Rick Tumlinson is introducing Bob Bigelow, admiring someone who “antes up.” He’s worked all his life to build what he’s got, and now he’s doing something bigger and grander and more important to create a great future for our kids. He’s translating his business and real estate knowledge into the development of space which is (in the Foundation’s words) just a place.
Definitely wants to go to space. His wife says that she would like to send him to the moon (bang, zoom…). No rimshot.
Thanking the Russians for how they accommodated them, and the extra effort they went to. Also thanking his company’s staff. A small organization that makes up for it with incredible enthusiasm and skills. Still looking for more people in engineering, legal, accounting. Two plants, one in North Vegas, one in Houston. Also a Washington office, which is a crucial part of the activities. Technological challenges are huge, but not on the top of the list of what can hurt you. Politics is much tougher, which is what the Washington office struggles with every day.
Burt Rutan and Elon Musk are successful because they’re not just good technically, but good businessmen. (Acknowledging Buzz Aldrin, who just walked into the room, calling him “my hero.”) They know how to manage money, and people, and the technical aspects follow. Priority order is politics, management, and then the technical part.
Community is not very large and “we need to stick together, pull together, and make things happen.” He sees himself as being part of the destination part. “We will fly your stuff.” Taking emailed photos, converting to cards, and flying them in the habitats where they can float around and be viewed with a camera. Also taking golf-ball-sized objects. Inviting people to fly with them.
Evolving to the goal of a full-size module that can sustain up to six people for years at a time–LEO, deep space, and lunar and Martian surfaces. Each additional spacecraft will be increasingly complex, getting larger and testing new subsystems, while also learning how to manage communications with multiple spacecraft simultaneously. Will be flying every six months, so up to five spacecraft to track and communicate with over a two-and-a-half-year period. Building own tracking stations in Hawaii, Fairbanks, etc. Will fly a second flight later this year, also out of Russia (SS-18 Dneper–an altered ICBM). Likes the idea of swords to ploughshares.
ISS not “customer friendly,” leaving rest of the world sitting on the sidelines. 350 astronauts in the world right now, but hopes to increase that by fifteen to twenty times over the next dozen years or so. Sees astronauts for other governments as a more interesting market than tourism per se.
Look at themselves as providing facilities to meet customer requirements, but not necessarily involved in what actually takes place on board (like a regional mall). Banks understand this kind of deal. A number of terrestrial and marine models for destinations that can serve as useful models. Wants to train thousands of “professional astronauts” to serve needs of big aerospace in a similar manner to which the military trains pilots and aviation professionals for that business.
First module will be 330 cubic meters (a little over half of current ISS size). Dneper can handle first two generations–Genesis and Galaxy, but generation after that will outgrow it. Estimate twenty launches in third year of operation (sixteen for people and four for cargo). Would like a crew vehicle that can handle eight people, but thinks that’s driven by seat cost, and would be happy with less if it can be done for comparable seat cost. Looking to Atlas V or Falcon 9 (if Elon is of a mind to do that).
Thinks that space tourism will happen, but their focus is on the path of serving private services for exploration and cargo, following the nautical analogy. Doesn’t want to depend on any one income stream, and trying to develop thorough understanding of what kinds of income streams can be derived from robotic applications. Thinks that tourism will be relatively small population for the first few years, due to high price. Professional astronaut community seems like the biggest single revenue opportunity, by pursuing countries that have previously had few opportunities. Space tourism pricing will have to be lower than “professional astronatus.” Thinks that eight million per trip would have some market, but they’d make no profit at that price. They would put tourists to work, filming, helping with tasks. Want to coordinate with Space Adventures and others to put together packages.
Have “only been a spaceflight company for one week.” “This is our first rodeo.”
Can’t believe that they’re doing this, and how well it’s going. Expecting Murphy to show up any minutes. Would not have been financially possible without Russian help. Don’t know what future is, not taking anything for granted, looking over their shoulders, feeling “hot breath of challenge.” Don’t take this likely.
Expects competition, but have a lead, and hope to keep moving quickly to maintain it. Have to make quick decisions. Plenty of things to worry about, but are optimists, so they don’t hesitate when decisions have to be made.
Just asked how much more time he had. “All you need, Bob.” (Rick Tumlinson)
[Note: I see that Clark Lindsey has a description of yesterday’s Bigelow facilities tour.]
They’ve taken about 500 photos of Genesis 1 up to this point in time.
They’re showing a video now, mostly press clips. I’m shutting down temporarily, so I can go tour the Bigelow faclity.
[Update]
I may regret this, but the tour was going to last several hours, and I didn’t want to miss that much of the conference.
Clark Lindsey has a summary of Bigelow’s talk.
[Update]
Alan Boyle also has a Bigelow tour report.