Rick Tumlinson
Leader of the NewSpace Revolution
Inspiring Fearless, Purpose-Driven Leadership
From working-class roots to the forefront of the NewSpace revolution, Rick brings a message for people and organizations ready to transcend limits: "Give yourself Permission to Dream, find your Purpose, push beyond the edges, and live life without boundaries.”.
“Rick channels the spirit of Star Trek’s boldest captains as he pushes humanity to reach farther, think deeper, and dream bigger.”
Rod Roddenberry, CEO, Roddenberry Entertainment
“Rick is the godfather of commercial space.”
Greg Autry, Nominee – Chief Financial Officer, NASA
“Rick channels the spirit of Star Trek’s boldest captains as he pushes humanity to reach farther, think deeper, and dream bigger.”
Rod Roddenberry, CEO, Roddenberry Entertainment
“Rick is the godfather of commercial space.”
Greg Autry, Nominee – Chief Financial Officer, NASA
New book
Rick's mission:
To empower visionaries, founders, teams, and leaders to open space and elevate life on Earth through courage, innovation, and an unshakable belief in human potential.
Rick's mission:
To empower visionaries, founders, teams, and leaders to open space and elevate life on Earth through courage, innovation, and an unshakable belief in human potential.
New book
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Who Is Rick Tumlinson? A space leader’s leader.
For over 30 years Rick has been one of the top thought leaders of the space community - the acknowledged champion of opening space to life and humanity. His essays, Opinion pieces, and testimony have shifted the direction of the U.S. space program. His willingness to speak truth to power has earned him relationships with the billionaires building the rocketships, and the admiration of an industry - that he has helped transform.
Driving Private Space Investment
Co-founder of SpaceFund and Deep Space Industries, advancing private space investment and innovation worldwide.
Artemis Catalyst & Commercial Access
Helped inspire NASA’s Artemis mission and shaped commercial access to space through groundbreaking advocacy and leadership.
Founding Force of NewSpace
Founding leader of the Space Frontier Foundation, pioneering the “NewSpace” movement and private exploration.
The Space revolution - a history and manifesto
Keynote
Why the Moon?
In this keynote, Rick talks about why the Moon is our gateway: training ground, fuel depot, and launchpad for Mars—plus the resources, geopolitics, and choices shaping the lunar frontier.
TEDxWaterStreet - The Space Revolution and The Purpose of People
Rick Tumlinson inspires organizations through his keynotes
Rick Tumlinson’s keynotes invite audiences on a journey through humanity’s unfolding story of exploration, innovation, and purpose. Blending decades of experience in the space industry with a storyteller’s instinct, he reveals how the drive to explore beyond Earth mirrors our deepest need to grow, create, and transcend boundaries.
Current Keynotes
A fast-paced tour of the private space race—why billionaires are betting big, what’s at stake, and how today’s choices will shape our future beyond Earth.
The real reasons we’re racing back: resources, geopolitics, and the Moon as gateway, training ground, and fuel stop for Mars and beyond.
A personal, big-picture talk on why humanity must go—and how opening the High Frontier helps each of us find purpose here on Earth.
From commercial stations and lunar settlements to asteroid mining, Rick maps the next 20–100 years—what’s possible, what’s probable, and what’s up to us.
Rick’s origin story meets humanity’s—an uplifting keynote on meaning, responsibility, and why space matters culturally, spiritually, and economically.
How AI becomes our co-pilot in space—from mission planning to autonomous craft—and the big questions as our creations learn, explore, and evolve.
A heartfelt tribute to sci-fi’s power to shape real lives—how stories forged Rick’s path and can help anyone dream bigger, act braver, and build the future.
Beyond clichés of toughness: a raw, funny, challenging take on modern masculinity—courage, vulnerability, purpose, and service for leaders today.
Break the brainwash of “old”: practical strategies and stories for turning age into fuel—more wisdom, more daring, more impact at any stage.
Rick Tumlinson's founded projects
Founded projects
The Space Revolution
Founded projects
Earthlight Foundation
Founded projects
Space Frontier Foundation
Founded projects
New Worlds
Founded projects
SpaceFund™
