Good chat last night! 63 were in attendance to hear electrical engineer Lance Rogers from Kennedy Space Center talk about careers in engineering. Mr. Rogers talked about the many fields of engineering utilized by NASA, and some strategies to pursue a career in engineering at NASA.
Some of you, hearing stories on the news about NASA's budget, may be feeling a little discouraged. It IS disappointing when you see something you have a passion about seem to be neglected. You may think, "Why bother?" as you wonder how long NASA will exist, and what your opportunities will be in the future.
Well take heart, and be strong! I know this may sound like an old man talking, but I was your age in the 70's when NASA's budget was reduced about 75% after the cancellation of the Apollo program. Sure, there was this "Space Shuttle" coming but we did not expect to see that for 5 - 10 years. Many thought NASA had completed it's mission, and would now fade away or be absorbed be another government agency. The mood then, as now, was one of resignation.
BUT. Sometimes that little word has so much meaning! But, look what happened since the end of Apollo, since the slashing of the budget (from 5% of the total federal budget to .7%), since the time when NASA was thought of as 'finished'. Let's look at NASA from then to now:
- Viking Mars Landers
- Voyagers
- Skylab Space Station
- Space Shuttle
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Galileo
- Cassini
- Spirit and Opportunity
- International Space Station
So, if things look rather bleak at the moment, remember that you are not working toward being at the NASA of today, but looking forward to be part of the NASA of tomorrow! What great things will we accomplish then?
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