suppose that your grandfather died several months ago and when they read
several months ago and when they read
several months ago and when they read his will you discovered that he’d left
his will you discovered that he’d left
his will you discovered that he’d left you two hundred and fifty thousand
you two hundred and fifty thousand
you two hundred and fifty thousand dollars what would you do if two hundred
dollars what would you do if two hundred
dollars what would you do if two hundred and fifty thousand dollars suddenly and
and fifty thousand dollars suddenly and
and fifty thousand dollars suddenly and unexpectedly fell into your lap well one
unexpectedly fell into your lap well one
unexpectedly fell into your lap well one thing you might do is buy that shiny
thing you might do is buy that shiny
thing you might do is buy that shiny silver Lamborghini that you’ve been
silver Lamborghini that you’ve been
silver Lamborghini that you’ve been dreaming about since you’re twenty five
dreaming about since you’re twenty five
dreaming about since you’re twenty five and if you did that you might even have
and if you did that you might even have
and if you did that you might even have enough left over to make the first
enough left over to make the first
enough left over to make the first insurance payment another thing you
insurance payment another thing you
insurance payment another thing you might do is pay off your daughter’s
might do is pay off your daughter’s
might do is pay off your daughter’s medical school debt well most of it
medical school debt well most of it
medical school debt well most of it anyway
anyway
anyway and yet another thing you might do would
and yet another thing you might do would
and yet another thing you might do would be to buy a ticket for a ride to
be to buy a ticket for a ride to
be to buy a ticket for a ride to suborbital space I’m going to try to
suborbital space I’m going to try to
suborbital space I’m going to try to make the case for you today as to why
make the case for you today as to why
make the case for you today as to why you should choose that third option now
you should choose that third option now
you should choose that third option now spaceport america is located in the
spaceport america is located in the
spaceport america is located in the southern part of New Mexico and it’s a
southern part of New Mexico and it’s a
southern part of New Mexico and it’s a leading center for suborbital space
leading center for suborbital space
leading center for suborbital space activity it was developed by and is
activity it was developed by and is
activity it was developed by and is owned and operated by the state of New
owned and operated by the state of New
owned and operated by the state of New Mexico
Mexico
Mexico so that makes every one of you here
so that makes every one of you here
so that makes every one of you here today a part owner of that facility so
today a part owner of that facility so
today a part owner of that facility so let’s talk a little bit about that space
let’s talk a little bit about that space
let’s talk a little bit about that space experience so there are three compelling
experience so there are three compelling
experience so there are three compelling elements of a suborbital space
elements of a suborbital space
elements of a suborbital space experience the first one is an
experience the first one is an
experience the first one is an opportunity to experience sustained
opportunity to experience sustained
opportunity to experience sustained microgravity microgravity is also
microgravity microgravity is also
microgravity microgravity is also sometimes called zero gravity or
sometimes called zero gravity or
sometimes called zero gravity or weightlessness and if you’ve seen videos
weightlessness and if you’ve seen videos
weightlessness and if you’ve seen videos of astronauts floating around the space
of astronauts floating around the space
of astronauts floating around the space station or sometimes researchers and the
station or sometimes researchers and the
station or sometimes researchers and the vomit comet aircraft doing somersaults
vomit comet aircraft doing somersaults
vomit comet aircraft doing somersaults that’s they’re experiencing microgravity
that’s they’re experiencing microgravity
that’s they’re experiencing microgravity so it’s it’s a more intense and a
so it’s it’s a more intense and a
so it’s it’s a more intense and a longer-lasting version of the experience
longer-lasting version of the experience
longer-lasting version of the experience you feel if you’re in a very fast
you feel if you’re in a very fast
you feel if you’re in a very fast elevator as it begins to descend or
elevator as it begins to descend or
elevator as it begins to descend or sometimes even if you’re in a car that
sometimes even if you’re in a car that
sometimes even if you’re in a car that goes over a rise in the road and then
goes over a rise in the road and then
goes over a rise in the road and then suddenly goes into a dip the second
suddenly goes into a dip the second
suddenly goes into a dip the second compelling element is the ability the
compelling element is the ability the
compelling element is the ability the opportunity to see things that can only
