Overview
Elon Reeve Musk is a businessman, inventor, and engineer. He is the founder and CEO of several companies including SpaceX, Tesla Motors, SolarCity, Open AI, and X.com (which merged with PayPal). Musk's goals in life are to reduce global warming through sustainable energy and to make humans a multi-planetary species.
Brief History
Musk was born in South Africa on June 28, 1971. By the age of 12, he taught himself how to program computers. He would later graduate from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. degree in physics and a second in economics. He was working towards a PhD from Stanford University before dropping out to focus on more entrepreneurial work.
Net Worth
22.1 Billion (Forbes.com 10/11/2017)
#30 richest people in the United States according to Forbes.
Career Achievements
Zip2
In 1995, Musk created Zip2. A mapping company designed with the newspaper subscription market in mind. After obtaining contacts with The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. Musk had aspirations of becoming CEO of the new company but was turned down by its board members. Zip2 was later acquired by Compaq for $341 million (including stock options). Musk received over $20 million from the sale, becoming a multi-millionaire at the age of 28.
PayPal
Musk developed an email payment company hosted through a website called X.com. X.com was merged with another company, Cofinity, to become a new company called PayPal. Paypal was eventually acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in stock. Musk received $165 million as part of the deal.
SpaceX
Launch of the Falcon 9 rocket
In an attempt to achieve one of his life goals, Musk used $100 million of his fortune to found Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, in June of 2002. Initially, his vision was to send a small greenhouse to Mars to rekindle the public's interest in space travel. Musk first tried to secure a rocket by attempting to purchase decommissioned ICBMs from Russia. In the process, he realized that rockets could be made for much cheaper. Thus, SpaceX was founded with an expanded vision. Now, instead of just getting a rocket to send a greenhouse to Mars, Musk sees his company sending people there as well, which could make humanity a truly space-faring species.
Within 7 years, SpaceX had developed a series of rockets (Falcon 1 and Falcon 9) and the Dragon spacecraft vehicle. The company was subsequently given a contract from NASA to resupply the ISS. In 2012, SpaceX became the first commercial company to send a rocket into space and dock with the ISS.
SpaceX is the world's largest producer of rocket motors. Impressively, it is also the producer of the strongest weight-to-thrust ratio rocket motor.
An important aspect of Musk's goal to colonize other worlds is the reduction of the cost of spaceflight. He hopes to make space flight an affordable commercial endeavor. He has a goal to establish a colony of 80,000 people on Mars by the year 2040.
A big controversy surrounding Musk's goal to colonize Mars is the problem of solar radiation. Since Mars is a dead planet, meaning it has no magnetic field, means that it has no way of defending itself against radiation from solar flares. If nothing is done, radiation would eliminate any colony very early in the process. Of course, Musk has already though of this. SpaceX plans to rid themselves of this problem by creating a rood made up of various chemicals (mostly water) that will prevent the radiation from reaching inhabitants underneath.
On February 6, 2018, SpaceX launched their Falcon Heavy rocket. This was a test launch to show the world what SpaceX was capable of. The rocket carried Elon Musk's own Telsa Roadster, and in the roadster was a dummy called Spaceman. The incredible part of this test run was that the rocket boosters on Falcon Heavy were able to successfully detach from the rocket, descend back to Earth, and land safely. These rockets will be able to be used again due to this technology that SpaceX has successfully engineered.
On March 6, 2018 SpaceX plans for the Falcon 9 rocket to launch the Hispasat 30W-6 communications satellite, formerly known as Hispasat 1F, for Madrid-based Hispasat. Hispasat 30W-6 will provide television, broadband, corporate networks and other communications services over Europe, North Africa and the Americas. The Hispasat 30W-6 satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral. Delayed from December, Feb. 14 and Feb. 22. Delayed from Feb. 25 to conduct testing on payload fairing pressurization system.
Tesla
Tesla was incorporated in 2003, with Musk as chairman of the board of investors. Tesla's goal is to make cars that are not dependent on fossil fuels available to the majority of commuters, thus making a sustainable energy lifestyle a reality. In 2008's financial crisis Musk took over Tesla as CEO.
