Ed

Oh, so you're not like super close with him because I think there's this narrative that you and Elon have a secret, you know, deep connection and he's one of your best friends. And, you know, that's kind of like how your hearing went. When I look at some of the video clips of how some of the senators were treating you, they're like, oh, you're doing this all for Elon. He's your best friend. Yeah.

Let's go through that. So you met Elon. Did you get involved as an investor in SpaceX along the way? How did the Inspiration4 mission come to be?

Let's go through that. So you met Elon. Did you get involved as an investor in SpaceX along the way? How did the Inspiration4 mission come to be?

And that was just truly like a momentous... It was just so beautiful to watch. And I remember it was also like a tough year because it was a year after COVID. So it was so great to see that happening.

And that was just truly like a momentous... It was just so beautiful to watch. And I remember it was also like a tough year because it was a year after COVID. So it was so great to see that happening.

But I had assumed and I think a lot of people had assumed that you were like a big investor in SpaceX or really tight, but it just happened within a one and a half year or year period that you kind of went from, hey, I'd love to put some money into SpaceX to, oh, I can... Participate and command Inspiration4 and get out there into space?

But I had assumed and I think a lot of people had assumed that you were like a big investor in SpaceX or really tight, but it just happened within a one and a half year or year period that you kind of went from, hey, I'd love to put some money into SpaceX to, oh, I can... Participate and command Inspiration4 and get out there into space?

Yeah. So just going back, you said you were given an offer to pilot a Crew Dragon in 08. Is that correct?

Yeah. So just going back, you said you were given an offer to pilot a Crew Dragon in 08. Is that correct?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. So then you said, hey, that was a successful mission. You had obviously a good relationship with SpaceX and the operations team there, I'm assuming. And you said, hey, I'd like to come back. And like Polaris Dawn was formed at that time. Or did that come together later? Just for the audience. So last, was it September?

Yeah. Okay. So then you said, hey, that was a successful mission. You had obviously a good relationship with SpaceX and the operations team there, I'm assuming. And you said, hey, I'd like to come back. And like Polaris Dawn was formed at that time. Or did that come together later? Just for the audience. So last, was it September?

You were the first private citizen in human history to perform a spacewalk. which again, another incredible moment. And, you know, I think it was inspiring for people who realized at that moment that perhaps you didn't need to become an astronaut to be able to walk in space. I mean, it was really just incredible. But how did the continuation go from Inspiration4 to Polaris Tom?

You were the first private citizen in human history to perform a spacewalk. which again, another incredible moment. And, you know, I think it was inspiring for people who realized at that moment that perhaps you didn't need to become an astronaut to be able to walk in space. I mean, it was really just incredible. But how did the continuation go from Inspiration4 to Polaris Tom?

So let's get into that now. How did the conversation lead to you becoming the nominee to administer NASA? Were you in conversations with Elon first? Is that how this kind of began for you?

So let's get into that now. How did the conversation lead to you becoming the nominee to administer NASA? Were you in conversations with Elon first? Is that how this kind of began for you?

He said, hop on a plane, come out here. Having a lot of friends of mine who are serving in this administration, your story sounds familiar, that folks that are close to this whole group that was sitting at Mar-a-Lago for several weeks and months after the election, I've heard a lot of similar stories that folks got called saying, hey, would you like to consider something?

He said, hop on a plane, come out here. Having a lot of friends of mine who are serving in this administration, your story sounds familiar, that folks that are close to this whole group that was sitting at Mar-a-Lago for several weeks and months after the election, I've heard a lot of similar stories that folks got called saying, hey, would you like to consider something?

And it was very open ended. It's like, we've gotten to know you, we trust you, you're reliable. But most importantly, we're looking for folks that have experience and acumen in operating a business in understanding how to manage at scale, and really have a similar sort of belief system, I would say to the folks that were stepping in to run this administration. So