Just watching, even from afar, innovative entrepreneurs take on daring challenges is incredibly inspiring. I find it makes me think bigger and more confidently, and gets my imagination going on how I could disrupt my industry through bold, innovative ideas…
Watching Space X, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin redefine space travel will probably make your entrepreneurial ambitions seem very doable too.
The Commercial Space Race: Musk, Branson, Bezos
We are in the midst of the greatest space race the world has ever seen. For the first time in the history of mankind, commercial space flights are being aggressively pursued. What this means is that innovators are attempting to create rocket ships that can take customers/travelers to space and safely bring them back to earth. And best of all, the commercial space race is being led by the private sector - more specifically, three of the world’s brightest risk-taking entrepreneurs: Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and as of 8 months ago, Amazon’s founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.
With these three passionate entrepreneurs leading the charge, you just know good things are going to happen. And on Monday, Bezos’ space company Blue Origin put a feather in its cap/space helmet.
Yesterday Bezos officially announced that his company’s rocket made a successful suborbital test flight, ascending approximately 100 kilometers above the earth’s surface and safely coming back down to land in Texas, nearby where it took off from. It was amazing. Bezos described it as “one of the greatest moments in his life.”
The rarest of beasts - a used rocket. Controlled landing not easy, but done right, can look easy. Check out video: https://t.co/9OypFoxZk3
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) November 24, 2015
Following the announcement, Space X’s CEO Elon Musk congratulated Bezos in joining the ranks. Space X was the first of the three companies to land a suborbital flight.
Congrats to Jeff Bezos and the BO team for achieving VTOL on their booster — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2015
Shortly after, Musk revealed his competitive nature and tweeted:
Jeff maybe unaware SpaceX suborbital VTOL flight began 2013. Orbital water landing 2014. Orbital land landing next. https://t.co/S6WMRnEFY5
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2015
Next stop for these tough competitors, Orbit - and then a safe landing back on earth…
With this latest space race we are witnessing capitalism at its finest. Bezos, Musk and Branson are defying conventional wisdom in order to bring us, mere mortals, an opportunity in the future to fly into space. Seeing these three battle it out in healthy competition is inspiring. Frankly, I hope they all can do it, and the sooner the better. There natural desire to compete will be a huge win for consumers. And with these guys at the helm, commercial space travel may be commonplace in my lifetime.
Stay hungry,
Aaron