Tesla is rapidly increasing the amount of charging stations in the US, further extending the range of electric vehicles. The patents Tesla creates are also freely given to other automotive companies as Musk wants to encourage the development of the electric vehicle. To help spread the use of electric vehicles Tesla has been spreading stations across the globe for cars to stop and charge at. There are two types of charging stations, destination stations and superchargers. Destination stations are strategically located for you to leave your car to charge for a few hours while you do something there, whether it be shopping at a mall or visiting tourist attractions. Superchargers are designed for you to get back on the road quickly and can charge a Tesla car to full in a matter of minutes rather than hours.
Tesla recently announced their newest vehicle, the "Model 3." It holds the record as the quickest SUV in the world and has boosted the companies value by 100 points in the stock market since it was released in March of 2016.
SolarCity
SolarCity is the United States' second largest provider of solar power, and the biggest provider in California since 2007. The idea behind both SolarCity and Tesla Motors is to reduce humanity's reliance on fossil fuels and to combat global warming. As of August 2016, Musk owned 22% of the SolarCity stock. Tesla and SolarCity have merged to accomplish this goal. SolarCity was very eager to merge, and it was a "no brainer". While it was much more of a risk for Tesla. Tesla has a large to do list in the near future and this would add a lot more onto their plate. If all goals are accomplished, this will be a great union.
HyperLoop
HyperLoop is Musk's concept for high-speed travel over great distances with relatively low energy expenditure. Using a system of tubes and partial vacuums, a pressurized pod would move through the tubes on an air cushion. Musk has assigned engineers from both SpaceX and Tesla to further develop the concept. These tubes can travel at speeds in excess of 1200km per hour. Going that fast, you are able to travel from L.A. to San Francisco in 30 minutes.
OpenAI
Musk created OpenAI in an effort to make the development of AI open to everyone, specifically so as not to risk a private organization being in a position where they might oppress society by owning a super intelligent AI. Musk has stated that artificial intelligence is the most serious threat to the survival of the human race.
Views
The motivation behind Musk's vision and reason for what he does with Tesla, SpaceX, and his other endeavors is that he wants to make sure humans have a place to live in the future. He believes there is a great chance we may be at high risk of some species-ending catastrophe, such as the event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
He has stated that he thinks we are likely living in a simulation and uses the Fermi Paradox as evidence for that. Basically, the fact that we live in such a vast universe and yet have not ever come across sentient life other than on our own planet is his reasoning.
Summary
Elon Musk has made some fascinating advances into the technological world. Who knows what other inventions, or technological advances he will make, or inspire others to do.
Elon Musk
Brief History
Musk was born in South Africa on June 28, 1971. By the age of 12, he taught himself how to program computers. He would later graduate from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. degree in physics and a second in economics. He was working towards a PhD from Stanford University before dropping out to focus on more entrepreneurial work.Net Worth
22.1 Billion (Forbes.com 10/11/2017)#30 richest people in the United States according to Forbes.
Career Achievements
Zip2
In 1995, Musk created Zip2. A mapping company designed with the newspaper subscription market in mind. After obtaining contacts with The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. Musk had aspirations of becoming CEO of the new company but was turned down by its board members. Zip2 was later acquired by Compaq for $341 million (including stock options). Musk received over $20 million from the sale, becoming a multi-millionaire at the age of 28.PayPal
Musk developed an email payment company hosted through a website called X.com. X.com was merged with another company, Cofinity, to become a new company called PayPal. Paypal was eventually acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in stock. Musk received $165 million as part of the deal.SpaceX
Within 7 years, SpaceX had developed a series of rockets (Falcon 1 and Falcon 9) and the Dragon spacecraft vehicle. The company was subsequently given a contract from NASA to resupply the ISS. In 2012, SpaceX became the first commercial company to send a rocket into space and dock with the ISS.
SpaceX is the world's largest producer of rocket motors. Impressively, it is also the producer of the strongest weight-to-thrust ratio rocket motor.
An important aspect of Musk's goal to colonize other worlds is the reduction of the cost of spaceflight. He hopes to make space flight an affordable commercial endeavor. He has a goal to establish a colony of 80,000 people on Mars by the year 2040.
A big controversy surrounding Musk's goal to colonize Mars is the problem of solar radiation. Since Mars is a dead planet, meaning it has no magnetic field, means that it has no way of defending itself against radiation from solar flares. If nothing is done, radiation would eliminate any colony very early in the process. Of course, Musk has already though of this. SpaceX plans to rid themselves of this problem by creating a rood made up of various chemicals (mostly water) that will prevent the radiation from reaching inhabitants underneath.
