Page 18 - OCEAN BLUE - WINTER 2016
P. 18
on the move
Elon
Musk
Turning
Science Fiction Into Fact
A modern day Captain Kirk, Musk aims to
“go where no one has gone before seeking
strange worlds” via interplanetary satellite
communication and travel.
H e is a dreamer, a schemer and SpaceX is the first privately funded space
one of the most powerful exploration company to create a liquid-fueled
and innovative people on rocket to reach orbit, successfully launch and
this planet. Originally from recover a spacecraft, send a spacecraft to the
South Africa, Musk immigrated to Canada International Space Station, and send a satellite
then the US, where he has since made his home into geosynchronous orbit.
as one of the movers and shakers in Silicon His latest market achievement: lithium-ion
Valley. batteries made available to consumers and
utilities. And up next? In late December of last
His personal net worth has reached 12.5 billion. year, Musk successfully launched 11 satellites
The visionary PayPal co-founder, Elon Musk, is into orbit and successfully returned its 15-story
taking us into the future. He is the founder and booster rocket, bringing him that much closer
brains of the electric car company Tesla Motors to creating his giant global high-speed internet
and the energy providing company SolarCity. provider with up to 4000 satellites and fulfilling
his dream of establishing a Mars colony with a
The basic premise of both companies is to help population of 80,000 by 2040. “History has demonstrated that while
combat global warming. In the same vein, “It will be important for Mars to have a global Musk’s goals can sound absurd in the
his prototype public transportation system communications network as well,” he says. “I moment, he certainly believes in them
‘Hyperloop’, is ready to be tested. Its goal is to think this needs to be done, and I don’t see and, when given enough time, tends
span hundreds of miles, using low air pressure, anyone else doing it.” to achieve them,” - Ashlee Vance.
with ‘capsules’ in ‘tubes’ that will transport
people at up to 800 MPH.
He is also the founder and CEO of Space
Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX).
Photo: Ap, Bi Event
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