Today immediately before today's landing of @NASAPersevere, I had the honor and pleasure of discussing the significance of today's successful mission with my @dexterlearning Astronautics 101 students.
And I have good news to share, real cause for optimism.
And I have good news to share, real cause for optimism.
What many grownups overlooked is today's landing of Mars Rover Perseverance–launched this past July atop one of the most successful rockets in history of space exploration: @ulalaunch's mighty #AtlasV–is the first major successful space mission for a generation of young students.
When I was 4 humans walked on the moon.
When I was 8 astronauts lived in space on Skylab.
When I was 16 the Space Shuttle launched.
These moments define me as a person. Essentially, each one led me to be looking forward to the future.
Each one fueled me with possibilities.
When I was 8 astronauts lived in space on Skylab.
When I was 16 the Space Shuttle launched.
These moments define me as a person. Essentially, each one led me to be looking forward to the future.
Each one fueled me with possibilities.
Talking about today's mission, my @dexterlearning class discussed space jobs, like engineer, like astrobiologist.
Like mission control, like mathematician.
Like space athlete, like space YouTuber.
Most importantly, jobs they had been given permission to imagine for themselves.
Like mission control, like mathematician.
Like space athlete, like space YouTuber.
Most importantly, jobs they had been given permission to imagine for themselves.
Permission granted, we then discussed failure. To get to succeed, we all know failure happens. This is true of space. This is true of science. This is crucially true of life.
So: we talked about the diligence it takes to insure the math and trajectories are perfect for landing.
So: we talked about the diligence it takes to insure the math and trajectories are perfect for landing.
With all of that–knowledge, inspiration, empowerment, and wisdom–we wrapped up class and I did what every good teacher does with our prized students: I set them free to go experience life for themselves.
Well equipped, they flew off in all the directions to take in THEIR story.
Well equipped, they flew off in all the directions to take in THEIR story.
IOW, an entire classroom of excited young children witnessed the impossible become reality today, and it is going to inspire their possibilities for the future for the rest of their lives.
That's what we did today. Us people. We Earth humans.
IOW, you and me? Today we did good.
That's what we did today. Us people. We Earth humans.
IOW, you and me? Today we did good.
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