Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck & Kerbal Space Program

A couple of months ago I asked for Rocket Lab flags and logos in Kerbal Space Program, and Rocket Lab agreed! So I sat down with CEO and long time rocket builder Peter Beck to talk about what Rocket Lab is doing and to try to fly Kerbal versions of the Electron and Photon.
You can of course get Kerbal Space Program on PC/Mac/Linux/Playstation/XBox
www.kerbalspaceprogram.com/
And you can find out more about Rocket Lab and the Electron launch vehicle at their website:
www.rocketlabusa.com/

[@MattLowne]

My favourite fact about Peter Beck is that his high school careers counsellor requested a meeting with his parents, because they were concerned that his dream job to build rockets was "absurdly unachievable" 🚀

[@garyteano3026]

That’s very Australian/New Zealander of them tbh

[@MeppyMan]

Well they aren’t wrong. But at some stage someone has to be that person who makes it happen. Kiwi ingenuity at its finest.

[@_reverse-psycho_855]

What if someone said the same thing to Elon?

[@pubgrub2294]

Just watched jool 5, the story about your flat was really entertaining lol

[@Live.Vibe.Lasers]

Just remember..high school career councelors became *high school career counselors* for their careers..

[@k1dicarus]

Scott Manley making a noob mistake in KSP in front of a rocket company CEO and drowning in shame is the best moment in gaming 2020.

[@fridaycaliforniaa236]

Damn true 😂😂

[@DanKirkwoodTV]

The embarassment as you lose control of Peter's life's work really makes this video great from the start!

[@bobbob123ful]

Dan Kirkwood So true

[@alon4039]

😭

[@joniz4718]

omg its 420 cant like sry

[@LaVaProductions]

That was a nice ice breaker

[@julietechotangohotelalphai1148]

Who's here after Peter accidentally pressed retrograde on his lastest rocket launch

[@theredstonehive]

Scott has been training his entire life playing kerbal for this interview only to press retrograde instead of prograde.

[@julietechotangohotelalphai1148]

Who's here after Peter accidentally pressed retrograde on his lastest rocket launch

[@calfeinated]

"We really don't wanna see that happen" - Peter Beck, after seeing a bald man turn an orbital rocket into a missile

[@vicentecrestani1278]

And then neglecting the flight termination button ... °o° Oouuuf that's a paddling...

[@Reth_Hard]

A Kerbal probably installed a sensor in reverse position or maybe the flight computer was programmed to store a 64 bit variable into a 16 bit variable? I guess we'll have to wait for the conclusion of the investigation to really know what happened ... :P

[@johnnyringo2670]

@@Reth_Hard a piece of foam from the tanks being cooled hit the fin...

[@Reth_Hard]

@@johnnyringo2670 Hum, I don't think that piece of foam could have caused any damage to the rocket, it is way too light for that... lol

[@3ddan148]

@@Reth_Hard he is reffering to the shuttle that had foam come off the fuel tank and punched a hole in the wing.

[@Studio23Media]

This should be a series. Interview aerospace CEOs while you try to put their rockets into orbit.

[@nicholasconklin9586]

Interview CEOs while your blow their rockets into the ground

[@fridaycaliforniaa236]

Yayy, great idea =)

[@RWBHere]

Not many would step up to the plate, and be so open and honest, but it would be a great idea, if they did.

[@irelae]

Yes!

[@YukonK9]

I really like how interactive Peter Beck is to the space community

[@runem5429]

Peter has a touch interface..

[@jmilleronaire]

I agree - he's like just another one of us space rocket fans -- he just happens to also kinda have this rocket company thing he does.

[@GSF404]

Elon Musk is also pretty interactive with 'some' of the community.

[@-danR]

He's something of an inspiration to people who didn't go through college; but that said, people who are level-headed no-nonsense folk. He also has a thorough grounding in hands-on fabrication in a formal commercial/industrial setting. In other words, he wasn't one of those thousands of KZbin parroting "I'm learning more from Smarter-Every-Day (Science Asylum, whatever) than a whole year of high-school" sort of guy.

[@runem5429]

@@GSF404 You mean goth girls ;)

[@thePronto]

"The 'point prograde' button is right next to the 'point retrograde' button." Proton guys: "Quick, check we aren't doing that. ... Son of a..."

[@catfish552]

They had a gyro mounted upside down, which I guess is the equivalent of putting your probe core on the wrong way around.

[@stixsclan8019]

Proton guy: oh I see, we’re doing the same. Well that’s interesting cause... sun of a *****

[@jamesmcmillanclyne391]

unrelated to the video but my Space Systems lecturer at Uni recommended to us watching Scott Manley videos

[@kworkshop]

That's awesome!

