{"id":19243,"date":"2016-09-16T00:13:24","date_gmt":"2016-09-15T16:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/for-blue-origin-jeff-bezos-gets-heinlein-prize-and-a-sword-then-gives-away-250k\/"},"modified":"2016-09-16T00:13:24","modified_gmt":"2016-09-15T16:13:24","slug":"for-blue-origin-jeff-bezos-gets-heinlein-prize-and-a-sword-then-gives-away-250k","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/for-blue-origin-jeff-bezos-gets-heinlein-prize-and-a-sword-then-gives-away-250k\/","title":{"rendered":"For Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos gets Heinlein Prize and a sword \u2013 then gives away $250K"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_275368\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-275368\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full-width wp-image-275368\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/160915-diamandis-bezos-heinlein-dula-630x462.jpg\" alt=\"Selfie with Jeff Bezos and sword\" width=\"630\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/160915-diamandis-bezos-heinlein-dula-630x462.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/160915-diamandis-bezos-heinlein-dula-768x563.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/160915-diamandis-bezos-heinlein-dula.jpg 1132w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-275368\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jeff Bezos (center) shows off a sword that serves as part of the Heinlein Prize, as XPRIZE co-founder Peter Diamandis (right) takes the selfie and Art Dula (left), trustee for the Heinlein Prize Trust, looks on. (Credit: Peter Diamandis via Twitter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos received one of the spaceflight community\u2019s richest honors, the Heinlein Prize, during a ceremony in the nation\u2019s capital on Wednesday night. The prize includes a $250,000 cash award \u2026 and a sword that evokes one of Robert A. Heinlein\u2019s sci-fi stories.<\/p>\n<p>Bezos hung onto the sword, but he\u2019s donating the $250,000 to an nonprofit&nbsp;group known as the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space.<\/p>\n<p>The prize was handed out by&nbsp;representatives of the late science-fiction writer\u2019s family trust to recognize Bezos\u2019&nbsp;work with Blue Origin, the space venture he founded. Past recipients include Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of SpaceX; and Peter Diamandis, who co-founded the XPRIZE program as well as Students for the Exploration and Development of Space.<\/p>\n<p>SEDS, a 36-year-old student organization&nbsp;that&nbsp;promote global space efforts, tweeted that Bezos\u2019&nbsp;gift comes as \u201cfantastic news\u201d:<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=776243774615937025&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2016%2Fblue-origin-jeff-bezos-heinlein-prize-seds%2F&amp;sessionId=9c4d88457fd09c02daef3442c50de642a51eb5f5&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"776243774615937025\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1782804134555689637=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is FANTASTIC news. Thank you Jeff Bezos! This will strengthen and grow SEDS for decades to come.<\/p>\n<p>Look for a\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/YmFMvZw1rt<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SEDS (@sedsusa) September 15, 2016<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Today Bezos, who served as president of Princeton\u2019s SEDS chapter in the \u201980s, tweeted his own round of thanks to the Heinlein Prize Trust and well-wishing moonwalker Buzz Aldrin:<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=776560302062120963&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2016%2Fblue-origin-jeff-bezos-heinlein-prize-seds%2F&amp;sessionId=9c4d88457fd09c02daef3442c50de642a51eb5f5&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"776560302062120963\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1782804134555689637=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.Thanks @TheRealBuzz &amp; @HeinleinPrize \u2013 what a fun night! https:\/\/t.co\/l73vz2W2Oc<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) September 15, 2016<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The prize honors Heinlein\u2019s vision of private enterprise in space exploration and development, as reflected in stories such as \u201cThe Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.\u201d Over the past year, Bezos\u2019 Blue Origin team has successfully sent its New Shepard suborbital space vehicle to space and back four times during uncrewed test flights. The company is working on an innovative natural gas-fueled BE-4 engine&nbsp;and just this week unveiled the design for its New Glenn orbital rocket.<\/p>\n<p>Bezos has hinted that a future New Armstrong rocket would be capable of going beyond Earth orbit, to the moon or elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>During Wednesday night\u2019s ceremony, Bezos brandished a replica Lady Vivamus sword, which is inspired by the Heinlein novel \u201cGlory Road\u201d and traditionally comes with&nbsp;the Heinlein Prize. He also answered a few questions from the audience at Washington\u2019s National Air and Space Museum. Here are some of the high points, as reported by The Washington Post (which is owned by Bezos):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlike Musk, Bezos doesn\u2019t want to move to Mars \u2026 at least in the near term. \u201cThink about it: no whiskey, no bacon, no oceans, no hiking, no urban centers. Eventually Mars might be amazing. But that\u2019s a long way in the future.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Bezos isn\u2019t bothered by competition with SpaceX&nbsp;and other space ventures. \u201cGreat industries are never made by&nbsp;single companies. And space is really big. There is room in space for a lot of winners.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Bezos said his high school buddies wouldn\u2019t be impressed by his rocket adventures if he met up with them at a reunion. \u201cThey\u2019d be like, \u2018Bezos, what happened to your hair?&#8217;\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The 52-year-old billionaire, who founded Blue Origin only six years after founding Amazon, also reflected on his future legacy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I\u2019m 80 years old and I\u2019m looking back on my life, and I can say that I put in place, with the help of the teammates at Blue Origin, the heavy-lifting infrastructure that made access to space cheap and inexpensive so that the next generation could have the entrepreneurial explosion like I saw on the internet, I\u2019ll be a very happy 80-year-old,\u201d the Post\u2019s Christian Davenport quoted Bezos as saying.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jeff Bezos (center) shows off a sword that serves as part of the Heinlein Prize, as XPRIZE co-founder Peter Diamandis (right) takes the selfie and Art Dula (left), trustee for the Heinlein Prize Trust, looks on. (Credit: Peter Diamandis via Twitter) Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos received one of the spaceflight community\u2019s richest honors, the Heinlein [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[509,1046,5509],"class_list":["post-19243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-blue-origin","tag-jeff-bezos","tag-robert-heinlein"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19243"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19243\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}