Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Gets A Visit From California Governor
Governor’s Remarks at Virgin Galactic’s Unveiling of SpaceShipTwo.
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER
Thank you very much for this nice introduction, I really appreciate it. And it’s great to be here today with all of you and thank you for inviting me.
It’s great also to have Governor Bill Richardson here today, an old colleague and friend. Of course there are so many things that we have in common; we both are governors, we both are retiring after this year. (Laughter) Right? We both never have won an Oscar, there’s another one. (Laughter, applause) There are a lot of other things, but we don’t want to talk about that. (Laughter) But anyway, so it’s great to have you here, it’s really terrific.
And you know, I have to tell you that there are a lot of cool things that you get to do when you’re a governor, but I think that this here today is definitely one of the coolest things that I have ever done. As a matter of fact, you know, to go and to unveil the world’s first human commercial spacecraft, even my kids are very jealous today. (Laughter)
And I have to tell you, my kids don’t like my job. (Laughter) They used to like it when I was on a movie set and there were huge explosions and fights and when I was shooting people and cutting them up with the Conan sword. They thought that was great. But they say, “Why are you having this boring job up there in Sacramento? We don’t understand that.” (Laughter) But they understand this. When I said I’m going to see this spacecraft and unveil it, they were jealous then. But you know, they had to stay in school, so this is why I didn’t bring them. (Laughter)
So anyway, let me first congratulate the two men that are responsible for this historic feat. My great friend Sir Richard Branson, of course, who is an extraordinary visionary. I mean, what guts he has and the vision he has. There is no limit with his thinking and I just really love that. Let’s give him a big hand for this great, great work that he is doing. (Applause) And then Burt Rutan, one of the greatest aerospace engineers of our time. Let’s give him also a great, great hand for his great genius. (Applause)
Now, the history of California and the history of America and the history of mankind is one of discovery and exploration. We are always looking forward to looking ahead, and looking across the ocean and beyond the mountain range. And now, of course, also in the sky; space is our next great frontier. And when it comes to space enterprise California is and always has been at the forefront and leading the way.
And I’m glad that now New Mexico is following also our footsteps. That’s wonderful. (Laughter) We always like to throw a few crumbs at New Mexico, try to help them out. (Laughter) It’s a little state. We’ve got to be helpful here, this is the United States. Now, many people — (Laughter, applause)
Now, many people know that California, of course, is the entertainment capital of the world, the music capital of the world, the high-tech capital of the world, the biotech capital of the world. But we also are the aerospace capital of the world and today California accounts for 40 percent of the U.S. space market and 20 percent of the global space market.
And California’s leadership dates back to the earliest days of the space era. Chuck Yeager, who we just inducted into the California Hall of Fame just last week, broke the sound barrier right here, and the first space shuttles were built and landed right here in this area. In the skies above the Mojave Desert are the bravest test pilots in the world that have flown here, helping develop the next generation of military and civilian aircraft.
In fact, Mojave has more exhibits at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum than any other entity. This includes SpaceShipOne, which five years ago became the world’s first privately developed spacecraft. And in a few minutes we will unveil its successor, SpaceShip number two. SpaceshipTwo is bringing space tourism much closer to reality — this is like science fiction movies — and now it is becoming a reality. I mean, it’s really amazing. It holds the promise of opening up the space experience to ordinary people around the world.
As a matter of fact, you have heard that it will cost $200,000 to get on that flight. I already bought mine on eBay for 199, (Laughter) which I’m very happy about. Got a deal.
And also, it will create weightlessness. It was just explained to me that four minutes, you said, of weightlessness. And there is, of course, no one more happy than Governor Richardson about that. (Laughter, applause)
And not only is today’s action great for our future, it is also great for our economy, because SpaceShip number two project has already created hundreds of jobs here and will create hundreds of more jobs.
So once again let me just congratulate Richard and Burt and their entire team. And let me tell you, when I just saw this incredible team of engineers and brainpower out here, it was great to see that. So let’s give them all again a big, big hand for the great, great work they’re doing. (Applause)
And I want to tell the California people that I will do everything in my power to make sure that California remains the leader in aerospace innovation. Thank you very much and I’ll be back. Thank you. (Applause)
Topics: California, Governance, Governor Schwarzenegger, Mexico, science, Sir Richard Branson, space, space era, space flight, spacecraft, SpaceShip Two, technology, Virgin Galactic
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