[@scottmanley]

I hope they told you which ones because I do some stupid stuff.

[@timoheinz2879]

@@scottmanley no you don't

[@jebkerman7199]

Don’t say that Scott!!!

[@Weisior]

@@scottmanley thats the spirit! hahaha

[@elijahwills7331]

I NEEDED THIS. aerospace company CEO, Scott, and Kerbal Space Program? brilliant.

[@uneducatedseinor4962]

I’m dead I wonder how Scott was feeling after flipping his rocket

[@patricktho6546]

He obviously needs to play KSP more often :D

[@P8nda]

@@patricktho6546 Scott who has been playing KSP for over 9 years: *You dare oppose me mortal?*

[@Kineth1]

@@P8nda I think we can all agree that Scott needs to play more KSP. What else is there to watch on KZbin?

[@-danR]

I think he just wanted to troll Peter Beck.

[@tscchope]

Damn. This isn't an interview with Elon Musk.

[@ChadSimplicio]

Maybe a future Rocket Lab Electron mission will be named, "Flying Safe w/ Mr. Manley."

[@markmitchenall5948]

I can envisage a time in our near future that Scott'll get to fly someone's orbital rocket. Looking forward to that!

[@crzmovie]

Peter is an absolutely delightful person.

[@NekoAerospaceSFS]

Peter Beck is being amazing. Love when he smiled at the part at the beginning when electron flipped

[@lordderpington8021]

i miss the old days of interstellar quest. Seeing KSP on scott's channel always brings a smile to my face.

[@RAiNfORAiNbOW]

cant wait for KSP2 old days will be back

[@AoiKaze2000]

@@RAiNfORAiNbOW You can always try to build it out using the USI stuff until then....

[@janmelantu7490]

Archibald, Sean, and Lanbur will never be forgotten

[@personzorz]

Interstellar Quest got me through long overnight experiments poking yeast for my PhD

[@tirthachakrabarti5912]

Is 'Interstellar quest' a full preparation from scratch to final interstellar voyage? What is the content actually?

[@lewismassie]

16:29 That tweet is Peter replying to me asking if he still had his bike last year lmao

[@alon4039]

😂

[@The.RandomTube]

Hmm, I didn't know about the bike 😂

[@SixDasher]

Scott trying to impress Peter with KSP. Peter thinking "Mate, I do this stuff for real every day".

[@nesa1126]

"Look ma: A flip" Peter terrified

[@XseuguhX]

"There is a lot of secret sauce down there", Peter Beck, 2020

[@Kineth1]

I heard this almost at the same time i read your comment.

[@-danR]

@@Kineth1 Freaky stuff happens. I was once typing "It's an example..." a few milliseconds before Shawn Woods (mousetrap Monday) was _saying_ "It's an example...". Calculate the odds. Three words (we both used the contracted "it's" btw), two of them high-frequency, "example" moderate frequency. I think I'd go through several lifetimes typing into youTube hours a day before that ever happened again.

[@ectogaming20]

2 minutes in and he hit retrograde. oh this is glorious

[@tippyc2]

Had me cracking up.

[@holyravioli5795]

"Ah Jesus god thats a bit grim" what a brilliant lad

[@LB-fx1kn]

Fairly sure it's "ah jeepers Scott"

[@TH-ph7gg]

companies like Rocket Lab makes you believe in humankind

[@vallabhkavi1477]

Scott reaction after he hit retrograde made my day dude lolol

[@nigemelville3839]

Great interview and he is a very down-to-earth intelligent guy

[@-danR]

Very chill, very no-nonsense.

[@Peter_S_]

"Oh jeepers Scott, that's a bit grim." ROTFLMAO!!!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@cwtrain]

Seriously. That hyper-subdued reaction to basically the worst thing possible thing happening kills me.

[@heartofdawn2341]

@@cwtrain Us Kiwis tend to be quite understated in our humor. It's a very dry wit.

[@TheBackyardChemist]

@@heartofdawn2341 I can recommend the YT channel of Marco Reps then. It is absolutely full of dry German humor. And precision instruments.

[@mrflippant]

@@TheBackyardChemist You can always tell a German. But you can't tell him much.

[@ahannam7817]

The man always seems so mellow and pleasant., And you do to Scott.

[@Volamek]

Only Scott Manley would play KSP with Peter Beck! Haha Epic!

[@GargantuanMonster]

Did they add "Peterbeck Kerman" to the list of kerbonaut names?

