This Moment

I’ve had the privilege of launching many things over the years…

Video games, many video games.

Development tools.

Specifications.

Even consumer products.

Yet, after all these years, my new role at Karman+ redefined how I think about our timeline and strategy to launch.

This time, launch isn’t the end of the project - game released, tools functioning, VR headset on shelves - this time, launch is just the beginning. This time, when we use launch we’re talking about the original meaning - we’re launching a ship…into space!

My colleagues and I are working hard to design and build a mining spacecraft, accelerate it fast enough to escape Earth’s gravitational pull, and hurl it into space to rendezvous with an asteroid. 

I’ve dreamed of making a spacecraft (and visiting space) since I was a boy. Since the first time I was introduced to the business world’s version of “launch” I’ve grown older, perhaps a little wiser, certainly more seasoned, at times a bit cynical, more tolerant in some circumstances and less in others - depending on the situation - but that desire to create a spaceship and participate in a real launch never went away.

I’m sitting at my desk on a Sunday evening waiting on the 3D printers to finish the latest parts iteration and deciding whether or not the distance between the experimental regolith capture mechanism and small spacecraft simulation robot is a little too far - which will make it unnecessarily difficult to maneuver this terrestrial test around the platform.

So, I’m switching out rods and arms, while Depeche Mode’s Ghosts Again blares through the room, and feeling so incredibly grateful and honored to have this opportunity to use all my skills and pursue my literal childhood dream.

I’m fully aware of how lucky I am. Not many get this sort of opportunity. I’m thankful for all my earlier experiences and opportunities that led me to this place where I get to do these cool things with a great team of smart people all passionately pursuing the same goal.

Anyway, I’m acutely aware of so much and just feeling happy to be alive and working to solve these challenges, create something new, and watch what I helped create launch toward the stars. 

And I’m thankful for all the people I learned so much from over the years, both positive and negative, because you helped get me to where I am right now, at this moment.