Who should be paying for space exploration - private industry or government?
A more interesting question is who should be paying for all this exploration. I believe that the government of the people should be investing strategically on behalf of its people. And there are certain investments, such as reaching the moon for the first time, that only the power of a government can practically undertake. However, I think that it is also fair to question how much of this huge investment the taxpayer should underwrite. Of course, I have vested interests in saying this, but it’s my contention that once the strategic investment has been made, government should turn over the reigns to the private sector and let this new industry rise or fail on its own merits.
This approach has already worked in the satellite-launch business. There are many companies that compete to put up the throng of satellites that we now use around the globe. The technologies behind the system, however, were first nurtured through government spending on defense. I believe the same thing can—and should—happen in every other aspect of space travel, other than a few “firsts” that require risky strategic investment. I also think government should always look to offload expenses to private partnerships as often as possible, which not only reduces costs, but helps grow the companies that will eventually take over from the government.
In this respect, I am a big fan of the pragmatic Russian science programs. We know they’ve started putting people up in space, but they’re also undertaking (and underwriting) important scientific expeditions with paying passengers aboard their Akademik Keldysh and MIR submersibles. Not only do passenger “fares” help offset the expense, but those passengers (like me, who’s now taken
four trips aboard the Keldysh) have grown into evangelists from having had such a unique perspective of the scientific process.
Isn't it better (ie., cheaper and safer) to send robots into space?
This is a common criticism when it comes to space exploration: Why should we be sending humans into space when robotic missions can usually be done far more cheaply and without the same risk of life? I still find the right response perplexing. On a purely theoretical level, it’s clearly in all our best interests to send robots out to scour the cosmos for information about our origins and the great mysteries of the universe. But I also believe that human-led missions are just as important. Far-fetched, perhaps, but imagine if Christopher Columbus’ 15th-century voyages had been superceded by unmanned vessels that would scrape soil samples, take a few pictures, and return to an amazed European populace with confirmation that land was out there?
April from Othello, WA asks: Hello Richard!! In the past 12 yrs, my sister has had cancer twice & beat it (thank goodness for out-of-the-box thinking!). She is now 32...with a husband & son. Do you foresee future space missions, helping fight this terrible disease? -April H. PS-My grandparents are the late Jim & Lavern Garriott!
April,
Wow another Garriott relation, there are few of us! Sorry to hear about the struggle of your sister. In fact, I am doing some “protein crystallography” which may have eventual impact on diseases including cancer. Basically, every biological function uses unique proteins. Often if you can shut off a proteins function, you can stop the problem it is causing. I am trying to show that we can grow protein crystals in space that help determine the exact structure of the molecule, that then helps create chemicals to act on that protein. If this works it could lead to a variety of improved therapies! Wish me luck!
- Richard
Bill Steele from Irving, Texas asks: Hello Richard. My son told me about you. He works at REI in Austin. His name is Brian. I'm the program chairman for the Texas Chapter of The Explorers Club (see http://www.explorers.org/) and would like to invite you to be our speaker sometime in early 2009 when you return from space. We'll have the dinner somewhere in Austin. Are you familiar with my good friend Bill Stone, who lives outside of Austin? You guys should get to know each other. Stone gave a remarkable program at the TED last March. You can see if by Googling Bill Stone - TED. Its 17 minutes long. The end of it is about a company he's forming to mine water and rocket fuel off the surface of the moon and sell it in lunar orbit.
Bill,
I am overdue to get involved with the EC in Texas. I make the EC dinner in NY every year. I would love to talk post flight with the Texas Chapter. I do not know Bill Stone, but I will look him up now! See you in 2009!
- Richard
Mitch from douglasville GA asks: Wonder if we are related. My dad was Leonard M Garriott, born in Salem IN
I know there are Garriotts spread out farther than I would know and with the advances in internet, I found more and more Garriotts. I have not heard of Leonard Garriott but since there are so few I think that it seems very likely we probably are related.
Louie from Northfield, IL asks: Fan since Alkabeth, met you at CES 1985!
Q: Regarding the educational aspect of your mission, is it possible to provide grade schools with materials regarding your mission objectives? As both of us know the time to get children excited about science is when they are young. May I suggest that whomever ends up being your educational sponser, targeting young children with the excitement of space travel should be the focus.
"Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do."
Robert Heinlein
Good Luck!
The best place to do that is to get into contact with the Challenger Center which is my main educational point of contact in the United States or if you happen to be in England, the British National Space Center and through those organizations, we are developing activity for grade school students so they can follow along in my blogs, participate in interactive questions, Q&A sessions I’m doing online and hopefully participate in other ways as well.