opportunity to see things that can only
opportunity to see things that can only be seen from space the blackness of the
be seen from space the blackness of the
be seen from space the blackness of the sky the curvature of the earth the thin
sky the curvature of the earth the thin
sky the curvature of the earth the thin blue band of the atmosphere and finally
blue band of the atmosphere and finally
blue band of the atmosphere and finally the third compelling element is the
the third compelling element is the
the third compelling element is the opportunity to see the magnificence and
opportunity to see the magnificence and
opportunity to see the magnificence and the enormity of the earth and to think
the enormity of the earth and to think
the enormity of the earth and to think about that and many of the people who’ve
about that and many of the people who’ve
about that and many of the people who’ve had that experience have actually
had that experience have actually
had that experience have actually described that experiences life-changing
described that experiences life-changing
described that experiences life-changing so to get to spaced to be a true space
so to get to spaced to be a true space
so to get to spaced to be a true space experience you need to reach the
experience you need to reach the
experience you need to reach the altitude of the Karman line the Karman
altitude of the Karman line the Karman
altitude of the Karman line the Karman line is a hundred kilometers above the
line is a hundred kilometers above the
line is a hundred kilometers above the surface of the earth or about 62 miles
surface of the earth or about 62 miles
surface of the earth or about 62 miles so why is space define to begin at 62
so why is space define to begin at 62
so why is space define to begin at 62 miles the reason for that could be the
miles the reason for that could be the
miles the reason for that could be the subject of a talk of itself but the
subject of a talk of itself but the
subject of a talk of itself but the short answer is that as airplanes fly
short answer is that as airplanes fly
short answer is that as airplanes fly higher and higher in the atmosphere the
higher and higher in the atmosphere the
higher and higher in the atmosphere the air becomes thinner and thinner and
air becomes thinner and thinner and
air becomes thinner and thinner and eventually they have to go so fast that
eventually they have to go so fast that
eventually they have to go so fast that that they’re going at orbital speed
that they’re going at orbital speed
that they’re going at orbital speed which is 17,500 miles per hour and that
which is 17,500 miles per hour and that
which is 17,500 miles per hour and that happens in about 100 kilometers hence
happens in about 100 kilometers hence
happens in about 100 kilometers hence that’s the threshold of space so if
that’s the threshold of space so if
that’s the threshold of space so if space is only 62 miles that way
space is only 62 miles that way
space is only 62 miles that way how do we get there well one way
how do we get there well one way
how do we get there well one way potentially would be to travel at say 10
potentially would be to travel at say 10
potentially would be to travel at say 10 miles per hour
miles per hour
miles per hour unlike orbit where you must reach a
unlike orbit where you must reach a
unlike orbit where you must reach a speed of 17,500 miles per hour there is
speed of 17,500 miles per hour there is
speed of 17,500 miles per hour there is no specific speed requirement to get to
no specific speed requirement to get to
no specific speed requirement to get to Silver orbital space so you only need to
Silver orbital space so you only need to
Silver orbital space so you only need to go up so you can go at 10 miles per hour
go up so you can go at 10 miles per hour
go up so you can go at 10 miles per hour it’s going to take you about six minutes
it’s going to take you about six minutes
it’s going to take you about six minutes to or six hours to get there but you’d
to or six hours to get there but you’d
to or six hours to get there but you’d be burning lots and lots of fuel and
be burning lots and lots of fuel and
be burning lots and lots of fuel and that just isn’t practical so the way we
that just isn’t practical so the way we
that just isn’t practical so the way we normally do it is we burn a really
normally do it is we burn a really
normally do it is we burn a really powerful rocket motor for 10 to 60
powerful rocket motor for 10 to 60
powerful rocket motor for 10 to 60 seconds and accelerate very quickly to
seconds and accelerate very quickly to
seconds and accelerate very quickly to several times the speed of sound say
several times the speed of sound say
several times the speed of sound say 3,500 miles per hour and then Coast the
3,500 miles per hour and then Coast the
3,500 miles per hour and then Coast the rest of the way all right so on the way
rest of the way all right so on the way
rest of the way all right so on the way up very interesting things happen you
up very interesting things happen you
up very interesting things happen you will want once you’re outside the
will want once you’re outside the
will want once you’re outside the Earth’s atmosphere and your rocket