[@MoonWeasel23]

KSP Fans: we want Rocket Lab logos! Peter Beck: Sure KSP Fans: ... You will?

[@Seafox0011]

He did!

[@XxKidnoffxX]

It's a mod or we really have that logo vanilla?

[@nilsdock]

@@XxKidnoffxX its in vanilla

[@joannehart9624]

Go Rocket Lab! Go Peter Beck! Such exciting time for us space lovers. ❤️❤️

[@lloydtshare]

self-taught people with experience are the best out there

[@neithere]

They may lack a more systematic knowledge but they are able to continuously find solutions and adapt.

[@favesongslist]

Self taught - Real rockets, Academics - computer simulations, No wonder Elon Musk says he does not care if you ever went to school to work for SpaceX. Peter Beck is one awesome dude.

[@neithere]

@@favesongslist to be fair, I don't think statistics are in favour of self-taught "real rocket persons" right now :) but looks like it's changing the way it happened in software engineering.

[@favesongslist]

@@neithere I was not trying to imply that having say a doctorate in rockets is not worthwhile, just many of the latest leaps in rocket tech have been at least partly due to self taught engineers.

[@timothyblazer1749]

@@favesongslist what Beck really did was prove two things: composite rockets work, and electric pumps for small rockets work. Those two things alone would have stymied a professional due to past failures, not realizing that materials have progressed enough to overcome them.

[@EritoKaio]

Oh my! I loved this video. Thanks Scott for bringing the man himself for an interview.

[@chiaratomasella]

Never heard such a funny laughter from him 😂 Peter: "Uhu, we don't want this to happen" - Memorable ♡

[@Nick-bh5uk]

I only just realized just how appropriately the Photon is named. You have an Electron, you raise it to an excited state (sub-orbital trajectory), it emits a photon and then falls back down to the ground state.

[@richhagenchicago]

brilliant!

[@mgpmisterk2322]

hes so humble and nice, what an awesome guy.

[@HiroNguy]

Scott this is one of the best interviews I've seen anywhere. I really got a feeling of Peter freely showing his personal self, his passion for this industry and his geeking out over the tech. Maybe some day I'll get to meet both of you! Cheers & Happy Solstice!

[@julese7790]

Woh, a microphone on Venus ? Mr Beck that's wonderful :)

[@SuperPelaro]

The legends say that, to this day, Scott are replaying that exact moment over and over again in his head while mumbling something about safety in flying.

[@Harsha.12]

Big Rocket Guy : *MARS* Small Rocket Guy : *Venus*

[@patreekotime4578]

Me: the grocery store during holiday covid panic.

[@wallissimpson5414]

Venus is more interesting imo

[@emeraldstuff2847]

Venus is bigger than mars

[@wallissimpson5414]

@@emeraldstuff2847 Nearly the same size as Earth!

[@mbj__]

Peter Beck is such a fantastic Ambassadeur for the Space Industry.

[@Rabbiturtacorn]

This was really cool. You should do more of these with folks from some of the private space agency's. I didn't know anything about Rocket Lab but, I am a big proponent for Venus and hearing Peter say that was really exciting for me!

[@XxCreateFlowxX]

I've seen a little bit about rocket lab, mainly just how their electron rocket works and watching a few launches. But I didnt know they were aiming for Venus, that awesome. Venus is crazy and we dont have much data from their. I think it was the 70's when Russia went there.

[@paulhaynes8045]

Probably the nicest man in the rocket business - long may he prosper. How weird is it to hear him talking about the moon and Venus, though. It seems only yesterday that we were impressed with such a tiny rocket just getting to orbit! It will be amazing when Space X's 'baby brother' gets to the moon first - and then Venus! Thanks Scott.

[@filyn]

Alright this is the most fun I've ever had watching an interview 😂

[@redwalsh87]

I got the impression Scott was a little bit giddy with a side of nervousness. But it was Peter Beck, I would be too!

[@DougsMessyGarage]

Major kudos to Peter for making himself available to KZbinrs like Scott.

[@nerdtronaut]

Next time: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk & Kerbal Space Program

[@bee5440]

I bet Elon already plays tbh

[@insanelyme938]

@@bee5440 he plays it irl tho

[@nilsdock]

well we need the logos for SpaceX so please make this happen.

