Ideas change everything

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The real future of space exploration

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Burt Rutan |

TED2006

• February 2006

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.

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About the speaker

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.

Learn more

30 futuristic spacecraft driving the new space age

The future of spacecraft is here — get a look at the latest models.

null - 30 futuristic spacecraft driving the new space age

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.