Earth’s atmosphere and your rocket
Earth’s atmosphere and your rocket motors burned out and you’re not feeling
motors burned out and you’re not feeling
motors burned out and you’re not feeling any drag from the atmosphere you will be
any drag from the atmosphere you will be
any drag from the atmosphere you will be experiencing the condition that
experiencing the condition that
experiencing the condition that physicists refer to as freefall and
physicists refer to as freefall and
physicists refer to as freefall and that’s what causes microgravity and
that’s what causes microgravity and
that’s what causes microgravity and during that time you’ll be able to do
during that time you’ll be able to do
during that time you’ll be able to do all those things that you’ve seen those
all those things that you’ve seen those
all those things that you’ve seen those videos of astronauts doing on the space
videos of astronauts doing on the space
videos of astronauts doing on the space station you’ll be able to float around
station you’ll be able to float around
station you’ll be able to float around your cabin you’ll be able to do those
your cabin you’ll be able to do those
your cabin you’ll be able to do those really interesting experiments where you
really interesting experiments where you
really interesting experiments where you lay out a line of mmm say and you lunge
lay out a line of mmm say and you lunge
lay out a line of mmm say and you lunge out and eat them one by one all those
out and eat them one by one all those
out and eat them one by one all those things will be possible but there’s one
things will be possible but there’s one
things will be possible but there’s one big difference those astronauts on the
big difference those astronauts on the
big difference those astronauts on the space station have days weeks even
space station have days weeks even
space station have days weeks even to do that you’re only going to have a
to do that you’re only going to have a
to do that you’re only going to have a few minutes so so you’re going to need
few minutes so so you’re going to need
few minutes so so you’re going to need to take advantage of that time now on
to take advantage of that time now on
to take advantage of that time now on the good side since you’re only going to
the good side since you’re only going to
the good side since you’re only going to be there for a few minutes you’re not
be there for a few minutes you’re not
be there for a few minutes you’re not going to need to to wash your hair okay
going to need to to wash your hair okay
going to need to to wash your hair okay so while you’re floating around your
so while you’re floating around your
so while you’re floating around your cabin I would hope that you would take a
cabin I would hope that you would take a
cabin I would hope that you would take a few minutes to look out the window and
few minutes to look out the window and
few minutes to look out the window and see those wonderful sights that black
see those wonderful sights that black
see those wonderful sights that black sky the curved earth and all those
sky the curved earth and all those
sky the curved earth and all those things and that you would take a little
things and that you would take a little
things and that you would take a little bit of time and contemplate your
bit of time and contemplate your
bit of time and contemplate your position on the earth and the Earth’s
position on the earth and the Earth’s
position on the earth and the Earth’s position even though it’s enormous in
position even though it’s enormous in
position even though it’s enormous in the much larger solar system in the
the much larger solar system in the
the much larger solar system in the solar system’s position in the enormous
solar system’s position in the enormous
solar system’s position in the enormous ly larger galaxy and our galaxy’s
ly larger galaxy and our galaxy’s
ly larger galaxy and our galaxy’s position is one of billions out there in
position is one of billions out there in
position is one of billions out there in the universe at large
the universe at large
the universe at large again many people have described that
again many people have described that
again many people have described that experience as life-changing in the
experience as life-changing in the
experience as life-changing in the history of humans in space there have
history of humans in space there have
history of humans in space there have been only about 600 people that have
been only about 600 people that have
been only about 600 people that have been there we think that space tourism
been there we think that space tourism
been there we think that space tourism has the potential to increase the number
has the potential to increase the number
has the potential to increase the number of people that have the space experience
of people that have the space experience
of people that have the space experience by orders of magnitude
by orders of magnitude
by orders of magnitude so why would that be well one reason is
so why would that be well one reason is
so why would that be well one reason is that the space vehicles that are being
that the space vehicles that are being
that the space vehicles that are being developed for for space tourism are
