T minus 10 interview series by space industry leader Dylan Taylor. This episode features NASA qualified Astronaut and rocket scientist, Livingston Holder.

1. An interview seires
with Dylan Taylor
T-MINUS 10
LIVINGSTON HOLDER
with

2. T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor
Livingston Holder is an aerospace engineering executive with 40+ years’ experience in systems
planning, design, development, operations, and management. His USAF experiences range
from serving as a satellite launch officer, to developing classified satellite systems, to training
to fly as a Manned Spaceflight Engineer (USAF Payload Specialist / Astronaut) for a classified
shuttle mission that was cancelled after the Challenger accident. His industry experience
started with Boeing where he supported the development of the ISS, leading their
International Integration team, developing crew modules, and developing prototype
international IVA and EVA protocols for future crews in a neutral buoyancy training
environment. Livingston co-founded Holder Aerospace to support technical and business
development for large and small businesses alike. This work has resulted in the development
of novel propulsion systems, techniques for large scale launch vehicles to be deployed from
cargo aircraft, and the production of privately operated human rated altitude chambers for
research and development. His success across a broad range of organizations and
technologies has given Livingston a deep appreciation for the role education served in his life and the
value it can provide to others. Accordingly, he has always encouraged youth seeking educational growth,
especially those from historically disenfranchised communities. His motto, “It’s good to know how things
work!” applies not only to technical systems, but political and human endeavors as well. His fundamental
belief is that we should strive to understand our universe as well as ourselves, which will aid our quest to
improve life for all of us.
ABOUT
LIVINGSTON HOLDER

3. Born in Detroit MI, moved to Louisville,
KY for grades 1-12.
10. WHAT IS YOUR
BACKGROUND, WHERE DID
YOU GROW UP?
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

4. I had a strong interest in science in grade school starting
with a moving model of the solar system that was in the
back of my classroom.I kept track of each NASA mission
on my radio, TV news and anytime there was a live
broadcast. Apollo 11 was the culminating event for me.
9. WHEN DID YOU FIRST BECOME
INTERESTED IN SPACE?
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

5. 8. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE
FACING THE INDUSTRY TODAY?
T H E U S S T R U G G L E S W I T H S U S T A I N A B L E N A T I O N A L D I R E C T I O N A N D
M A N Y C O U N T R I E S T A K E T H E I R L E A D F R O M T H E U S . E A C H U S
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N F E E L S I T M U S T P U T I T S S T A M P O N W H A T W E D O A S A
N A T I O N I N S P A C E , F O R C I N G C H A N G E S I N D I R E C T I O N E V E R Y 4 - 8 Y E A R S
W H I C H L E A D S T O I N C O N S I S T E N C Y O F P U R P O S E A N D A L A C K O F
M I S S I O N C O N T I N U I T Y . T H E I N T R O D U C T I O N O F C O M M E R C I A L S E R V I C E S
H A S H E L P E D , B U T I T I S S T I L L A N U P H I L L B A T T L E A S T H E G O V E R N M E N T I S
A L A R G E C O N S U M E R O F S P A C E S E R V I C E S A N D I N M A N Y W A Y S D R I V E S
W H A T C O M M E R C I A L S E R V I C E S W I L L B E O F F E R E D . T H E U S I S I N T H E
B E S T P O S I T I O N T O P R O V I D E G L O B A L L E A D E R S H I P , B U T W H E N I T D O E S
N O T , P R O G R E S S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D S L O W S .
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

6. 7. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO
DO FOR FUN?
I E N J O Y W O R K I N G I N M Y Y A R D . I H A V E A
C O U P L E O F A C R E S A N D T E N D I N G T O T H E L A W N
A N D P L A N T S I S V E R Y R E L A X I N G F O R M E . I ’ M
S O M E W H A T O F A H O M E B O D Y .
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

7. I think 2001 is still my favorite movie. I saw it
when I was young and could see the possibilities
of going to other planets in our solar system and
exploring the mysteries of the universe. It was
also beautifully shot.
6. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE
AND WHY?
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

8. Generally, I enjoy science fiction, but
have been reading more historical
accounts of people and events that
have had a large impact on society
over time. I really enjoyed Charles
Dulfer’s, “Hide and Seek: The Search
for Truth in Iraq.” I know Charles and
have an appreciation for what
happens behind the scenes and the
impact of global decision making,
coupled with hubris and fear.Andy
Weir’s, “The Martian” was fun as the
engineering behind the story was well
thought out.
5. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR
FAVORITE BOOKS?
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

