Ideas worth spreading

The real future of space exploration

2,577,834 views | Burt Rutan • TED2006

In this passionate talk, legendary spacecraft designer Burt Rutan lambasts the US government-funded space program for stagnating and asks entrepreneurs to pick up where NASA has left off.

In this passionate talk, legendary spacecraft designer Burt Rutan lambasts the US government-funded space program for stagnating and asks entrepreneurs to pick up where NASA has left off.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Burt Rutan

Aircraft engineer

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In 2004, legendary spacecraft designer Burt Rutan won the $10M Ansari X-Prize for SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded craft to enter space twice in a two-week period. He's now collaborating with Virgin Galactic to build the first rocketship for space tourism.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.