254: Why Should We Invest in Space Exploration?
“Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said, “Because it is there.” Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there.
The growth of our science and education will be enriched by new knowledge of our universe and environment, by new techniques of learning and mapping and observation, by new tools and computers for industry, medicine, the home as well as the school…”
— John F. Kennedy speaking at Rice University, September 12, 1962
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Dr. Stern and his team celebrating New Horizon’s successful flyby of Pluto on July 14, 2015.
Guest
Dr. Alan Stern is an aerospace executive and planetary scientist with experience on 29 space mission teams, 14 of which he played the role of principal investigator. Among those, he is the leader of NASA’s New Horizons, the first mission to explore Pluto and the Kuiper Belt—making the farthest exploration of other worlds in history.
An artist’s rendering of New Horizon when it’s about to fly past Pluto and one of its moons after traveling for 9 years and more than 3 billion miles.
Summary
Our conversation explored a number of questions:
Why was the exploration of Pluto important? How does it remain so?
What are the leadership lessons associated with the program?
How can leaders encourage the identification of problems that could compromise a mission?
Why is it essential to have a precise mission goal and sub-objectives?
What qualities should leaders look for when hiring people?
How can educators use space exploration to inspire students toward science and engineering careers?
Why is the continued exploration of space critical?
References/Links
instagram - chasingnewhorizons2018
Twitter - @AlanStern
New York Times article on the flyby (great illus)
https://www.vox.com/2015/7/16/8980397/pluto-mission-cost
Where is the money best spent: on space exploration or domestic support programs?
Show Credits
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