But why some say the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain?

Why 35 years ago? Fly the Atlantic. Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the

moon. We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this

decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. When John F. Kennedy gave his speech at Rice University about going to the moon and launching the entire Apollo program,

if we didn't take those kinds of risks, there wouldn't probably be a space shell, a space station, have the opportunity

to potentially have our children taking rides into space.

And then think of all the technologies that spawn off of the space program at computers and

phones and GPS systems.

Unless you're willing to take on those kinds of risks, you'll never really push the boundaries of technology and develop those game-changing capabilities that we're looking for.

This is Mike Swanson. He's currently SkunkWork's chief engineer and was previously the program manager on many projects.

This episode of the podcast is all about SkunkWorks' relationship with risk.

Skunkworks engineers have a willingness to take on projects that most others wouldn't

because the chances to succeed are too small or too difficult.

Throughout the Skunkworks history, there's been this idea that we're out there

pushing the boundaries and taking risks. I mean, even the formation of the skunkworks with the development

of the XP80. At the time, Lockheed was fully engaged in producing Hudson bombers and P-38s. I mean,

they had the Burbank factories completely filled up.

Even Kelly Johnson starting the Skunk Works was a risk itself.

But he had no resources, right? He had to set up his own little shop on the side of the Burbank

factory. I think that the thing that impressed me the most when I first joined the Skunk Works

was the culture here.

My first design job was working on the Jasm Cruise Missile.

...