my love for space started when I was about five on the coffee table at my
about five on the coffee table at my
about five on the coffee table at my cousin’s house there was a National
cousin’s house there was a National
cousin’s house there was a National Geographic book called our universe it’s
Geographic book called our universe it’s
Geographic book called our universe it’s filled with amazing imagination
filled with amazing imagination
filled with amazing imagination inspiring art starting with this picture
inspiring art starting with this picture
inspiring art starting with this picture on the cover of this beautiful
on the cover of this beautiful
on the cover of this beautiful interstellar cruise ship there’s also
interstellar cruise ship there’s also
interstellar cruise ship there’s also depictions of the Roman gods that each
depictions of the Roman gods that each
depictions of the Roman gods that each of the planets are named after this is
of the planets are named after this is
of the planets are named after this is Luna was always my favorite they also
Luna was always my favorite they also
Luna was always my favorite they also had these fantastical creatures that
had these fantastical creatures that
had these fantastical creatures that they imagined living in our solar system
they imagined living in our solar system
they imagined living in our solar system these are creatures they imagine
these are creatures they imagine
these are creatures they imagine floating in the atmosphere of the gas
floating in the atmosphere of the gas
floating in the atmosphere of the gas giant Jupiter and these are hyper
giant Jupiter and these are hyper
giant Jupiter and these are hyper intelligent blue crystals they imagine
intelligent blue crystals they imagine
intelligent blue crystals they imagine living on Pluto
living on Pluto
living on Pluto there was also pictures of what cities
there was also pictures of what cities
there was also pictures of what cities in space would look like giant rings
in space would look like giant rings
in space would look like giant rings filled with lush green biospheres
filled with lush green biospheres
filled with lush green biospheres between this book and wanting to be
between this book and wanting to be
between this book and wanting to be Princess Leia from Star Wars I was
Princess Leia from Star Wars I was
Princess Leia from Star Wars I was hooked on space I knew I belonged in
hooked on space I knew I belonged in
hooked on space I knew I belonged in that future I wanted to be a part of
that future I wanted to be a part of
that future I wanted to be a part of opening up space for Humanity
opening up space for Humanity
opening up space for Humanity now that Wonder and awe I never grew out
now that Wonder and awe I never grew out
now that Wonder and awe I never grew out of it when I graduated from college as
of it when I graduated from college as
of it when I graduated from college as an astrobiologist I moved to Houston
an astrobiologist I moved to Houston
an astrobiologist I moved to Houston Texas to work in the astronaut office at
Texas to work in the astronaut office at
Texas to work in the astronaut office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center I was
NASA’s Johnson Space Center I was
NASA’s Johnson Space Center I was starry-eyed and on a mission I wanted to
starry-eyed and on a mission I wanted to
starry-eyed and on a mission I wanted to find out firsthand from the NASA
find out firsthand from the NASA
find out firsthand from the NASA astronauts if flying in space could be
astronauts if flying in space could be
astronauts if flying in space could be as impactful and life-altering as I
as impactful and life-altering as I
as impactful and life-altering as I believed he’s in college I wrote a Frank
believed he’s in college I wrote a Frank
believed he’s in college I wrote a Frank White’s book the overview effect and
White’s book the overview effect and
White’s book the overview effect and everything in me wanted to believe that
everything in me wanted to believe that
everything in me wanted to believe that what it said was true that flying in
what it said was true that flying in
what it said was true that flying in space has a profound impact on people
space has a profound impact on people
space has a profound impact on people and it leaves them
and it leaves them
and it leaves them with a sense of oneness with their home
with a sense of oneness with their home
with a sense of oneness with their home planet and everyone on it
one hot Houston afternoon I was working
one hot Houston afternoon I was working on astronaut evaluation of some space
on astronaut evaluation of some space
on astronaut evaluation of some space station and medical hardware one of the
station and medical hardware one of the
station and medical hardware one of the astronauts who is supporting the
astronauts who is supporting the
astronauts who is supporting the evaluation was dr. Charles Brady Brady
evaluation was dr. Charles Brady Brady
evaluation was dr. Charles Brady Brady had just gotten back to Houston from his
had just gotten back to Houston from his
had just gotten back to Houston from his first space shuttle mission he had
first space shuttle mission he had
first space shuttle mission he had landed just a few weeks ago I felt like
landed just a few weeks ago I felt like
landed just a few weeks ago I felt like he still had magic space dust on him
he still had magic space dust on him
he still had magic space dust on him after the evaluation he told me how hard
after the evaluation he told me how hard
after the evaluation he told me how hard it was to just go back to business as
it was to just go back to business as
it was to just go back to business as usual
he said they want me to go back to my
he said they want me to go back to my desk job but all I want to do is shout
desk job but all I want to do is shout
desk job but all I want to do is shout from the mountaintops I just got back
from the mountaintops I just got back
from the mountaintops I just got back from space we became friends he needed
from space we became friends he needed
from space we became friends he needed someone to talk to about everything he
someone to talk to about everything he
someone to talk to about everything he had just seen and felt and experienced
had just seen and felt and experienced
had just seen and felt and experienced and I was willing to listen to as much
and I was willing to listen to as much