On February 6, 2018, SpaceX launched their Falcon Heavy rocket. This was a test launch to show the world what SpaceX was capable of. The rocket carried Elon Musk's own Telsa Roadster, and in the roadster was a dummy called Spaceman. The incredible part of this test run was that the rocket boosters on Falcon Heavy were able to successfully detach from the rocket, descend back to Earth, and land safely. These rockets will be able to be used again due to this technology that SpaceX has successfully engineered.
On March 6, 2018 SpaceX plans for the Falcon 9 rocket to launch the Hispasat 30W-6 communications satellite, formerly known as Hispasat 1F, for Madrid-based Hispasat. Hispasat 30W-6 will provide television, broadband, corporate networks and other communications services over Europe, North Africa and the Americas. The Hispasat 30W-6 satellite was built by Space Systems/Loral. Delayed from December, Feb. 14 and Feb. 22. Delayed from Feb. 25 to conduct testing on payload fairing pressurization system.
Tesla
Tesla was incorporated in 2003, with Musk as chairman of the board of investors. Tesla's goal is to make cars that are not dependent on fossil fuels available to the majority of commuters, thus making a sustainable energy lifestyle a reality. In 2008's financial crisis Musk took over Tesla as CEO.Tesla is rapidly increasing the amount of charging stations in the US, further extending the range of electric vehicles. The patents Tesla creates are also freely given to other automotive companies as Musk wants to encourage the development of the electric vehicle. To help spread the use of electric vehicles Tesla has been spreading stations across the globe for cars to stop and charge at. There are two types of charging stations, destination stations and superchargers. Destination stations are strategically located for you to leave your car to charge for a few hours while you do something there, whether it be shopping at a mall or visiting tourist attractions. Superchargers are designed for you to get back on the road quickly and can charge a Tesla car to full in a matter of minutes rather than hours.
Tesla recently announced their newest vehicle, the "Model 3." It holds the record as the quickest SUV in the world and has boosted the companies value by 100 points in the stock market since it was released in March of 2016.
SolarCity
SolarCity is the United States' second largest provider of solar power, and the biggest provider in California since 2007. The idea behind both SolarCity and Tesla Motors is to reduce humanity's reliance on fossil fuels and to combat global warming. As of August 2016, Musk owned 22% of the SolarCity stock. Tesla and SolarCity have merged to accomplish this goal. SolarCity was very eager to merge, and it was a "no brainer". While it was much more of a risk for Tesla. Tesla has a large to do list in the near future and this would add a lot more onto their plate. If all goals are accomplished, this will be a great union.HyperLoop
HyperLoop is Musk's concept for high-speed travel over great distances with relatively low energy expenditure. Using a system of tubes and partial vacuums, a pressurized pod would move through the tubes on an air cushion. Musk has assigned engineers from both SpaceX and Tesla to further develop the concept. These tubes can travel at speeds in excess of 1200km per hour. Going that fast, you are able to travel from L.A. to San Francisco in 30 minutes.OpenAI
Musk created OpenAI in an effort to make the development of AI open to everyone, specifically so as not to risk a private organization being in a position where they might oppress society by owning a super intelligent AI. Musk has stated that artificial intelligence is the most serious threat to the survival of the human race.Views
The motivation behind Musk's vision and reason for what he does with Tesla, SpaceX, and his other endeavors is that he wants to make sure humans have a place to live in the future. He believes there is a great chance we may be at high risk of some species-ending catastrophe, such as the event that wiped out the dinosaurs.He has stated that he thinks we are likely living in a simulation and uses the Fermi Paradox as evidence for that. Basically, the fact that we live in such a vast universe and yet have not ever come across sentient life other than on our own planet is his reasoning.
Summary
Elon Musk has made some fascinating advances into the technological world. Who knows what other inventions, or technological advances he will make, or inspire others to do.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Muskhttps://martianchronicles.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/falcon9c-725948-727792.jpg
http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/05/elon-musk-the-worlds-raddest-man.html
Herzog, Werner movie August 17, 2016. "Lo and Behold".
http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/ceos/elon-musk-net-worth/
https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/06/spacex-landed-two-of-its-three-falcon-heavy-first-stage-boosters/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Heavy
https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/