Steve Taylor from Alameda, CA asks: Hey my friend, if this gets to you at all these days... Anyway Richard, it is Steve from Cabin 13 .. the game master. Remember when we were playing D&D and such at camp? :) Anyway I went hardware and am a Network Architect, Security engineer and system admin now. Currently I am the Operations Manager at Vimo.com, just came off a year gig working with redseal.com to make a great new security product, which has a lot of my work in it's security modeling engine (Cisco is using it for their consultants)... Anyway if you actually get this email, after all these years... I am so glad for your success, and thanks to you I went on to a career in the field. I never made it into gaming, mostly because the gaming that would need me (mmolrpg) have not really come from around my area. Hope you get this and give me a shout! steve.taylor@taylornetworking.com. Don't ever forget the worm will win you dance competitions every time... ;)
Steve,
Wow, that was a while back, but great formative years to be sure! I am glad to hear you are doing well, and that you have found my blog. Good luck in the net ops world!
- Richard
Dmytro from Ukraine asks: What do you think about russian "Mars-500" project?
To be honest I’m not familiar with the Russian Mars-500 project, but now that you’ve posted the question I will go and look it up!
David from Plymouth, MA asks: Richard, I study your house like a madman. When people talk about it, I'm reading about it. It has to be one of the coolest modern houses in the United States. When it comes to MMOGs, I'm an explorer. It's something I've always wanted to do in real life, but would never be able to finance. It is definitely a long-term goal of mine. I even had the thought of trying to role-play my way onto your property at night, but figured I'd might get more results if I just asked. What would it take to be able to tour Britannia Manor, both as a fan of the house and of you and your games?
I do periodically open my home for public tours, I haven’t done it in a couple of years but I use to do a haunted house and I periodically do fundraisers for politics or causes that I support and anyone who contributes to the fundraiser is welcome to come. I sometimes bring press through; there are a few video tours that are available, one made by PBS Television that can be tracked down. To actually come through yourself would probably require participating in one of the many function or events I throw there. The trick for that is to find out when and how they occur because they’re sporadic and I don’t have a formal way to informing people so good luck and hope to see you there!
Dennis from California asks: I remember driving on Owen K. Garriott Blvd. in Enid, Oklahoma. Was your Dad from there?
Yes, both my parents, my father, Owen, and my mother, Helen, grew up in Enid, Oklahoma and after my dad’s spaceflights, they named the main street Owen K. Garriott Blvd. In addition to that, my parents have built in that town something called Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse, a children’s hands on arts and science center. You may know my father is heavily involved in science and my mother is heavily involved in art, being a professional artist and Leonardo was a central figure on my father’s and my mission patch so the figure of Leonardo, art and science figure heavily in our family history.
William from Tucson, AZ asks: Did you want to be a NASA astronaut?
Well, I grew up believing everyone went to space. My father was and astronaut, and all my neighbors were astronauts or engineers heavily involved, so it was a big shock from me when I moved out of that neighborhood across from NASA. I realized the characters I saw on Sesame Street, the butcher, the baker, the policemen, were the real people and astronauts and engineers were less common, so it was quiet a culture shock when I left. I did originally want to be an NASA astronaut, but, at quiet a young age I was told I would not be able to due to my bad eyesight so I devoted myself to the privatization of space in order to open the doors for people who might not meet that selection criteria, but still wanted to participate in this great journey of space travel.
Lorri from Singapore asks: Actually Richard this isn't a question, just a hello! You and I were friends in Jr. High and High School at Webster Intermediate and Clear Creek (I think, but logically I keep thinking you should have gone to Lake, maybe it was just at Webster??)! We hung out together occasionally (my name was Lorri Johnston back then) and I just wanted to say how happy I was to read of all your successes! My husband and son who are gaming nuts think it is so cool that I once knew Richard Garriott! Good luck with Space Adventures. I will be checking out your website to see how things are going!
Hello right back to you! Yes, it’s been great, this activity that obviously involves space and obviously involves many from our old town that we all grew up in. It’s been a great opportunity to reconnect with many of the friends and folks that I grew up around and it’s great talking to you to and I hope you’ve enjoyed following along in the blogs and I hope I get a chance to talk to you personally soon.
Chaz from Atlanta, GA asks: I noticed in your Bio that you said that you explored caves. I just wanted to know what ones you have been in and if you have done any expedition caving?
