Last night, I went to see Hubble 3D at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. I’ve always been enamored with the incredible photos the Hubble Space Telescope provides us of the cosmos, but experiencing them in 3D on a six story screen gave a whole new dimension (literally) to the amazing expanses of our universe.
The Helix Nebula, as seen from the Hubble Space Telescope in 2002
Apart from pretty visuals, however, Hubble 3D also kindled a sense of awe in me. It’s mind blowing to realize we have built a technology that enables us to see further than any of us can even really even comprehend. The images and 3D models Hubble produces not only make incredible desktop photos. They allow us to better understand our galactic neighborhood, to figure out how our planet came to be, and to find other worlds like ours.
Astronauts repair the Hubble Space Telescope during STS-125.
The awe I felt while watching Hubble 3D is the same awe I felt back in elementary school, when my teacher turned the TV on to let us all watch the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery carrying John Glenn. It’s the same awe I felt years later as the first images from the Mars rover Spirit were sent back to Earth, unveiling new details about a still unfamiliar world, or in 2007 as I saw Space Shuttle Endeavour launch in person from the Kennedy Space Center.
I remember during each of those moments saying that I wanted to be part of that. I wanted to work for NASA. And, now that I do, I realize the importance of passing on that dream to the next generation, to continue inspiring and motivating children to discover new things about our world. Hubble 3D manages to blend elements of inspiration, education, and wonder into a film less than an hour long. It’s an incredible experience – and it made me realize just how lucky I am to be able to say I’m living my dream.