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Burt Rutan

Burt Rutan Quotes

Aerospace Engineering

Burt Rutan is an accomplished aerospace engineer renowned for his contributions to the design and development of private aircraft. Born on June 17, 1943, he is a co-founder of Rutan Aircraft Factory, which is known for its innovative designs and groundbreaking aircraft.

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All Space People Years Ifs Flight Nasa Looks Orbit Research Affordable Airplane Breakthrough Cost Industry Knows Needs Nonsense Predictions Program Spaceflight

Famous Burt Rutan Quotes

“By 1931, after a few years' experience of flying scheduled airlines, those planes were operating at roughly 600 times the safety of the space shuttle. I look at safety not in terms of fatalities per passenger-mile, but when you get in and close the door, what is the risk of dying on this flight?”

Years Looks Term Space Risk Doors Dying Safety Miles Flying Flight Planes Airline Passengers Space Shuttle Fatality

Author:Burt Rutan

“The photographs of space taken by our astronauts have been published all over the place. But the eye is a much more dynamic mechanism than any camera or pictures. It's a more exciting view in person than looking at the photographs. Of course, I personally am sick and tired of hearing people talk like that: I want to see it myself!”

People Want Persons Has Beens Eye Courses Space Views Taken Sick Exciting Cameras Tired Photograph Hearing Mechanism Astronaut

Author:Burt Rutan

“Since Yuri Gagarin and Al Shepard's epoch flights in 1961, all space missions have been flown only under large, expensive government efforts. By contrast, our program involves a few, dedicated individuals who are focused entirely on making spaceflight affordable.”

Has Beens Government Individual Space Effort Program Missions Focused Flight Expensive Als Dedicated Contrast Affordable Epoch Spaceflight

Author:Burt Rutan

“To allow public access to orbit, we would need breakthroughs that would lower the cost by a lot more than an order of magnitude and increase safety by a factor of 100 as compared to every launch system used since the first manned space flight. I think airborne launch will be a significant part of the safety solution.”

Thinking Needs Firsts Used Order Space Cost Solutions Increase Safety Access Significant Factors Flight Breakthrough Magnitude Orbit Airborne Space Flight

Author:Burt Rutan

“The Russians did much bigger space launch vehicles for launching satellites and for getting men in orbit. They did that much sooner than America because America was very good at something else.”

Men America Space Bigger Very Good Vehicle Orbit Satellites Launching

Author:Burt Rutan

“Space travel is the only technology that is more dangerous and more expensive now than it was in its first year. Fifty years after Yuri Gagarin, the space shuttle ended up being more dangerous and more expensive to fly than those first throwaway rockets, even though large portions of it were reusable. It's absurd.”

Years Firsts Space Technology Dangerous Absurd Expensive Fifty Portions Rockets Space Travel Space Shuttle

Author:Burt Rutan

“We need affordable space travel to inspire our youth, to let them know that they can experience their dreams, can set significant goals and be in a position to lead all of us to future progress in exploration, discovery and fun. Thanks to the X Prize for the inspiration.”

“In 12 or 15 years, there will be routine, affordable space tourism not just in the U.S. but in a lot of countries.”

Years Country Space Routine Affordable Tourism Space Tourism

Author:Burt Rutan

“Our goal is to show that you can develop a robust, safe manned space program and do it at an extremely low cost.”

Shows Goal Space Cost Safe Lows Program Robust Space Program

Author:Burt Rutan

“I have a hunch the most important reason we're going to space is not known now.”

Important Reason Space Known Star Gazing Hunches

Author:Burt Rutan

“Flight out of the atmosphere is a simple thing to do and should have been available to the public twenty years ago. Ten years from now, we will have space tourism where you will be able to see the black sky and the curvature of the earth. It will be the most exciting roller coaster ride you can buy.”

“In the coming era of manned space exploration by the private sector, market forces will spur development and yield new, low-cost space technologies. If the history of private aviation is any guide, private development efforts will be safer, too.”

Ifs Force Space Effort Technology Development Cost Lows Guides Eras Aviation Yield Exploration Space Exploration Private Sector Spurs

Author:Burt Rutan

“A NASA-funded study estimates that if the price of a ticket to space approached $100,000, close to a million people would buy one. That's a $100 billion industry. Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen gave me $20 million in startup funding to go after that market.”

People Ifs Space Millions Study Industry Billions Tickets Funding Microsoft Nasa

Author:Burt Rutan

“With any luck, by the time NASA's space probe hits Pluto, you'll be booking a spaceflight with a privately run suborbital airline.”

Running Space Luck Airline Nasa Pluto Spaceflight

Author:Burt Rutan

About the Author

Born: June 17, 1943
Known for: Aerospace Engineering
Quotes: 50

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