adjusted before I knew when I was just about 12 years old the
when I was just about 12 years old the
when I was just about 12 years old the revolution happened and all of a sudden
revolution happened and all of a sudden
revolution happened and all of a sudden there were all these angry people in the
there were all these angry people in the
there were all these angry people in the streets shouting gunshots you know
streets shouting gunshots you know
streets shouting gunshots you know burning cars burning buildings and I
burning cars burning buildings and I
burning cars burning buildings and I couldn’t understand what was happening I
couldn’t understand what was happening I
couldn’t understand what was happening I had never heard a gunshot before and
had never heard a gunshot before and
had never heard a gunshot before and then before I could even adjust to that
then before I could even adjust to that
then before I could even adjust to that the war broke out in 1980 an eight-year
the war broke out in 1980 an eight-year
the war broke out in 1980 an eight-year war between Iran and Iraq
war between Iran and Iraq
war between Iran and Iraq and then all of a sudden after the first
and then all of a sudden after the first
and then all of a sudden after the first year I could hear bombings and and
year I could hear bombings and and
year I could hear bombings and and alarms too for anti-aircraft missiles
alarms too for anti-aircraft missiles
alarms too for anti-aircraft missiles and then blackouts and long lines for
and then blackouts and long lines for
and then blackouts and long lines for food ration and all these things and it
food ration and all these things and it
food ration and all these things and it was becoming part of everyday life for
was becoming part of everyday life for
was becoming part of everyday life for everyone living in this condition and
everyone living in this condition and
everyone living in this condition and for me as well but I had a very special
for me as well but I had a very special
for me as well but I had a very special place I could go at night when I could
place I could go at night when I could
place I could go at night when I could get a chance to be outside I would go
get a chance to be outside I would go
get a chance to be outside I would go and look at the night skies and that was
and look at the night skies and that was
and look at the night skies and that was my refuge it was where I could go and
my refuge it was where I could go and
my refuge it was where I could go and let my imagination take me someplace
let my imagination take me someplace
let my imagination take me someplace else to another world to another planet
else to another world to another planet
else to another world to another planet a place that was peaceful a place that
a place that was peaceful a place that
a place that was peaceful a place that was playful a place I could do anything
was playful a place I could do anything
was playful a place I could do anything I wanted to do I would design spaceship
I wanted to do I would design spaceship
I wanted to do I would design spaceship that will take my family and friends and
that will take my family and friends and
that will take my family and friends and everyone who wanted to live this crazy
everyone who wanted to live this crazy
everyone who wanted to live this crazy planet and we’ll take him to another
planet and we’ll take him to another
planet and we’ll take him to another place and we would build a beautiful
place and we would build a beautiful
place and we would build a beautiful world and I would win the Nobel Prize in
world and I would win the Nobel Prize in
world and I would win the Nobel Prize in Physics for building this amazing
Physics for building this amazing
Physics for building this amazing spaceship and still to this day space is
spaceship and still to this day space is
spaceship and still to this day space is where I go when I want to escape the
where I go when I want to escape the
where I go when I want to escape the craziness of the world around us so
craziness of the world around us so
craziness of the world around us so imagination is a very powerful gift we
imagination is a very powerful gift we
imagination is a very powerful gift we have as human beings it’s a very unique
have as human beings it’s a very unique
have as human beings it’s a very unique gift we have and we don’t use it often
gift we have and we don’t use it often
gift we have and we don’t use it often enough and it starts with a spark of an
enough and it starts with a spark of an
enough and it starts with a spark of an idea it may be something we saw
idea it may be something we saw
idea it may be something we saw someplace
someplace
someplace or maybe something we watched on TV I
or maybe something we watched on TV I
or maybe something we watched on TV I grew up watching Star Trek in Iran I
grew up watching Star Trek in Iran I
grew up watching Star Trek in Iran I loved science fiction books and I would
loved science fiction books and I would
loved science fiction books and I would go to these imaginary worlds and soon
go to these imaginary worlds and soon
go to these imaginary worlds and soon enough you can see yourself in those you
enough you can see yourself in those you
enough you can see yourself in those you know characters where they live and then
know characters where they live and then
know characters where they live and then you make had come true when I was
you make had come true when I was
you make had come true when I was growing up I thought by the time I’m an
growing up I thought by the time I’m an
growing up I thought by the time I’m an adult I would go and apply to Starfleet
adult I would go and apply to Starfleet
adult I would go and apply to Starfleet Academy I will become the science
Academy I will become the science
Academy I will become the science officer on board spaceship enterprise
officer on board spaceship enterprise
officer on board spaceship enterprise and as mrs. Spock I would go all over
and as mrs. Spock I would go all over
and as mrs. Spock I would go all over the universe just everywhere that I
the universe just everywhere that I
the universe just everywhere that I wanted to go and explore of course when
wanted to go and explore of course when
wanted to go and explore of course when I came to us and I looked up Starfleet
I came to us and I looked up Starfleet
I came to us and I looked up Starfleet Academy I couldn’t find it I was just
Academy I couldn’t find it I was just
Academy I couldn’t find it I was just you know amazed how could this be
you know amazed how could this be
you know amazed how could this be but I’m one of those people who do not
but I’m one of those people who do not
