Nima P.

Why the US can beat China: the facts about SpaceX costs

Elon Musk:

For the first time in more than three decades, America last year began taking back international market-share in commercial satellite launch. This remarkable turn-around was sparked by a small investment NASA made in SpaceX in 2006 as part of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. A unique public-private partnership, COTS has proven that under the right conditions, a properly incentivized contractor — even an all-American one — can develop extremely complex systems on rapid timelines and a fixed-price basis, significantly beating historical industry-standard costs.

China has the fastest growing economy in the world. But the American free enterprise system, which allows anyone with a better mouse-trap to compete, is what will ensure that the United States remains the world’s greatest superpower of innovation.

Conan O’Brein

How do you know innovation when you see it?

“I know innovation when I’m completely confused. If someone does something in or around the office that just confuses me and angers me and makes me feel stupid I assume it must be pretty innovative. That’s what innovation looks like to me. If I feel like a cat watching the sunset then I know I’m seeing true innovation.”

When should I leave my job and strike it out on my own?

“It’s always best to leave a day job just after you’ve signed a lease to an expensive apartment and when your bank account has like $100 left in it. That’s the best time because that’s betting on yourself. Show fate that you have confidence in yourself. So yes my advice would be to get a great loft that’s very expensive, sign a one year lease, and then when you have $100 left in your bank account tell your boss to ‘F off’ - you know - like noon in the middle of the day and then that night try and get your internet mattress company started.”