I’ve been in a number of commercial caves but I find it far more interesting to undertake expedition into caves. All the caving I’ve done have been day trips into non-commercial caves or non-commercial sections in commercial caves. I haven’t done multi-day expedition into caves though I would find that opportunity to be fantastic, I’ve just haven’t met groups yet that are in involved in that activity. Now that you’ve mentioned it, I’m adding that onto my short list of things to do in the future!
Yale from Washington, DC asks: Before you go up in space with Russians, be sure to read my book, "From Nyet to Da: Understanding the Russians," which will be published in a 4th edition early next year. It has also been published in Chinese and Korean, and copies were purchased by NASA for previous space flights with the Russians.
Yale,
I believe I have seen your book and now I will keep an eye out for it for sure! Thanks for the advice!
- Richard
Rick from Running Springs, CA asks: Wow, what a commentary on governments role in space exploration. As an applicant to the first teacher in space opportunity, I am now wondering the same thing...when, if ever can I participate in the freefall condition experienced by all astronauts. Being not financially able, what other route is open to one like I? Science Educator and lifelong learner? Thanks.
Rick,
Orbit will be expensive as long as we are using chemical fuel rockets that take their fuel and heat shield up with them. For you to get to orbit cheaply will require a major advancement in areas like space elevators or laser push style launchers. A more contemporary example is to take a zero-g flight. www.gozerog.com has flights available most every week! For a couple thousand dollars, you will experience the exact same weightlessness I will in space but for 30 seconds at a time. I highly recommend it!
Dean from Melbourne, Australia asks: Hi Richard, Any chance you can take some candid photos with a digital camera while you're up there? It will make it that little more "real" to us wannabes down here ;) My goal is to get up there too... I've got the dotcom startup happening, just need the success ;)
First, good luck with your dotcom effort! Second, yes, I'm taking lots of photos! However, what cameras will be used and how the pictures will be disseminated is still being worked out. I may have my own photo equipment and bring photos back myself and/or I may be able to use some equipment on board and download them while I'm on the mission. Those details are still in the air. Rest assured, there will be many photos!!!
Maciej from Poland asks: Good luck during preparation and your future mission to ISS. Happy landing after it. I am interested in the manned space flight history for almost 25 years. Can you send me your sokol portrait with signature for me and my son which is 10 in December, please. He is very ill and waiting for a kidney transplant...I would like to give him a present from you! Here is my son address: KACPER STOLOWSKI UL. KRASICKIEGO 4 62-600 KOLO POLAND => EUROPE !
Yes, I would be very happy to send you and your son a Sokol photo. I know kidney issues can be very serious and I wish your son all the best, and a very speedy recovery.
Terra from CA asks: I admire your will to go to space, I have always had a passion for space as well. How did you find the company you're going to space with and how much research was involved to find what was going to fulfill your dreams of going to space?
I have been pursuing the privatization of space, specifically so I could go, since I was quite young.
Early on, I realized that my father was extremely lucky to have been selected as an astronaut – even after he was extremely well prepared for the job. So I knew if I was going to go, it would not be as an astronaut selected by the government space program, it would be because private industry had succeeded in opening space to individuals.
Since my earliest financial successes in the game industry I have been investing in companies like Space Adventures (and several others) who were on the path to opening space to private citizens. Although I bought my ticket via Space Adventures, I am also one of its earliest investors.
Jason from San Antonio, Texas asks: Did you ever think that you were going to be able to do something amazing like this? How does your father feel about what you're doing? p.s. Good luck and I wish you a safe journey when the time comes.
Off and on, as I grew up and during my adulthood, my belief that this would work out has gone up and down about every five years. When I first began to invest in the privatization of space, I figured it would be cheap and easy! I quickly learned it would be expensive and likely unfeasible. But my belief that it might become feasible has waxed and waned every few years. So I'm thrilled that now it appears that my lifelong dream could be coming true.
Josh from Pennsylvania asks: First off I'm a big fan of your work as the first games I played as a child where the Ultima series followed by Ultima Online...but as for my question...are you planning on doing any live video feeds from space and if so will that be here at richardinspace.com?
Yes, I will have the ability, and do plan to do, video feeds from space. They should be announced on this website. I don't know where exactly the feed will be actually broadcast yet. Stay tuned to the website, or sign up for the eBlast and we'll let you know. As we get closer all those details will fall into place.
Cliff from NJ asks: Congratulations. I think this can be a terrific motivator, especialIy to the new video game generation which my son is now a part of. I met your father during one of my trips to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. I was curious if you grew up in the area and were exposed to the Space Camp environment as well. Good Luck.