but I’m one of those people who do not want to complain about things I if I
want to complain about things I if I
want to complain about things I if I find something that’s broke if I want to
find something that’s broke if I want to
find something that’s broke if I want to change something I just do it and that’s
change something I just do it and that’s
change something I just do it and that’s what happened of course I had to take a
what happened of course I had to take a
what happened of course I had to take a long route to get there I became an
long route to get there I became an
long route to get there I became an engineer then an entrepreneur build a
engineer then an entrepreneur build a
engineer then an entrepreneur build a successful company and when I sold my
successful company and when I sold my
successful company and when I sold my company that’s when I started focusing
company that’s when I started focusing
company that’s when I started focusing on how I can find my path to space but
on how I can find my path to space but
on how I can find my path to space but along the way I wanted to make sure I
along the way I wanted to make sure I
along the way I wanted to make sure I don’t forget about it so I had all these
don’t forget about it so I had all these
don’t forget about it so I had all these little reminders like the dress up
little reminders like the dress up
little reminders like the dress up saying that she saw before that reminded
saying that she saw before that reminded
saying that she saw before that reminded me that I have this thing that I want to
me that I have this thing that I want to
me that I have this thing that I want to do so the universe conspired and put me
do so the universe conspired and put me
do so the universe conspired and put me in touch with Peter Peter Diamandis who
in touch with Peter Peter Diamandis who
in touch with Peter Peter Diamandis who heard you you heard this morning and
heard you you heard this morning and
heard you you heard this morning and together I helped the rest of the team
together I helped the rest of the team
together I helped the rest of the team to launch this amazing prize that
to launch this amazing prize that
to launch this amazing prize that actually transformed the face of space
actually transformed the face of space
actually transformed the face of space program and allowed for this whole new
program and allowed for this whole new
program and allowed for this whole new industry to be born which eventually
industry to be born which eventually
industry to be born which eventually helped me on my path the success of
helped me on my path the success of
helped me on my path the success of XPrize led to many other prizes which
XPrize led to many other prizes which
XPrize led to many other prizes which you heard today but also it was this
you heard today but also it was this
you heard today but also it was this first step a launching pad for me to
first step a launching pad for me to
first step a launching pad for me to take me to my space trip to
take me to my space trip to
take me to my space trip to International Space Station and in
International Space Station and in
International Space Station and in September 2006 I was able to go on a
September 2006 I was able to go on a
September 2006 I was able to go on a mission to international space station
mission to international space station
mission to international space station and spend 11 glorious days in space and
and spend 11 glorious days in space and
and spend 11 glorious days in space and I experienced a freedom
I experienced a freedom
I experienced a freedom that I have never ever experienced
that I have never ever experienced
that I have never ever experienced before it was an amazing feeling when I
before it was an amazing feeling when I
before it was an amazing feeling when I was orbiting the earth every 90 minutes
was orbiting the earth every 90 minutes
was orbiting the earth every 90 minutes and looking out the window and seeing
and looking out the window and seeing
and looking out the window and seeing this beautiful earth there was this life
this beautiful earth there was this life
this beautiful earth there was this life and energy that I could sense from our
and energy that I could sense from our
and energy that I could sense from our planet and I was looking down on earth
planet and I was looking down on earth
planet and I was looking down on earth and I could not see any borders I could
and I could not see any borders I could
and I could not see any borders I could not tell the cities and countries apart
not tell the cities and countries apart
not tell the cities and countries apart from each other walls had no meanings
from each other walls had no meanings
from each other walls had no meanings there was nothing dividing us and when I
there was nothing dividing us and when I
there was nothing dividing us and when I was looking down on this beautiful image
was looking down on this beautiful image
was looking down on this beautiful image I was hoping and wishing that everyone
I was hoping and wishing that everyone
I was hoping and wishing that everyone on the planet could see it and they
on the planet could see it and they
on the planet could see it and they could see how we are all citizens of
could see how we are all citizens of
could see how we are all citizens of this one planet we are all the
this one planet we are all the
this one planet we are all the astronauts in this beautiful spaceship
astronauts in this beautiful spaceship
astronauts in this beautiful spaceship we call Earth going through the universe
we call Earth going through the universe
we call Earth going through the universe and how this would transform their lives
and how this would transform their lives
and how this would transform their lives of course like every great adventure it
of course like every great adventure it
of course like every great adventure it always has to come to an end so when my
always has to come to an end so when my
always has to come to an end so when my trip ended and I came back to earth I
trip ended and I came back to earth I
trip ended and I came back to earth I was very depressed all of my life I had
was very depressed all of my life I had
was very depressed all of my life I had completely be consumed by this big
completely be consumed by this big
completely be consumed by this big audacious dream I had to go to space and
audacious dream I had to go to space and
audacious dream I had to go to space and now I had done it so what what would I
now I had done it so what what would I
now I had done it so what what would I do now and then I realized while I was
do now and then I realized while I was
do now and then I realized while I was on Space Station I started blogging I