[@panzerknoef]

Honestly yeah, I would love to see that happen! Someone tweet the man about it

[@jakkll]

Peter, Elon, Scott playing Darkmultiplayer mod

[@MrHws5mp]

My late uncle had much the same career path: started off as an apprentice on the shop floor of a big engineering company then worked his way up the drawing office. It builds a very good skill set, because when you get to the point of designing things for manufacture yourself, it's invaluable to have that experience of actually machining them and putting them together with your own hands at the other end of the process. Sadly, we don't see enough of it these days: too many companies don't want to invest in real training, and too many school-leaver are fixated on a university qualification as a fast-track to a high-flying career, and are too impatient to spend years 'paying their dues'.

[@quaidbergo]

I think Scott flipped the rocket just to check if Peter was paying attention! That was great. Scott turned bright red!

[@magneticm527]

This is an incredible video. Scott performs once again!

[@zalf1641]

Wait wait wait wait, is Peter saying that Rocketlab is aiming to get to Venus with an Electron? If so, WOW and HOW!? Mr. Manley I demand a video!

[@donjones4719]

HOW? Peter beck will get to Venus by being very smart. Actually, I keep hearing that once you've reached orbit you're halfway to anywhere in the solar system (almost). Escape velocity can be achieved with so much less fuel than it takes to get to orbit. I can't explain how the physics and math works, though. But absolutely, I'll love seeing Scott do this - and not just in Kerbal but with teal physics!

[@adamb8317]

It depends heavily on the specifics of the orbital mechanics. The delta v requirement for earth orbit is roughly 9.3 km/s. Only 3.3 km/s additional delta v is required in order to reach Venus if the probe is able to aerobrake in Venus' atmosphere. Otherwise, it's an additional 2.5 - 3 km/s to be captured/descend onto Venus. Most of your delta v goes into Earth Orbit.

[@MuhsinFatih]

"you can't paint things black in kerbal" MODS: HOLD MY BEER

[@weatherman5124]

This is actually amazing. Definitely going to enjoy this one, thanks Scott. :D

[@thomashiggins9320]

Beck refined his own peroxide rocket fuel in a shed in his back yard. That's kind of awesome. :)

[@-danR]

A kindred spirit. I was more into nitroglycerin, which has dubious monopropellant potential.

[@johndododoe1411]

I recall another mostly self-taught rocket guy doing that, unfortunately the guy was so extreme (as a person), he's now serving a lifetime prison sentence.

[@heartofdawn2341]

@@-danR Do you still have both eyebrows?

[@johndododoe1411]

@Jesse M Not as extreme as that guy I mentioned. But the ULA chief engineer would be an obvious guest on this series.

[@mastershooter64]

@@-danR do you still have your fingers?

[@Jack-ul8nn]

Go New Zealand!

[@jackgibbons6013]

Invercargill none the less.

[@LockeRobsta]

It sounds like Peter is talking to us from inside the rocket via ground control.

[@LockeRobsta]

Its so refreshing to see a Kerbal master like Scott still make little mistakes every now and then. Love you Scott, great interview too mate.

[@allen046]

Great interview with Peter Beck, he seems to be a really down too Earth person .

[@ryanedwards4636]

That pun was brutal But funny

[@macro820]

He looks like the villan from incredibles he seems like a great guy

[@_reverse-psycho_855]

Imagine this, but with Elon Musk. Rocket: *Starts flying uncontrollably" Scott: "Uh oh" Elon: "hehehehehehehehehe....."

[@_reverse-psycho_855]

Even worse.... CEO of NASA: Scott: "uh oh" Nasa: "Noooooooo ur wasting all our money" Scott: "..." Nasa: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" "

[@stixsclan8019]

Falcon 9:*Goes out of control* Scott: Sun of a *****! ****!

[@haakonht]

"Been there, done that"

[@IgneusDei2]

This is one of the coolest videos I've seen in a while. Thanks to both Scott and Peter for this!

[@omsrswt]

Peter Beck seems like a beautiful person , comes off as kind, pragmatic, very intelligent and with a developed appreciation for elegance and aesthetics. He seems a little forlorn here and I hope that he's doing alright. Rocket on, kiwi spaceman.

[@markmitchenall5948]

Great interview! Thanks both of you!

[@Cnupoc]

2:47 that engine looks really clean indeed. wow

[@ProBioMech]

If you every wondered how Kiwi Peter is you just need to know he built a rocket in ‘a wee garden shed’. The same place many solid Kiwi innovations have originated.

[@RWBHere]

Peter Beck is my favourite Kiwi. Thanks to both of you for the interview.

[@fridaycaliforniaa236]

I laughed my ass when the rocket failed at launch, and Peter saying : "you don't wanna see that happen" Omg that killed me 😂😂😂

[@SVanDykTX]

Great lighthearted but informative interview. We need more like this.

