SpaceX Founder Elon Musk encourages U.S. Air Force Academy cadets to keep on innovating –‘We want to take the fiction out of science fiction’

Featured Image Source: U.S. Air Force Academy via Flickr

SpaceX founder and Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk visited the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado on Thursday, April 7. Superintendent Lt. Gen. Richard Clark hosted a tour of the Academy for Musk. He also participated in a Q&A session, met with senior leadership, and delivered a speech to a crowd of cadets and faculty.

All Featured Images Source: U.S. Air Force Academy via Flickr

The cadets welcomed Musk with excitement and a round of applause, video below.  According to a USAFA press release, Musk discussed SpaceX’s goal to make life multiplanetary with the Starship launch system that is under development in South Texas. “A fully and rapidly reusable orbital vehicle is the absolute game changer,” he said.  “It’s the difference between humanity being a true space-faring civilization or not.” 

Now that’s an academy welcome! pic.twitter.com/IbgkCshvEH

— U.S. Air Force Academy (@AF_Academy) April 7, 2022

A group of cadets also introduced Musk to their space-related research projects and innovative technology ideas. Some cadets presented their research on rocket engineering research, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence for drones, as well as space colonization policy. Musk encouraged the U.S. Air Force Academy cadets to keep on innovating. “We want to take the fiction out of science fiction,” Musk told the cadets at the school. “Prototypes are easy, production is hard,” he said.  “If we’re not blowing up engines, we’re not trying hard enough,” he told the cadets, in reference to SpaceX’s history with developing rockets. “When rocket launches get boring, that’s success,” he said.

Technology and satellites designed by the U.S. Air Force Academy cadets have traveled to space aboard SpaceX rockets. Musk told cadets that the U.S. Department of Defense and the commercial space industry should work together to solve problems associated with space exploration, including reducing the cost of spaceflight and developing new technologies to maintain a safe space environment and figure out how to deal with the nearly 30,000 pieces of space debris that could potentially threaten spacecraft in orbit.  

Musk also provided some advice to the cadets. He advised them to acknowledge their successes, despite encountering challenges or discouragement when working on a project.  "There’s an asymmetry in the way we remember things, we remember mistakes more than successes," he said. A group of cadets had the opportunity to take a heartwarming selfie with Musk. See all photos below.

#ICYMI - Elon Musk was at #youracademy yesterday.
The tech giant had a Q & A session with Lt. Gen. Clark and cadets and met with a small group of cadets to discuss their research projects and innovations.
More photos at https://t.co/VSS0uJ4snz pic.twitter.com/lekQWLBxlh

— U.S. Air Force Academy (@AF_Academy) April 8, 2022

#USAF Proud@elonmusk @usairforce pic.twitter.com/lgnacRGxy1

— Lloyd 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 Ostertag (@realLloydO) April 10, 2022

Elon speaking to US Airforce. Listen to the excitement of the crowd, they are literally holding up chairs! 😂 @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/CaLxvM4iIA

— Owen Sparks 🌍🇺🇦 (@OwenSparks_) April 7, 2022

All Featured Images Source: U.S. Air Force Academy via Flickr