I grew up near the Johnson Space Center near Houston. This was before any Space Camps existed (I'm dating myself!). I've been to the one in Huntsville a number of times - my girlfriend and I sent her daughter there a few years ago, so I am familiar with the camp and its curriculum. I am a big fan of both the facility and the inspiration it provides kids who have gotten the chance to go through its program.
I come to Huntsville periodically and my father's company, ExtremoZyme, is based in Huntsville and will be performing some of the commercial and scientific activities with me in space.
Dave from Universal City, TX asks: I think it is great that you are going out on this adventure. Your Ultima games gave me years of enjoyment and I look forward to hear about your space voyage. Safe Trip and GOD Bless!
Thanks! I too am thrilled with this opportunity. I hope to make this trip much more than a rich kids vacation, and prove that private individuals can provide value not only in research and education, but also in direct commercial benefit commensurate with the investment which is required to go to space in the first place. I hope to post more detail about this on this website.
Shawn from Las Vegas, NV asks: Hey Richard, I know you don't remember but back in 04 I wrote you letter asking for advice on getting into the game industry and you were nice enough to reply. Since then I've gotten into to helping out the family business. I just wanted to say you are a hero of mine and keep reaching for the stars!
Thanks for letting me know it has worked out well for you, and the kind words of returned support! - Richard
Anthony from Los Angeles, CA asks: Do you intend at some point in your life to finish your college education?
Funny you should ask… some reading this blog may not know the story of my educational background. As you apparently know, I became one of the first computer game developers starting back in high school in the 1970’s. When I began attending college and my income was growing rapidly, my grade point average was dropping. I had a tough decision to make. Thus I dropped out mid junior year to build my first game company Origin with my brother Robert as a partner. For years I thought I would go back to school get a degree and eventually “a real job” when the windfall of the computer games industry ran its course. But that never happened! Now, in the field of my core business there is little school has to offer me as my work is still “industry leading”. A degree for me now, if ever, would be in a new field of personal interest, perhaps say astronomy. But so far I have not found time to pursue such an option.
Philip from Zambia asks: Hello Richard; I must congratulate you on achieving one of your dreams. Space is one of mine, its my dream that i will do anything to accomplish, well almost anything. I hope one day i can achieve that dream. Anyway what have you planned for your trip, must be so much to do and so little time :) I just so envy you Good luck
Thanks for the kind words of support! While games have been my “vocation” civilian space travel has been something I have supported for many years. I hope that with advancements encouraged by the continuing mission of the X-Prize, and the growing business in both orbital and suborbital, we can make access to space something all of us can realize at more and more affordable prices, for everything from business to private travel. Surely this will come true, in time, I just hope to help make it a little sooner!
Michael from Austin, TX asks: With all these interesting adventures you've had, when will you do a reality show like Richard Branson did? Maybe with some game industry related stuff as well?
I have been a big admirer of how well Branson has leveraged his unusual businesses and hobbies in ways that built interesting businesses and interesting exploration activities. If what you suggest would be possible, I would be excited to be a part of it!
Rosie from Italy asks: I watched the video on your house and was most interested by your observatory. Orbetello has an observatory as well...why did you have an observatory constructed in your own home instead of using the state observatory which tracks meteorites etc. Do you track meteorites from your own home? Do you believe a meteorite is on its way to destroy the Earth and no one wants to tell us? What is the nearest metorite at this time on a collision course with Earth and when..??? Thank you for your response..maybe you will give me an honest response that no other agency would publicize for creating fear in the population.
The observatory on my home is a part of the many scientific and engineering “toys” I have around my home as inspiration for my work. I only use it a few times per year.
I have friends and know of many groups doing whole sky surveys in search of asteroids that might be on a collision course with the earth. I am confident none have been found to date, as many amateurs have equipment capable of seeing such items, and amateurs are often the first to find and report comets and asteroids. So I think we are now safe for the very short term.
However your point is a very serious one. There is no question that in time, the earth will be struck by an asteroid or comet that could destroy most all life on the planet. But it could happen anytime between the next year or many millions of years from now, and we do not yet have the technology to predict it, nor stop it. The great physicist Stephen Hawking has expressed his belief that mankind must become space faring just to insure the survival of our species, when someday the earth faces a cataclysmic challenge like that.
David from Califonia asks: Richard, would you be interested in funding a private company to put a rover on the moon to win the Google X Prize?
I am a board member of the X-Prize, so I am very interested in seeing that prize won but, unfortunately the money I have to invest in space travel is going into my own space travel so I won’t be able to back a team.
