Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck addresses the 36th Small Satellite Conference in Logan, Utah, via video Aug. 8. SmallSat/Allison Bills.
LOGAN – Peter Beck, founder, CEO and chief engineer of Rocket Lab, was the keynote speaker Monday at Utah State University’s 36th annual Small Satellite Conference. About 3,000 attendees from 45 countries and 900 organizations are on hand.
Beck led the development of the Electron rocket, an industry-defining launch vehicle that unlocked frequent, reliable and cost-effective access to orbit for small satellites.
He said what he intended to do with his Lunar Proton spacecraft was to lower the barriers to interplanetary travel.
“The CAPSTONE mission cost $10 million,” Beck said. “For that, you got a ride on a rocket and a spacecraft that took you to the moon. It’s the same spacecraft we’re going to take to Venus and the origins of the same spacecraft we’re building for NASA’s mission to Mars.”
He told attendees the barrier to do interplanetary travel affordably has been largely removed.
“The next barrier,” he added, “is obviously developing missions. In some respects convincing the public, and also investors, that these things can be very, very valuable scientifically and ultimately they’re valuable commercially. I think that’s all that’s left to do.”
Under Beck’s leadership, Rocket Lab has established launch sites in the United States and in his native New Zealand.
He was unable to make the trip to Logan and he spoke remotely.