I Don’t Need These Russians 117
could get excited about it, and that would result in funding
from NASA and an imperative to take things to the next
step,” Elon said.^57
But Elon and Ressi were no space engineers, so they
needed help. In August 2001, one month after they came
up with the idea to do space, Elon contacted the aerospace
consultant Jim Cantrell.
“I had the top down on my car, so all I could make
out was that some guy named Ian Musk was saying that
he was an Internet billionaire and needed to talk to me,”
Cantrell said. “I’m pretty sure he used that phrase, ‘Internet
billionaire.’ I told him I’d call him back when I got home,
but when I called, I got a fax machine. I said, ‘Sure, Internet
billionaire.’ Then my phone rang. I asked him what was
with the fax machine.”
“I don’t want you to know my cell number,” Elon
replied. “I want to change mankind’s outlook on being a
multi-planetary species. Can we meet this weekend? I have
a private jet, I’ll fly to your house.”
“No, I’ll meet you at the airport in Salt Lake,” Cantrell
replied. He wanted to meet in a secure environment where
Elon couldn’t bring a weapon.
After the meeting ended, Cantrell wasn’t suspicious
anymore. Cantrell decided to help Elon to put a team
together and see how much the project would cost.^278
They talked to contractors who could build the Mars Oasis
for a comparatively low cost. But to fulfill the mission
they needed more than one rocket, or launch vehicle in
aerospace-industry parlance. If the first rocket failed, they