Robert D. Richards
Encyclopedia
Robert D. Richards is a Canadian-born space entrepreneur. He is co-founder and CEO of Moon Express
, Inc., a U.S. company awarded a $10M commercial lunar contract by NASA and a competitor in the Google Lunar X PRIZE
. He is also the founder and former CEO of Odyssey Moon
Limited, an Isle of Man
based commercial lunar enterprise and the first official contender in the $30M Google Lunar X PRIZE
competition. From 2002-2009 he was the founding Director of the Space Division at Optech Incorporated
, a company developing laser radar (lidar
) systems for space exploration, observation and operations, participating in the 2004 XSS-11 USA-165 mission and the 2007 NASA Mars Phoenix (spacecraft)
mission.
In 1987 Robert Richards founded the International Space University
(ISU) together with Todd B. Hawley
and Peter Diamandis
and he served as the university's first Associate Administrator for Strategic Planning and chaired the board's administrative and strategic planning committees during ISU's first phase of development. In 2005 Robert Richards received a Doctorate of Space Achievement (honoris causa) from the International Space University for “distinguished accomplishments in support of humanity’s exploration and use of space.”
As a student in the 1980s Robert Richards co-founded the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
(SEDS) together with Todd B. Hawley
and Peter Diamandis
. After coining the term "Space Generation", symbolizing a common bond among people born since the beginning of the space age, Robert Richards also co-founded the Space Generation Foundation with Hawley and Diamandis, now succeeded by the Space Generation Advisory Council
.
In 2008 Robert Richards joined Peter Diamandis
, Ray Kurzweil and others in the founding of Singularity University
, an institution based at the NASA Research Park
in Silicon Valley, California, focused on graduate and executive level education about exponentially advancing technologies. Robert Richards remains an active supporter of these organisations.
Richards is co-founder and CEO of Moon Express
, Inc., a U.S. company awarded a $10M commercial lunar contract by NASA and a competitor in the Google Lunar X PRIZE
.
Moon Express
Moon Express, or MoonEx, is a privately held seed-stage company formed by a group of Silicon Valley and space entrepreneurs, with the goal of winning the Google Lunar X Prize, and ultimately mining the Moon for resources of economic value.-History:...
, Inc., a U.S. company awarded a $10M commercial lunar contract by NASA and a competitor in the Google Lunar X PRIZE
Google Lunar X Prize
The Google Lunar X PRIZE, abbreviated GLXP, sometimes referred to as Moon 2.0, is a space competition organized by the X Prize Foundation, and sponsored by Google. It was announced at the Wired Nextfest on 13 September 2007...
. He is also the founder and former CEO of Odyssey Moon
Odyssey Moon
On December 6, 2007, Odyssey Moon was the first team to register for the Google Lunar X Prize competition, an event that hopes to rekindle the efforts of humans to return to the moon. The competition is referred to as "Moon 2.0" and is composed of other private organizations like Odyssey Moon...
Limited, an Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
based commercial lunar enterprise and the first official contender in the $30M Google Lunar X PRIZE
Google Lunar X Prize
The Google Lunar X PRIZE, abbreviated GLXP, sometimes referred to as Moon 2.0, is a space competition organized by the X Prize Foundation, and sponsored by Google. It was announced at the Wired Nextfest on 13 September 2007...
competition. From 2002-2009 he was the founding Director of the Space Division at Optech Incorporated
Optech Incorporated
Optech Incorporated is a Canadian-owned for-profit company operating since 1974 and focusing on Laser-based survey systems.Optech Inc is known for its association with Phoenix, a spacecraft launched for Mars in 2007.- The company :...
, a company developing laser radar (lidar
LIDAR
LIDAR is an optical remote sensing technology that can measure the distance to, or other properties of a target by illuminating the target with light, often using pulses from a laser...
) systems for space exploration, observation and operations, participating in the 2004 XSS-11 USA-165 mission and the 2007 NASA Mars Phoenix (spacecraft)
Phoenix (spacecraft)
Phoenix was a robotic spacecraft on a space exploration mission on Mars under the Mars Scout Program. The Phoenix lander descended on Mars on May 25, 2008...
mission.
In 1987 Robert Richards founded the International Space University
International Space University
The International Space University is a private university founded in 1987. The University currently offers three degree granting programs — Master of Science in Space Management, Master of Science in Space Studies and Executive MBA — in addition to a non-degree-granting Space Studies Program.The...
