posted 07-08-2006 12:11 AM               

Peter was awarded the first Heinlein Prize, and received $500,000, a gold Heinlein Medallion, the Lady Vivamus Sword (as described in Heinlein’s book Glory Road) and a Laureate’s Diploma.

The Heinlein Prize was founded to reward individuals for making practical contributions to the commercialization of space. As many of the evening's guests reaffirmed, there are few if any individuals more deserving of such a reward than was Peter.

Most who know of Peter, know he founded the X Prize, the $10 million purse for the first private sub-orbital passenger spacecraft to fly to 100km with the mass of three people in two weeks. SpaceShipOne, which now hangs in the National Air and Space Museum, won the X Prize in October 2004.

But Peter's accomplishments go far beyond the X Prize. Here is a quick summary of his achievements:

• 1980 - Founded the Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) – SEDS is currently the world's largest student based pro-space organization.

• 1985 – Co-founded the Space Generation Foundation – A non-profit organization to create a sense of identity in all people born since the advent of the Space Age on October 4, 1957. The Foundation supports numerous educational and research projects.

• 1987 – Founder & Managing Director & CEO of International Space University (ISU) – ISU is the world's leading graduate program for multi-national and multi-disciplinary study of space.

• 1989 – Founded and served as CEO of International MicroSpace, Inc. (IMI) – IMI was an entrepreneurial space technologies company focusing on the provision of low-cost launch services (ORBEX™ launch vehicle program).

• 1991 – Founded and served as Director of Constellation Communications, Inc. (CCI) – CCI is one of five low-Earth orbit applicants designing a low-Earth orbit satellite constellation for voice telephony.

• 1993 – Chairman & CEO of Zero Gravity Corporation - The only commercial space company in the world offering FAA-certified weightless flights utilizing a Boeing 727-200 aircraft. More than 200 people have experienced weightlessness since flights began three years ago.

• 1995 – Co-Founded and served as President of Angel Technologies Corporation – Angel Technologies Corporation is a commercial communications company developing wireless broadband communications networks.

• 1996 – Founded and currently serves as Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation - In addition to the successful Ansari X PRIZE, Diamandis is leading the Foundation in its effort to create prizes in several other industries including genomics, water treatment, education, as well as, the automotive industry.

• 1997 – Co-founded Space Adventures Ltd – Space Adventures is the leading space tourism travel agency. Space Adventures is best known for arranging the flight of Dennis Tito to the International Space Station in 2001, making him the first space tourist.

• 2004 – Co-founded and currently serves as Chairman of Rocket Racing League – Combining the excitement of Indy car racing with the challenge of Rocketry, this league will have rocket planes race against each other on a 3D race track in the sky. Races are scheduled to begin next year.

On a personal note, it was a pleasure to watch Peter being honored. I first met Peter when I was elected as national chair of SEDS-USA while still in college. Several years later, I would work with him at Space Adventures. It was during that time on a trip to Russia, that we both flew together on our first zero-gravity flight:

I also had a chance to work with Peter while developing Starport.com (acquired in 2000 by Space.com) and as a member of the advisory committee for the Ansari X Prize Foundation.

posted 07-08-2006 12:20 AM               

Peter's Laws
The Creed of the Sociopathic Obsessive Compulsive

1. If anything can go wrong, Fix It! (To hell with Murphy!)
2. When given a choice — Take Both!
3. Multiple projects lead to multiple successes.
4. Start at the top then work your way up.
5. Do it by the book... but be the author!
6. When forced to compromise, ask for more.
7. If you can't beat them, join them, then beat them.
8. If its worth doing, its got to be done right now.
9. If you can't win, change the rules.
10. If you can't change the rules, then ignore them.
11. Perfection is not optional.
12. When faced without a challenge, make one.
13. "No" simply means begin again at one level higher.
14. Don't walk when you can run.
15. Bureaucracy is a challenge to be conquered with a righteous attitude, a tolerance for stupidity, and a bulldozer when necessary.
16. When in doubt: THINK!
17. Patience is a virtue, but persistence to the point of success is a blessing.
18. The squeaky wheel gets replaced.
19. The faster you move, the slower time passes, the longer you live.