developed for for space tourism are
developed for for space tourism are reusable right now as you probably know
reusable right now as you probably know
reusable right now as you probably know we throw away the hardware after every
we throw away the hardware after every
we throw away the hardware after every launch of people to space so making it
launch of people to space so making it
launch of people to space so making it reusable is going to help a lot another
reusable is going to help a lot another
reusable is going to help a lot another reason is that these vehicles are only
reason is that these vehicles are only
reason is that these vehicles are only going to go to speeds of say a
going to go to speeds of say a
going to go to speeds of say a thirty-five hundred miles per hour and
thirty-five hundred miles per hour and
thirty-five hundred miles per hour and they’re only going to go to altitudes of
they’re only going to go to altitudes of
they’re only going to go to altitudes of perhaps 60 miles or seventy miles so the
perhaps 60 miles or seventy miles so the
perhaps 60 miles or seventy miles so the design is simplified quite a bit and
design is simplified quite a bit and
design is simplified quite a bit and another reason is because these these
another reason is because these these
another reason is because these these missions are only going to last for a
missions are only going to last for a
missions are only going to last for a few minutes and so consequently you
few minutes and so consequently you
few minutes and so consequently you don’t have to take along large supplies
don’t have to take along large supplies
don’t have to take along large supplies of life-support oxygen water or food
of life-support oxygen water or food
of life-support oxygen water or food from the passengers perspective not only
from the passengers perspective not only
from the passengers perspective not only that but but the rigors are being
that but but the rigors are being
that but but the rigors are being accelerated only 3,500 miles per hour
accelerated only 3,500 miles per hour
accelerated only 3,500 miles per hour meaning that a lot more people are going
meaning that a lot more people are going
meaning that a lot more people are going to be able to do this and secondly
to be able to do this and secondly
to be able to do this and secondly because you’ll be able to train for the
because you’ll be able to train for the
because you’ll be able to train for the mission in just a short time maybe a few
mission in just a short time maybe a few
mission in just a short time maybe a few days or a week and do your mission you
days or a week and do your mission you
days or a week and do your mission you won’t you’ll be able to do this in sort
won’t you’ll be able to do this in sort
won’t you’ll be able to do this in sort of a vacation
of a vacation
of a vacation setting so the Dennis Tito who is widely
setting so the Dennis Tito who is widely
setting so the Dennis Tito who is widely regarded as the world’s first space
regarded as the world’s first space
regarded as the world’s first space tourist he spent many months training
tourist he spent many months training
tourist he spent many months training with the Russians to fly to the space
with the Russians to fly to the space
with the Russians to fly to the space station and he also spent two million
station and he also spent two million
station and he also spent two million twenty million dollars of his own money
twenty million dollars of his own money
twenty million dollars of his own money to do that okay so if space is life
to do that okay so if space is life
to do that okay so if space is life changing we’d like to get more people
changing we’d like to get more people
changing we’d like to get more people there but space has a problem right now
there but space has a problem right now
there but space has a problem right now there’s what I call the space conundrum
there’s what I call the space conundrum
there’s what I call the space conundrum space launches are very expensive
space launches are very expensive
space launches are very expensive because they because the annual number
because they because the annual number
because they because the annual number is very low but at the same time the
is very low but at the same time the
is very low but at the same time the annual number is very low because
annual number is very low because
annual number is very low because they’re so expensive so how can we break
they’re so expensive so how can we break
they’re so expensive so how can we break that paradigm well perhaps we can take
that paradigm well perhaps we can take
that paradigm well perhaps we can take an example from the computer industry do
an example from the computer industry do
an example from the computer industry do some of you are old enough to remember
some of you are old enough to remember
some of you are old enough to remember when computers were very expensive
when computers were very expensive
when computers were very expensive because very few were sold and at the
because very few were sold and at the
because very few were sold and at the same time very few computers were sold
same time very few computers were sold
same time very few computers were sold because they were so expensive so the
