Posted on Oct 29, 2008 09:36:12 AM | Steven Gonzalez | 12 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
12 comments so far ( Post your own )
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On Nov 18, 2009 05:29:23 AM
barry
wrote:
I was 3 when the original moon landing happened! dont remember a thing, some people remeber stuff from when they are like one or two but me nothing, it is so not fair.
I agree first star trek is by far the best. I cant keep up with the advances now, save for a few blogs i leave it to the kids.
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car port- 11 On Nov 17, 2009 09:16:35 AM Sirius7 wrote:
Hi! Information I really appreciate it)
Tennille- 10 On Nov 11, 2009 09:51:23 AM guest wrote:
Well I'm a baby boomer but missed the first moon landing by a few years! I did get to see the first space SHuttle though and still think the original Star Trek is the best even without those new fangled CGI effects.
I always think what Arthur C Clakre said about technology, for most societies if they don't understand it, it's close to magic.
Just think how we will look back in 30 years and think how quaint those iPhones were!
Wedding photographer Portrait photographer- 9 On Nov 06, 2009 09:52:02 AM steve wrote:
Steven,
Per your previous post... "to be the source of Innovation that pushes the limits of Human space Exploration. /...the Agency's value delivery focused in the future beyond LEO. They believe the key to deliver this value lies in our ability to be Innovative."
Exploration without innovation
This assumes that innovation will be a predictor of our ability to explore. I agree this is partly true, but you have other value streams that result in exploration without innovation (leveraging existing technology - hubble, rovers, others). If innovation is a bottleneck (your ability to innovate is limited). Then exploration without innovation should be maximized to elevate the total amount of exploration that can be achieved.
Expanding innovation.
Innovators dilemma post addresses this. How can we maximize the effectiveness of our innovative process? Is there a collectoin of the best known methods and mechanisms for maximizing innovation? There has been a lot of work already including the innovation process(TRIZ), org structures (skunk works), mechanisms for allocating additional resources as projects proceed through gates, etc. What is the cutting edge here?
-Steve- 8 On Oct 30, 2009 08:04:26 PM guest wrote:
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME TO HAVE GOOD NEW SCIENCE INFORMATION AVAILABLE RIGHT AWAY. THANKS FOR POST THIS AND I WAITING FOR NEXT POST. i-wirawan
- 7 On Oct 31, 2009 01:00:04 AM rubina carmen wrote:
NASA has always been outdoing its previous research and dis tym also its the same..This research will bring up NASA as the best space research company..But What is Baby Boomer means??
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Stretch Mark Removal- 6 On Oct 06, 2009 02:20:55 AM ronit wrote:
I have doing some research in this field on how to effictively manage the cost.I am sure i will come out with something in the near future.
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Phone number 9008909743- 5 On Sep 28, 2009 12:54:59 AM mewe wrote:
We would need an infinite energy machine and a way to displace the weight of the craft tom make space flight easy and very cost efective. Otherwise we would spend all our resources trying to get to and travel in space. I do Have some Ideas about an engine that may solve both problems at once(energy and weight) yet I can't get it going. limited resourses. sorry ths seemd like a possible place to find some one interested in such things and it sounded like you are really looking to spaceflight.
- 4 On Sep 26, 2009 09:52:28 AM james wrote:
I am jealous of the baby boomers :(
At least they got to see a moon landing... what do I have? I'm 23 now... we might not even have any more REAL landings until the day I die
auto insurance quotes- 3 On Sep 11, 2009 09:44:30 PM erwanv wrote:
Steven, I amnot of your generation but I have the strong feeling as a common consumer, that Nasa works are important for future generations. To be realistic we do not think that we might live on March one day, but we understood that many of your works are cruicial to improve our existing lives and those of my kids. The Universal approach that you provide is important to us. Nasa works goes throughout all nationalities and beings. I just want to thank you for keeping us
dreaming and giving us hope for a better day.
Michael- 2 On Jun 05, 2009 11:38:49 PM Kaye - SandwichINK wrote:
As a fellow member of the Baby Boomer Generation, a fellow Star Trek fan, and someone who has enjoyed seeing what NASA has been doing over the years (including taking our family to watch the the first Space Shuttle after Challenger land at Edwards, I really enjoyed this article. I appreciate the work y'all have done AND the great technology we all enjoy because of that hard work. Thank you :)
PS Are you sure there's not a transporter in the works yet? :) :) :)- 1 On Oct 29, 2008 11:51:34 PM Wayne Johnson wrote:
Steven,
What is your opinion and summary about the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program once offered by NASA? It looks like they were on the right track, weren't they? What went wrong? I suspect there was simply too much fringe science, with too much good money appearing to go down a rat hole. But isn't this the way that history must go? Every truly great invention always comes out of obscurity and ridicule. Don't you think the famous Warp Drive will appear this way? - 11 On Nov 17, 2009 09:16:35 AM Sirius7 wrote:
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