9. 4. WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW?
I J U S T F I N I S H E D R A C H E L M A D D O W ’ S “ B L O W O U T : C O R R U P T E D
D E M O C R A C Y , R O G U E S T A T E R U S S I A , A N D T H E R I C H E S T , M O S T
D E S T R U C T I V E I N D U S T R Y O N E A R T H . ” T H E A R C O F H I S T O R Y I S L O N G ,
A N D W E R A R E L Y U N D E R S T A N D T H E I M P A C T O F O U R D E C I S I O N S O N
F U T U R E G E N E R A T I O N S O R T H E H E A L T H O F O U R P L A N E T M I X E D W I T H T H E
C O R R U P T I N G I N F L U E N C E O F M O N E Y O V E R M O R A L A N D E T H I C A L
B E H A V I O R . W E C A N N O T O F T E N P R E D I C T T H E L O N G - T E R M I M P A C T O F
O U R D E C I S I O N S B U T M U S T D O S O F O R T H E S A K E O F F U T U R E
G E N E R A T I O N S . I A L S O J U S T F I N I S H E D R O B E R T C O R A M ’ S “ B O Y D : T H E
F I G H T E R P I L O T W H O C H A N G E D T H E A R T O F W A R . ” T H E S T O R Y O F A
F I G H T E R P I L O T D R I V E N B Y I N S E C U R I T Y A N D T H E D E S I R E T O C H A N G E
F I G H T E R T A C T I C S , F I G H T E R A I R C R A F T A N D E V E N T U A L L Y H O W W E T H I N K
A B O U T W A R F A R E A N D T H E G R O W T H O F T H E I N D I V I D U A L .
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

10. 3. WHERE DO YOU SEE THE SPACE INDUSTRY
IN TEN YEARS? (1/3)
T H I S I S A T O U G H O N E . W H I L E G E N E R A L L Y O P T I M I S T I C , I ’ V E
W A T C H E D T H E S P A C E I N D U S T R Y L A N G U I S H I N T H E D O L D R U M S
F O R Y E A R S , M A K I N G S M A L L , I N C R E M E N T A L C H A N G E S O V E R
L O N G P E R I O D S . N A T I O N A L L Y , W E O P E R A T E I N S P U R T S A N D
O F T E N R U N O U T O F E N E R G Y W E L L B E F O R E W E A C C O M P L I S H A
G O A L . B E C A U S E T H E T I M E T O F R U I T I O N I S L O N G A N D T H E
E X P E N S E H I G H , I T I S D I F F I C U L T F O R N O V E L S P A C E P R O J E C T S T O
R E A C H M A T U R I T Y .
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

11. 3. WHERE DO YOU SEE THE SPACE INDUSTRY
IN TEN YEARS? (2/3)
T H I S I S W H E R E T H E U S G O V E R N M E N T H A S A N O U T S I Z E D I N F L U E N C E O N
T H E I N D U S T R Y . O U R W E A L T H P E R M I T S U S T O C R E A T E B R E A K T H R O U G H S ,
B U T O U R L A C K O F R E S O L V E L E A V E S M A N Y T E C H N I C A L L Y A C H I E V A B L E
A D V A N C E M E N T S U N M E T . U N F O R T U N A T E L Y , I S E E M O R E O F T H E S A M E .
S C I E N T I S T S W I L L F I G H T F O R B U D G E T F O R N E W S P A C E E X P L O R A T I O N
S Y S T E M S A N D S U C C E E D P E R I O D I C A L L Y C R E A T I N G A N E B B A N D F L O W O F
S C I E N T I F I C A C H I E V E M E N T T H A T M A T C H E S T H E F U N D I N G G A R N E R E D I N
P R E V I O U S A D M I N I S T R A T I O N S . T H E C O M M E R C I A L S A T E L L I T E I N D U S T R Y W I L L
B E D O M I N A T E D B Y T H E L A R G E G E O - C O M M S F O R R E V E N U E G E N E R A T I O N ,
B U T L A R G E R C O N S T E L L A T I O N S O F S M A L L E R S A T E L L I T E S W I L L G E N E R A T E
R E V E N U E O F T H E I R O W N A S T H E Y F I N D T H E I R W A Y I N T O U S A B L E L A N E S O F
V A L U E . S P A C E T R A N S P O R T A T I O N , W H I C H I N F L U E N C E S E V E R Y T H I N G E L S E
T H A T H A P P E N S I N S P A C E , I S O N T H E E D G E O F A N U M B E R O F
B R E A K T H R O U G H S , B U T W E H A V E A T E R R I B L E H A B I T O F T H R O W I N G A W A Y
O U R A D V A N C E D W O R K T O R E T R E N C H I N T O S A F E R T E C H N O L O G I E S .
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

