| Posted on Oct 29, 2008 09:36:12 AM | Steven Gonzalez | 62 Comments | |
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I must admit that last week I got that pleased, grateful feeling like the one I get from being "carded" at the grocery store checkout line when I purchase a bottle of wine. It has been a while since I was the age of a Gen Y'er, but I took it as a great complement to be mistaken for one last week. For those that do not know me, I am a "Baby Boomer" with 20 years of experience at JSC and most of my blog entries have been from a "boomer" perspective. Granted, those that know me best would not categorize me as having the typical "Baby Boomer" perspective, but is there really a perspective that captures an entire Generation? No, but I do think there is a difference between the image we have of NASA before we arrive and the image after we have been supporting this great organization. So, let me share how the image changed for me and why it is good to revisit our original vision. To that end, join me in visualizing those two images.
For many in my generation it was the Apollo program or Star Trek that sealed our future with NASA. For me it was the original voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Yes, I am one of those that would love to see the mission of the agency to be, "To Boldly Go where No one has gone before." My expectation was that upon entering the gates of NASA, I would find someone working on the Warp drive or a transporter. I thought that there would be people working on projects that pushed the boundaries of space and time. I expected Mission Control to look like the deck of the Enterprise. Instead, I found the Apollo Mission Control configuration that worked exceedingly well into the late 1980's. Now don't get me wrong; I believe that we are executing some very exciting missions and have some incredible technology projects occurring in various organizations around the Agency. My point is that my vision of where NASA was heading was different from the reality. I also found that many of my colleagues shared the same opinion.
Over the past 20 years that vision has been challenged by the realities of what is currently possible in the realm of human spaceflight. My original naiveté was reframed by the wisdom gained over the years and yet, there is much to be gained from recapturing the original vision we had when we first drove through the front gate. About 10 years ago I tried to recapture my initial feeling when I first arrived at JSC. It's a long, but great story that can be found in the archived article from the NASA ASK magazine. The end result was that I was able to create a lab focused on looking at the leading and even bleeding edge of technology development. I found exciting research occurring inside and outside the agency that reminded me of the Star Trek technologies. There was the quantum pair possibility of either instant communication over large distances or teleportation and the potential holodeck application of the 3D visualization research at the University of Central Florida. In recapturing my original vision I found labs around the Agency that were collaborating and searching for new, creative ideas around the world.
Now in 2008 I find myself wondering, what was that original vision of NASA for many of my Generation and the following Generations? What are the reasons why that original vision was not achieved? I carry a Motorola Razr in my pocket to communicate, so why can't NASA push the boundaries of space and time? Earlier this year the Advanced Planning office asked a team of Generation Y leaders where they wanted JSC to be when they became Center Director or Program Managers. We were asked by many, "Why did you ask Gen Y?" Partly, because they remember the feeling and vision they first had when they arrived at NASA. So think back and recall your original expectations when you arrived at NASA and hold it up to the view gained from wisdom over the years. Then see what unfolds. Yes, I am looking for my fellow Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers to offer their view of the future! Does your original expectation match the reality of where you are at now, FANTASTIC! Please, let me know. If it doesn't, in what ways does it not match?
I'm looking forward to your feedback.
Sharing the Vision,
Steven Gonzalez, Deputy, Advanced Planning Office
Tags : Baby Boomer, Next Generation
nice work
Very interesting view. I learned a lot.
I think this article shows the side benefits of having a "national works" type of project. The main goal may not be that "Profitable" but what it can lead to usually will be. And not just in financial terms. Good writing!
Milton
Hello fellow baby boomer's and Mr. Gonzalez,
I am just getting ready to retire after 32 years at A.T.T telephone Co. I am a young and hopefully healthy 58 year old. I have some security now and eagerly look towards a new passion a new challenge. But, with me its an old passion Nasa explorations, Star Trek's vision dreams of my youth! I would like to leave something positive for the humanity of earth before I pass from this world.
So, I have looked to see if space development has reached the stage for space stations vacations or simply flights into space for the general public. I must say I am very disappointed. As a child of the 1950's I felt that by the time I was ready to retire I might find a second career in some job related to space travel. I hoped people by 2010 would have the option of spending a weekend in space. But, all the wars we have been invovled in and and corporate mismanagement have put us back many decades in making this true. I too feel sadly the only thing I have to look forward to in the space field is Star Trek conventions where some of the orignal crew have already died or are almost to old to function as a speaker for space travel. I still feel young but my original heros of Nasa the astronuats are now pushing 80 or even 90 years old. So, what is left for the generation that never got to realize space as we were promised? HOW CAN WE PUSH OR PROMOTE THIS DREAM INTO REALITY. I fear Nasa might shutdown and that will be the end of our dreams. As Captain might say,"I want that option, to engage the future and to discover what evers out there.
Sherriea
Very useful article, thanks for sharing! It's great that people are actually trying to do good things for these world, unfortunately there are less and less each day!
Nice Article...It provide very usefull information about NASA...I also wanna work in NASA...
NASA achieved more 40 years ago than in the last decade. Do you wonder why? It is simple. They don't have enough money. This is sad, but true.
My 2 cents...
Great article posing some interesting questions about NASA.
Great article posing some interesting questions about NASA. I am also one of those that would love to see the mission of the agency to be, "To Boldly Go where No one has gone before." Ahh the good old days.
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nice perspective view
space exploration is expensive but needed
Great article, I agree 100% Nasa should be pushing the boundaries of space discoveries.
Nice post... Beam me up Scotty.
Alexandr Flor
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I think that the biggest advancements we are making (outside of obvious tech) that will help us to keep moving forward as a race are all in the nutrition field.
I've personally experienced so much benefit as I get older from a series of new understandings about nutrition and how this effects us, holistically.
The more people can start to educate themselves (and be educated) about nutritional approaches such as the approach or about the low intensity exercises such as - something I know NASA has been onto for a while - the better we will be and the more wellbeing we'll experience.
It is no secret that we're putting more and more strain on our health care system as time goes by and it is high time we started to look at prevention rather than cure.
My 2c worth
Bryan
Here are most of the things are new to me but really this blog explains the every thing or clears my all the doubts.
Beam me up scotty. What a great way to travel no more airport waiting