Replies:
• Andy Weir (top left, author of The Martian, and ironically Artemis): “Lowering the cost of access”
• NASA Human Exploration Lead Kathryn Lueders (top right): “I agree. We have to further lower transportation costs. SpaceX has done it with reusability. 10 years ago, people said it couldn’t be done. We have to lower costs. We can also carry less and use what is there.”
• NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine (top center): “I also agree that it is a high priority. But we have to get the politics right. Political risk drives the cost up. We need continuity across administrations, decades, and generations. We need a political consensus to get continuity. We can’t have divisions.” (This is understandably on his mind as he transitions out in Jan)
At the end, as each speaker was admiring each other, Andy concluded by admiring the gesticulations of the ASL translator (she’s bottom right), and he had her lead the group in the suggestive hand gesture for poo (a frequent topic when kids ask about living in space).
Yesterday, I was part of the AIAA ASCEND kickoff session with the Space Force Admiral while still at the Cape (below). Today, I am doing an hour-long interview at noon PST: video here.
Leave a Reply