(ISU) together with Todd B. Hawley
Todd B. Hawley
Todd B. Hawley was one of the three founders of the International Space University and a lifelong advocate of human space exploration...
and Peter Diamandis
Peter Diamandis
Dr. Peter H. Diamandis , of Greek immigrant parents, is considered a key figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, having created many space-related businesses or organizations...
and he served as the university's first Associate Administrator for Strategic Planning and chaired the board's administrative and strategic planning committees during ISU's first phase of development. In 2005 Robert Richards received a Doctorate of Space Achievement (honoris causa) from the International Space University for “distinguished accomplishments in support of humanity’s exploration and use of space.”
As a student in the 1980s Robert Richards co-founded the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space is an international student organization whose purpose is to promote space exploration and development through educational and engineering projects.-Mission statement:...
(SEDS) together with Todd B. Hawley
Todd B. Hawley
Todd B. Hawley was one of the three founders of the International Space University and a lifelong advocate of human space exploration...
and Peter Diamandis
Peter Diamandis
Dr. Peter H. Diamandis , of Greek immigrant parents, is considered a key figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, having created many space-related businesses or organizations...
. After coining the term "Space Generation", symbolizing a common bond among people born since the beginning of the space age, Robert Richards also co-founded the Space Generation Foundation with Hawley and Diamandis, now succeeded by the Space Generation Advisory Council
Space Generation Advisory Council
The Space Generation Advisory Council in support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications is a non-governmental organization which "aims to bring the views of students and young space professionals to the United Nations, Space Agencies and other organisations".SGAC's primary work has...
.
In 2008 Robert Richards joined Peter Diamandis
Peter Diamandis
Dr. Peter H. Diamandis , of Greek immigrant parents, is considered a key figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, having created many space-related businesses or organizations...
, Ray Kurzweil and others in the founding of Singularity University
Singularity University
Singularity University is an academic institution in Silicon Valley whose stated aim is to "assemble, educate and inspire a cadre of leaders who strive to understand and facilitate the development of exponentially advancing technologies and apply, focus and guide these tools to address humanity’s...
, an institution based at the NASA Research Park
NASA Research Park
NASA Research Park is a research park run by NASA which aims to develop a world-class, shared-use research and development campus in association with government entities, academia, industry and non-profit organisations. It is situated in near San Jose, California. It began in 1939 as Ames Research...
in Silicon Valley, California, focused on graduate and executive level education about exponentially advancing technologies. Robert Richards remains an active supporter of these organisations.
Richards is co-founder and CEO of Moon Express
Moon Express
Moon Express, or MoonEx, is a privately held seed-stage company formed by a group of Silicon Valley and space entrepreneurs, with the goal of winning the Google Lunar X Prize, and ultimately mining the Moon for resources of economic value.-History:...
, Inc., a U.S. company awarded a $10M commercial lunar contract by NASA and a competitor in the Google Lunar X PRIZE
Google Lunar X Prize
The Google Lunar X PRIZE, abbreviated GLXP, sometimes referred to as Moon 2.0, is a space competition organized by the X Prize Foundation, and sponsored by Google. It was announced at the Wired Nextfest on 13 September 2007...
.
External links
- Robert D. Richards' personal website
- Video of Robert D. Richards on The Agenda with Steve Paikin, "Are We Bound for Space?" panel discussion with Chris HadfieldChris HadfieldChris Austin "Chris" Hadfield, O.Ont, MSC, CD is a Canadian astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency who was the first Canadian to walk in space. Hadfield has flown two space shuttle missions, STS-74 in 1995 and STS-100 in 2001. He has served as CAPCOM for both Space Shuttle and International...
, Chris McKay, Donna ShirleyDonna ShirleyDonna Shirley is a former manager of Mars Exploration at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She is the author of the book Managing Martians: The Extraordinary Story of a Woman's Lifelong Quest to Get to Mars—and of the Team Behind the Space Robot That Has Captured the Imagination of the World...
, Karl SchroederKarl SchroederKarl Schroeder is an award-winning Canadian science fiction author. His novels present far-future speculations on topics such as nanotechnology, terraforming, augmented reality and interstellar travel, and have a deeply philosophical streak...
and Lawrence Krauss