It is with great sadness that tonight we say goodbye to one of the greatest visionaries and inventors of our time, Sir Arthur C. Clarke.

I have had the honor of knowing Arthur C. Clarke as a friend and mentor for more than 25 years -- first as an advisor to SEDS, then as the Chancellor of the International Space University (ISU). As a visionary, writer and technologist, Arthur painted a vision of what might be and inspired many to make it real. Arthur understood that we humans must become a space-faring people… that we must continue to explore and push our frontiers outward if we are to survive as a species. He inspired us with his words and his ideas, and we at the X PRIZE Foundation honor his commitment to exploration through our work.

Several months ago Arthur said in one of his year-end letters: "Notwithstanding the remarkable accomplishments during the past 50 years, I believe that the Golden Age of space travel is still ahead of us." We whole heartedly agree!

Arthur once said, there are three phases to a great idea: “The first phase is when people tell you it’s a crazy idea, it will never work; the second phase is when people say, it might work, but it’s not worth doing; and the third phase is when people say, I told you that was a great idea all along!” We at the X PRIZE Foundation know that feeling… and Arthur was one of my great supporters to pursue the original Ansari X PRIZE, and the many prizes that followed. Thank you Arthur for encouraging our crazy ideas!

Peter H. Diamandis, MD
Winner, 2008 Arthur C. Clarke Award for Innovation
Chairman, X PRIZE Foundation