Anything is Possible

17 years ago at the age of 28, Elon Musk and I were driving one evening on the Long Island Expressway, and a discussion started about space. We had both sold companies, and we were exploring different ideas about what to do with our lives.

Making an impact in space seemed impossible for two people with no industry experience. It was too hard. It was too expensive. It was the domain of governments. One by one, we realized that all of our perceptions about space were based on assumptions and not based on real data.

As we drove, we decided to learn more. We planned to meet various space organizations around the world, examining the actual complexity and costs of space. We also concluded that Mars, a planet similar to Earth, was the target destination for initial human exploration of the Solar System.

After trouble securing launch vehicles for a first company, called Life to Mars, Elon went on to create SpaceX. I went on to join the Board of the X PRIZE. On February 6th, 2018, SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon Heavy, a private rocket capable of carrying humanity to Mars.

If you dream big, anything is possible. The limit of your potential is the limit of your imagination. We can live in a world without limits. Congratulations to Elon, and, for everyone else, dream big and let’s go amazing places together, starting with Mars.