12. 3. WHERE DO YOU SEE THE SPACE INDUSTRY
IN TEN YEARS? (3/3)
T H E X 1 5 F L E W 1 9 9 M I S S I O N S A N D A D V A N C E D O U R K N O W L E D G E O F H I G H A L T I T U D E ,
S U P E R S O N I C F L I G H T , O N L Y T O B E T O S S E D A S I D E I N F A V O R O F P U T T I N G M E N I N T O C A P S U L E S
O N T O P O F I R B M S A N D I C B M S . W E T H E N A D V A N C E D T H E V E R T I C A L L A U N C H T E C H N O L O G Y F O R
Y E A R S U N T I L W E B R O K E T H R O U G H W I T H T H E S H U T T L E , D R A W I N G F R O M O U R X - 1 5
K N O W L E D G E B A S E . M O S T C I V I L A N D A L O T O F M I L I T A R Y S P A C E T R A N S P O R T A T I O N R E S O U R C E S
W E R E T U R N E D T O W A R D T H A T E F F O R T S , B U T A F T E R T W O T R A G E D I E S , R A T H E R T H A N L E V E R A G I N G
O U R L E A R N I N G F R O M T H A T P R O G R A M , W E L E A P F R O G G E D B A C K W A R D S T O T R A D I T I O N A L
L A U N C H E R S , M O T H B A L L I N G W H A T W E L E A R N E D F R O M T H A T P R O G R A M , C R E A T I N G E E L V A N D
T H E C O N S T E L L A T I O N P R O G R A M , S P A W N I N G T H E A R E S L A U N C H V E H I C L E S A N D F I N A L L Y S L S .
T H E O N L Y N O V E L A D V A N C E M E N T C A M E W I T H S P A C E X C H O O S I N G T O R E U S E I T S B O O S T E R S O N
T R A D I T I O N A L R O C K E T S W I T H U P D A T E D T E C H N O L O G Y . I D O N ’ T S E E U S E S C A P I N G T H I S P O G O
S T I C K A P P R O A C H T O T H E S P A C E F L I G H T I N D U S T R Y U N L E S S T H E R E I S A B R E A K T H R O U G H T H A T
L E V E R A G E S A L L O F O U R P A S T L E A R N I N G T O P U S H T H E I N D U S T R Y F O R W A R D . I B E L I E V E T H A T
T H E E L E M E N T S F O R S U C H A B R E A K T H R O U G H A R E T H E R E , B U T T H E Q U E S T I O N I S , W I L L W E
A C H I E V E T H E A C T I V A T I O N E N E R G Y T O T R A N S F O R M I N T O A N E W T R A N S P O R T A T I O N S T A T E ? I F
W E D O , T H E N E V E R Y T H I N G W E D O I N T H E S P A C E I N D U S T R Y C H A N G E S D R A M A T I C A L L Y . I A M
H O P E F U L T H A T W E W I L L G E T T H E R E I N T H E N E X T 1 0 Y E A R S .
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

13. Find what you enjoy and do it.
Learn all you can about how we
got where we are today and
figure out a way to make the
future better with your
knowledge. The space industry
tends to move slowly but has
spurts of thrilling advancement.
It is worth the wait for the
periods of advancement.
Persevere!
2. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL
PEOPLE JUST STARTING OUT IN
THE SPACE INDUSTRY?
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

14. Persevering
Easygoing
Thoughtful - as in seeking knowledge and
understanding of how things work. My motto is,
“It’s good to know how things work”
1. WHAT THREE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOU?
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES | Dylan Taylor

15. Have someone to recommend
for an interview? Contact me!
T-MINUS 10 INTERVIEW SERIES
WITH LEADERS OF THE SPACE
INDUSTRY
www.dylantaylor.org