and I was willing to listen to as much as he could tell me he shared a story
as he could tell me he shared a story
as he could tell me he shared a story about how he worked for months to try to
about how he worked for months to try to
about how he worked for months to try to think about which 10 music CDs he was
think about which 10 music CDs he was
think about which 10 music CDs he was going to bring with him on a spaceflight
going to bring with him on a spaceflight
going to bring with him on a spaceflight this was the nineties finally got it all
this was the nineties finally got it all
this was the nineties finally got it all worked out the perfect spectrum of
worked out the perfect spectrum of
worked out the perfect spectrum of musical options in the end though during
musical options in the end though during
musical options in the end though during his 16 days in space
his 16 days in space
his 16 days in space he said that the only city that was a
he said that the only city that was a
he said that the only city that was a match for the majesty and the grandeur
match for the majesty and the grandeur
match for the majesty and the grandeur of what he was experiencing was Handel’s
of what he was experiencing was Handel’s
of what he was experiencing was Handel’s Messiah
during his time off floating in front of
during his time off floating in front of the space shuttle windows he would look
the space shuttle windows he would look
the space shuttle windows he would look down with the earth and listen to that
down with the earth and listen to that
down with the earth and listen to that one CD over and over again
one CD over and over again
one CD over and over again Brady loved looking at the Earth from
Brady loved looking at the Earth from
Brady loved looking at the Earth from space he had worked hard for years to
space he had worked hard for years to
space he had worked hard for years to fight for Earth to protect its wild
fight for Earth to protect its wild
fight for Earth to protect its wild rivers to share its beauty with others
rivers to share its beauty with others
rivers to share its beauty with others looking down on our homeworld from space
looking down on our homeworld from space
looking down on our homeworld from space touched
touched
touched deeply and reignited his passion to
deeply and reignited his passion to
deeply and reignited his passion to protect our home world Brady also taught
protect our home world Brady also taught
protect our home world Brady also taught me a valuable lesson one day at work one
me a valuable lesson one day at work one
me a valuable lesson one day at work one of the guys made up off-color comment
of the guys made up off-color comment
of the guys made up off-color comment about environmentalists that threw me
about environmentalists that threw me
about environmentalists that threw me into a rage I was beside myself how
into a rage I was beside myself how
into a rage I was beside myself how could this guy be a part of our space
could this guy be a part of our space
could this guy be a part of our space program
program
program Brady calmly told me that this guy was
Brady calmly told me that this guy was
Brady calmly told me that this guy was one of the best in the country at what
one of the best in the country at what
one of the best in the country at what he does and that NASA and we were lucky
he does and that NASA and we were lucky
he does and that NASA and we were lucky to have him
Brady taught me to breathe to not be so
Brady taught me to breathe to not be so quick to judge and to appreciate that it
quick to judge and to appreciate that it
quick to judge and to appreciate that it takes many different kinds of people to
takes many different kinds of people to
takes many different kinds of people to get to space we can all use the
get to space we can all use the
get to space we can all use the perspective that space gives us to grow
perspective that space gives us to grow
perspective that space gives us to grow we have a huge opportunity right now to
we have a huge opportunity right now to
we have a huge opportunity right now to use the power of space to make us better
use the power of space to make us better
use the power of space to make us better people
people
people and a better species if we’re the same
and a better species if we’re the same
and a better species if we’re the same jerks on Mars that we are here we will
jerks on Mars that we are here we will
jerks on Mars that we are here we will have failed we started a training
have failed we started a training
have failed we started a training program for space engineers
program for space engineers
program for space engineers technologists technicians and staff at
technologists technicians and staff at
technologists technicians and staff at Virgin Galactic the goal is to help us
Virgin Galactic the goal is to help us
Virgin Galactic the goal is to help us be compassionate empowered and authentic
be compassionate empowered and authentic
be compassionate empowered and authentic we practice taking better care of
we practice taking better care of
we practice taking better care of ourselves and each other we work to
ourselves and each other we work to
ourselves and each other we work to loosen the grip of anger fear and
loosen the grip of anger fear and
loosen the grip of anger fear and aggression we call it the new right
aggression we call it the new right
aggression we call it the new right stuff
one of the first assignments is to
one of the first assignments is to explore what your mission is what did
explore what your mission is what did
explore what your mission is what did you come to earth to do you also commit
you come to earth to do you also commit
you come to earth to do you also commit to doing one new thing that you’re gonna
to doing one new thing that you’re gonna
to doing one new thing that you’re gonna do every day
do every day
do every day it’s designed to interrupt your
it’s designed to interrupt your
it’s designed to interrupt your autopilot and have you in action
autopilot and have you in action
autopilot and have you in action creating the life that you want you also
creating the life that you want you also
creating the life that you want you also get a buddy to help help you hold you
get a buddy to help help you hold you
get a buddy to help help you hold you accountable in class we do things like
accountable in class we do things like
accountable in class we do things like role play an engineer telling his boss
role play an engineer telling his boss
