Rest in peace, and ad astra.
Rick was one of the earliest NASA astronauts to recognize the value and potential of commercial human spaceflight. RIP to a great and literally inspiring guy. https://t.co/lEFeR4JfMD
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) October 9, 2018
Unfortunately, I’m still stuck in FL, and won’t be able to attend the service on Friday in Tehachapi.
This is so, so sad. I didn’t realize that he was younger that I am. He was a great guy, and a genuine enthusiast of Newspace. He, along with the whole XCOR team saved the 2005 XPRIZE Cup with the EZ Rocket.
Rest in peace, Rick. You made this world a better place.
Rick was our “NASA surplus” astronaut as I put it back then. I was privileged to be flight crew with him aboard the first four flights of the X-racer, hard to believe that was over a decade ago. Fly high Rick.
Very sad news indeed. He grew up in New Hampshire near me, I was at the Cape to see his first launch (which was scrubbed, alas) but did meet him a couple of times. What a loss.