because they were so expensive so the
because they were so expensive so the computer industry needed a killer app to
computer industry needed a killer app to
computer industry needed a killer app to break that paradigm and it turns out
break that paradigm and it turns out
break that paradigm and it turns out that in my view at least computer gaming
that in my view at least computer gaming
that in my view at least computer gaming was a significant factor in breaking
was a significant factor in breaking
was a significant factor in breaking that paradigm there were a few invent
that paradigm there were a few invent
that paradigm there were a few invent individuals who found computer gaming so
individuals who found computer gaming so
individuals who found computer gaming so compelling that they were willing to
compelling that they were willing to
compelling that they were willing to spend thousands and thousands of dollars
spend thousands and thousands of dollars
spend thousands and thousands of dollars to buy a computer so that they could do
to buy a computer so that they could do
to buy a computer so that they could do that so if you think about it look
that so if you think about it look
that so if you think about it look around your house and how many computers
around your house and how many computers
around your house and how many computers to do you see and how expensive were
to do you see and how expensive were
to do you see and how expensive were they you can be thankful that in the
they you can be thankful that in the
they you can be thankful that in the 1980s there were people who were willing
1980s there were people who were willing
1980s there were people who were willing to spend many thousands and thousands of
to spend many thousands and thousands of
to spend many thousands and thousands of dollars for the for the ability to play
dollars for the for the ability to play
dollars for the for the ability to play Dungeons and Dragons and Tetris some of
Dungeons and Dragons and Tetris some of
Dungeons and Dragons and Tetris some of you remember those I’m sure okay so so
you remember those I’m sure okay so so
you remember those I’m sure okay so so this life-changing experience that
this life-changing experience that
this life-changing experience that you’ve had that you’re going to have on
you’ve had that you’re going to have on
you’ve had that you’re going to have on your space ride will provide be a source
your space ride will provide be a source
your space ride will provide be a source of tremendous personal fulfillment and
of tremendous personal fulfillment and
of tremendous personal fulfillment and personal enjoyment but at the same time
personal enjoyment but at the same time
personal enjoyment but at the same time that space mission is going you’re by
that space mission is going you’re by
that space mission is going you’re by doing that you’re going to be helping to
doing that you’re going to be helping to
doing that you’re going to be helping to ensure our future as a species in space
ensure our future as a species in space
ensure our future as a species in space by helping to bring down the costs and
by helping to bring down the costs and
by helping to bring down the costs and make space much more accessible ok so
make space much more accessible ok so
make space much more accessible ok so you will be helping for example to make
you will be helping for example to make
you will be helping for example to make humans
humans
humans multi-planet species you’ll be helping
multi-planet species you’ll be helping
multi-planet species you’ll be helping to make it possible in the future for
to make it possible in the future for
to make it possible in the future for four generations of people to come to
four generations of people to come to
four generations of people to come to generate much or most of their
generate much or most of their
generate much or most of their electrical power requirements by putting
electrical power requirements by putting
electrical power requirements by putting solar collectors in orbit around the
solar collectors in orbit around the
solar collectors in orbit around the earth you’ll be making it possible for
earth you’ll be making it possible for
earth you’ll be making it possible for us to derive much or most of our metals
us to derive much or most of our metals
us to derive much or most of our metals requirements by mining asteroids rather
requirements by mining asteroids rather
requirements by mining asteroids rather than mining the earth you’ll be making
than mining the earth you’ll be making
than mining the earth you’ll be making it possible to make better materials in
it possible to make better materials in
it possible to make better materials in space for example better crystalline
space for example better crystalline
space for example better crystalline materials that will lead to even better
materials that will lead to even better
materials that will lead to even better computers than we have today perhaps
computers than we have today perhaps
computers than we have today perhaps better pure pharmaceuticals grandpa
better pure pharmaceuticals grandpa
better pure pharmaceuticals grandpa would be proud
”
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