role play an engineer telling his boss and he missed a deadline the
and he missed a deadline the
and he missed a deadline the participants take turns being the
participants take turns being the
participants take turns being the nervous engineer and the raging boss the
nervous engineer and the raging boss the
nervous engineer and the raging boss the participants get to experience what it’s
participants get to experience what it’s
participants get to experience what it’s like to be belittled and yelled at in
like to be belittled and yelled at in
like to be belittled and yelled at in their body and then we stop we do the
their body and then we stop we do the
their body and then we stop we do the roleplay again this time the boss is
roleplay again this time the boss is
roleplay again this time the boss is calm he sits down next to the engineer
calm he sits down next to the engineer
calm he sits down next to the engineer and he says what ideas do you have to
and he says what ideas do you have to
and he says what ideas do you have to get us back on track to engineers to
get us back on track to engineers to
get us back on track to engineers to feel that the participants feel the
feel that the participants feel the
feel that the participants feel the difference in their body and their
difference in their body and their
difference in their body and their confidence their motivation and their
confidence their motivation and their
confidence their motivation and their loyalty halfway through the training we
loyalty halfway through the training we
loyalty halfway through the training we do in a high ropes course it’s a
do in a high ropes course it’s a
do in a high ropes course it’s a fantastic opportunity to practice power
fantastic opportunity to practice power
fantastic opportunity to practice power compassion and authenticity in a
compassion and authenticity in a
compassion and authenticity in a high-pressure situation 40 feet off the
high-pressure situation 40 feet off the
high-pressure situation 40 feet off the ground when you’re standing at the top
ground when you’re standing at the top
ground when you’re standing at the top of the telephone pole about to jump for
of the telephone pole about to jump for
of the telephone pole about to jump for the trapeze will you trust yourself can
the trapeze will you trust yourself can
the trapeze will you trust yourself can you let go of your drive to get to the
you let go of your drive to get to the
you let go of your drive to get to the top first to help your teammate on the
top first to help your teammate on the
top first to help your teammate on the wall how authentic are you willing to be
wall how authentic are you willing to be
wall how authentic are you willing to be with the group about your fears and what
with the group about your fears and what
with the group about your fears and what support you need
the course of the training participants
the course of the training participants shift who their being at work and at
shift who their being at work and at
shift who their being at work and at home they listen more they take
home they listen more they take
home they listen more they take responsibility more I’ve seen
responsibility more I’ve seen
responsibility more I’ve seen participants patch up relationships with
participants patch up relationships with
participants patch up relationships with colleagues they couldn’t work with and
colleagues they couldn’t work with and
colleagues they couldn’t work with and parents they haven’t spoken to in years
parents they haven’t spoken to in years
parents they haven’t spoken to in years one trainee came in the beginning of the
one trainee came in the beginning of the
one trainee came in the beginning of the course and said a relationship with a
course and said a relationship with a
course and said a relationship with a colleague had just dropped to zero
colleague had just dropped to zero
colleague had just dropped to zero percent a relationship he called
percent a relationship he called
percent a relationship he called irreparable by the end of the training
irreparable by the end of the training
irreparable by the end of the training you reported that that relationship had
you reported that that relationship had
you reported that that relationship had improved 80% these shifts have a huge
improved 80% these shifts have a huge
improved 80% these shifts have a huge impact on this quality of life of the
impact on this quality of life of the
impact on this quality of life of the staff it also greatly improves the
staff it also greatly improves the
staff it also greatly improves the quality of the projects that they’re
quality of the projects that they’re
quality of the projects that they’re working on and it opens up the
working on and it opens up the
working on and it opens up the possibility of a new future for Humanity
possibility of a new future for Humanity
possibility of a new future for Humanity one where we all hold ourselves to a
one where we all hold ourselves to a
one where we all hold ourselves to a higher bar that’s where it gets
higher bar that’s where it gets
higher bar that’s where it gets interesting the next 50 years we have
interesting the next 50 years we have
interesting the next 50 years we have the opportunity to set the tone for what
the opportunity to set the tone for what
the opportunity to set the tone for what we want the future of our civilization
we want the future of our civilization
we want the future of our civilization to be who we’re being and what we learn
to be who we’re being and what we learn
to be who we’re being and what we learn in that time will alter the trajectory
in that time will alter the trajectory
in that time will alter the trajectory of humankind I invite you to create a
of humankind I invite you to create a
of humankind I invite you to create a community around you to help you be who
community around you to help you be who
community around you to help you be who you’ve always wanted to be and to
you’ve always wanted to be and to
you’ve always wanted to be and to fulfill what you came to earth to do
fulfill what you came to earth to do
fulfill what you came to earth to do together we could transform life on this
together we could transform life on this
together we could transform life on this planet and wherever we choose to go
planet and wherever we choose to go
planet and wherever we choose to go thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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