Celeste from Vero Beach, Florida asks: Richard, first and foremost, congratulations for grasping life by the horns! May all your adventures be safe.
How do you think your space mission will rank among your other adventures? Yes, I know it is like comparing apples and oranges, but... Where do you think the thrill level will rank?
Well, clearly the space expedition will be very high and dominant on the list; even though I haven’t even taken the flight yet, it’s already number one!
Martin from Missoula, Montana asks: There was a full-size Sputnik 1 on display at the National Science Teachers Association's National Convention in Boston a few days ago. Did that Sputnik happen to be yours? If not, do you know whose it was?
That one did not happen to be mine. I actually have two at this point and they vary form each other a little bit. One seems more like a display unit and the other one seems more like a authentic prototype or model. I have not heard of one in the STA Convention and I don’t know who it belonged to but there are strikingly few of those in existence especially in the West so I am curious myself to who it belonged to.
Dan from Glendale, Arizona USA asks: As an avid player of the Ultima Series, as well as Ultima Online, I find that I am wondering if you will carry an Ankh (and maybe the Silver Serpent) into space? At the very least, I hope that you will take an Ankh, the symbol of Life into space with you. What a great symbol to carry as we move out into the Solar System and Beyond!!! I applaud your decision to go into space - Lord British will be proud!!!
Absolutely yes! The silver serpent is a permanent addition to my neck in a sense that when I made it as a youngster, I attached it in a way that didn’t include a clasp so it’s not very easy to remove. I’ve only had it off a handful of times including to send up in space with my father on a space shuttle. Otherwise it’s been with me ever since and I will be taking it up to space for its second trip while I’ll be going for my first.
Janet from Clear Lake asks: What words of wisdom would you pass along to the youth of today that would inspire them to become future space explorers?
I think the best advice I might pass along to youth is that education and learning is truly a life long process. Devoting yourself to understanding the universe that we live in empowers you in astounding ways and opens the way to fundamental personal happiness that most people radically under-estimate. I in fact am not particularly highly educated from a classical sense; I was very active as a self-studying participant. I would compete in science fairs year after year. I devoted myself to independent studies and projects which I always did in high levels of quality; this however, did not necessarily manifest in good grades and I ultimately left college half way through to pursue my career in video games. So, my recommendation is to appreciate, explore, and understand the reality in which we live in and to do that will lead to much more opportunities in life and much greater happiness in and life.
Jeff from Houston, Texas asks: I'm a screenwriter. I'd like to write a screenplay about your life and particularly your upcoming space fight. I'm confident it is not only a very marketable concept but one that would potentially immortalize your career. Please advise AND GOOD LUCK!!!
I am touched that you think I would be an interest to other people and I’ve had a pretty exciting time living through my interesting times especially this upcoming spaceflight so I would love to talk about that sometime.
Fabiano from Lisbon-Portugal asks: Do you have plans or think will be possible to come on Amateur Radio to make random contact with us? Did you know so many amateur radios are watching your training and preparation and to us it would be a pleasure to exchange a few words with you in space, like we had with Charles Simonyi.
I will be making open QSO’s on many occasions. I hope we get to chat!
Justinasks: I know you are a magic fan. I have a new book that I thought you would enjoy. Do you have a place I could send it to?
Send it to Space Adventures, they can forward it to me! Thanks!
Eric Klien from United States asks: We were wondering if you would like to join the Lifeboat Foundation Scientific Advisory Board as shown at http://lifeboat.com/ex/board
I will check it out post flight!
Jeremi from VA asks: Hello, I just saw the show you were on about your home. It is amazing!! I would like to live there if you happen to get 'lost in space' hehe, just kidding! I'm an artist that makes horror dolls, and I was curious if you may have collected one thats displayed in your dungeon room? I know this isn't the most appropriate place to ask but it was the only way I could find to contact you. Wish you the best on your mission.
Yes, the one in the dungeon I bought on Ebay and is part of my dungeon collection. Drop me a note to Space Adventures and they can forward to me post flight.
September from Janesville, Wisconsin asks: Ever visit the beautiful Hindu temple in Houston, TX? Also, have you considered the meeting point between Grand Strategy games and Role-Playing games?
I have not. We also have one in Austin that is beautiful. I do think that strategy and RPG games can and should overlap more.
MR from California asks: Life is so precious and this is earth is so beautiful and many people do not appreciate the miracle of nature here. Just think, nature keeps giving and giving to us so we can survive. Has being in Space and seeing our planet kindled any thoughts on that for you?
I was skeptical that it would, but it absolutely did! I plan to write extensively on this subject soon.