on Space Station I started blogging I
on Space Station I started blogging I actually became the first blogger from
actually became the first blogger from
actually became the first blogger from space and we had about you know we had
space and we had about you know we had
space and we had about you know we had millions of people that were reading the
millions of people that were reading the
millions of people that were reading the blog it was about everyday life but
blog it was about everyday life but
blog it was about everyday life but through the blog I was taking them on
through the blog I was taking them on
through the blog I was taking them on this journey to space and I had people
this journey to space and I had people
this journey to space and I had people from all over the world writing back to
from all over the world writing back to
from all over the world writing back to me and somehow they were escaping their
me and somehow they were escaping their
me and somehow they were escaping their crazy life and whatever obstacles they
crazy life and whatever obstacles they
crazy life and whatever obstacles they were facing and this had become like a
were facing and this had become like a
were facing and this had become like a little ray of hope to give them
little ray of hope to give them
little ray of hope to give them inspiration to go and pursue some of
inspiration to go and pursue some of
inspiration to go and pursue some of their audacious dream
their audacious dream
their audacious dream so there began my you know the third
so there began my you know the third
so there began my you know the third chapter of my life and as I was looking
chapter of my life and as I was looking
chapter of my life and as I was looking through what was happening with this
through what was happening with this
through what was happening with this blog I decided that perhaps my story can
blog I decided that perhaps my story can
blog I decided that perhaps my story can help other people reach out and go for
help other people reach out and go for
help other people reach out and go for their victory
their victory
their victory one of the stories that I like to tell
one of the stories that I like to tell
one of the stories that I like to tell is the story of Sepideh the young girl
is the story of Sepideh the young girl
is the story of Sepideh the young girl you see in this picture she’s a young
you see in this picture she’s a young
you see in this picture she’s a young woman in Iran and someone who wanted to
woman in Iran and someone who wanted to
woman in Iran and someone who wanted to become an asteroid and and I loved
become an asteroid and and I loved
become an asteroid and and I loved astronomy she lived in a very small
astronomy she lived in a very small
astronomy she lived in a very small village and when she heard about my
village and when she heard about my
village and when she heard about my story she decided that that’s what she
story she decided that that’s what she
story she decided that that’s what she wanted to do and despite the fact that
wanted to do and despite the fact that
wanted to do and despite the fact that her family and the entire village was
her family and the entire village was
her family and the entire village was against her she pursued her dream and
against her she pursued her dream and
against her she pursued her dream and continues to do so to this day and there
continues to do so to this day and there
continues to do so to this day and there was a documentary that was made about
was a documentary that was made about
was a documentary that was made about her life there are many many other
her life there are many many other
her life there are many many other children and women around the world that
children and women around the world that
children and women around the world that all they need is just a little ray of
all they need is just a little ray of
all they need is just a little ray of hope something that will inspire them
hope something that will inspire them
hope something that will inspire them and allow them to go after those big
and allow them to go after those big
and allow them to go after those big dreams just a little nudge will push
dreams just a little nudge will push
dreams just a little nudge will push them to think of a different life for
them to think of a different life for
them to think of a different life for themselves and a different life that
themselves and a different life that
themselves and a different life that they can build for their families and I
they can build for their families and I
they can build for their families and I hope that my story will be able to do
hope that my story will be able to do
hope that my story will be able to do that for them and I dedicate a lot of my
that for them and I dedicate a lot of my
that for them and I dedicate a lot of my time to that act right now but that’s
time to that act right now but that’s
time to that act right now but that’s something all of us many of us sitting
something all of us many of us sitting
something all of us many of us sitting in this room can do so based on
in this room can do so based on
in this room can do so based on everything you’ve heard today based on
everything you’ve heard today based on
everything you’ve heard today based on all the amazing technologies that you
all the amazing technologies that you
all the amazing technologies that you heard it’s available to all of us we
heard it’s available to all of us we
heard it’s available to all of us we know that we can build a future that we
know that we can build a future that we
know that we can build a future that we want so we want to build that future the
want so we want to build that future the
want so we want to build that future the way we can imagine in a beautiful
way we can imagine in a beautiful
way we can imagine in a beautiful wonderful way for all of humanity so I’d
wonderful way for all of humanity so I’d
wonderful way for all of humanity so I’d like to close with one of my favorite
like to close with one of my favorite
like to close with one of my favorite poems by Karen Raven only as high as I
poems by Karen Raven only as high as I
poems by Karen Raven only as high as I reach can I grow only as far as I seek
reach can I grow only as far as I seek
reach can I grow only as far as I seek can I go only as deep as I look can I
can I go only as deep as I look can I
can I go only as deep as I look can I see only as much as I dream can I be so
see only as much as I dream can I be so
see only as much as I dream can I be so dream dream big and go after your dreams
dream dream big and go after your dreams
dream dream big and go after your dreams thank you
thank you
thank you you
”
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