[@fridaycaliforniaa236]

We need a mission with a "FLY SAFE" name on it ! 😂

[@kokomo9764]

I enjoyed this interview.

[@sixstringedthing]

Scott's face at around 06:45 when he has a brief almost-Kraken-summoning glitch is priceless! Peter's a legend, when he mentioned needing a great deal of respect for HTP I suspect he was hinting at having learned a few exciting lessons along the way. 😁 Three and a half years to put the first electrically pumped liquid smallsat launcher into orbit reliably. Incredible work.

[@methyod]

this is one of the best interviews i've ever watched.

[@chadcrotts870]

Here’s hoping this will become a regular series!!

[@pesterenan]

Oh yes KZbin, this is something I want to see! Hullo!

[@MrFerrariF360]

That was a great interview. Really informative and down to earth.

[@julianrichards8337]

That was a great interview. 😁😁😁🚀🚀🚀

[@lordonad]

Awesome video. Kerbal and actual Rocket science in the same video. Best of both worlds :)

[@CalebMaclennan]

Scott talks about space while playing Kerbal? Sure sign me up. … hears Peter's voice … WHAT‽ Yes please and thank you!

[@rogerstone3068]

Love the attention to detail - Kerbal visor comes down whilst laser welding.

[@neevenzz4627]

It's awesome to see Scott excited to play Kerbal. I miss the regular uploads!

[@jonathankrause7395]

Hey Scott, could you make a video about the German rocket companies RFA, Isar Aerospace and Hylmpulse? I would really love to hear a little bit about them. It is also planned to launch rockets of the North Sea no later than 2023.

[@Imbeachedwhale]

For a couple months, my career save has had a contract to put a geostationary satellite around Eve. I’ve completely ignored that for a while, focusing on others that could be completed quickly (25 year deadline). Yesterday I realized I could emulate the Rocketlab planned private Venus mission, logos and all. Trying to keep the rocket as small as possible to emulate Electron and Photon will be fun.

[@williamyamm8803]

Electron rocket is so cool, Peter Beck too. Thanks for the video. Greeting fro France !

[@heavyheadbanger1]

Proton rocket: the opposite of the Electron rocket. Love it

[@dimitrioslianos511]

And you make an atomic 🚀☢🎤🎵🪘🪘🔭📡⚗ rockets by putting this two together...

[@LJSpit]

cool rocket, cool people, cool company, impressive accomplishments and dreams I am sure will come true. Thanks Peter and Scott.

[@ariochiv]

Beck seems like a great guy. Seeing this really improved my impression of Rocket Labs.

[@brianfisher7385]

This guy is such an inspiration. Took what he loves and turned it into a legacy. Small rockets can do big things. Can't wait to see what Rocket Lab does in 2021!

[@ThizzRyuko]

Love you videos Scott Manly and by far this is 1 of my top favourite

[@Maeyanie]

First time seeing an interview with this guy, but I like him already.

[@kayboku7281]

I felt like it was disrespectful of scott to be distracted and playing ksp while conducting this interview. Peter Beck has so many amazing things to say, and has started a successful rocket launch company in a country that had no history of building rockets!

[@ethanwells7856]

Loved this video

[@patricks_music]

Great interview Scott! Very interesting and cool stuff

[@janmelantu7490]

I have never clicked on a video faster

[@donjones4719]

This truly is the best way to interview a space company CEO/rocket designer: Get them involved at their nerd level and just keep a conversation going.

[@simongeard4824]

Indeed, he and Elon are very similar in that respect (if nothing else)... give them an interviewer who understands their work, and they'll happily talk for hours. I loved Tim Dodd's interview with Peter... just two geeks hanging out on the launch pad, talking rockets.

[@SwampMonster1]

This really has been RocketLab’s standout year. Thanks for getting him on Scott.

[@georgegherghinescu]

Awesome guest!

[@RightWingNutter]

Learned rockets by messing around with them. That he’s alive with all appendages and still messing with them is impressive.

[@dba750]

Love hearing our kiwi accent on these vlogs! Awesome

[@skippityblippity8656]

How cool is this? I want to work for this guy some day

[@Andy81ish]

Go Rocket Labs, best of luck next year and hope you guys start nailing recovery.

[@richhagenchicago]

I have worked on projects with tremendous pressure and deadlines, but I would bet that Mr. Beck would be pretty cool to work for/with.

[@W1ldTangent]

Rocket Lab is quickly becoming just as prestigious and impressive as SpaceX.. they're certainly on the same level as far as ambition goes. I look forward to seeing them continue to innovate and evolve.