I know NASA people. I know Caltech people. I know physicists, I know scientists, I have had a truly blessed interaction with marvels and mysteries so profound that I couldn't be sussed to ride my bike a mile to watch Endeavor truck through Compton. You know what science always needs? OUTREACH. That wonder in your head? The exultation that muted the voices? That is what launches wonders. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. We live in an era where scientific discovery has been so annihilated by jaded cynicism that not one, not two but three billionaires have said "fukkit I'll do it myself." Know who the last person to visit the Mariana Trench was? James Fucking Cameron. We killed the Superconducting Supercollider because Tom Delay needed to be punished - fuck science. You know what you should do? You should get a couple hummin' telescopes and sit 'em out where little kids and vaguely-interested parents can look at the universe through 'em. You should figure out how to get your locals enthused by the mysteries all around 'em. You should let everyone you meet know what a miraculous universe we live in because we can see it with our own eyes. You should channel your galactic fanboi every chance you get because every time a cynic sees a dreamer flying their flag high, their cynicism melts a little more. And when the cynicism is melted away the miracles can flow. ...Oh, you're already doing that? Well carry on, then. Because all the shouldas in the world aren't worth a single WILL. Why the hell not? Why the hell not? But you can inspire those who will. I suspect you already have. The longer you stick around, the more people you will inspire. Not gonna lie. You inspire me and I'm one of the most jaded cynics I know. I mean, shit. I didn't ride my bike a mile to see Endeavor truck through Compton.I'll never fly a plane.
Or build a satellite.
Or work for a space company.
Or do work that is going to make a difference.
At least I have the thought that I'll be dead soon and it won't matter anyway.
Was thinking all of these things while reading what you wrote, but of course, KB expresses them so much better than I ever will. I feel all of these same things, but at least you are doing space outreach work. My sorry ass just works in an office and wishes she could even do that. Sometimes I think about volunteering at the observatory here. Maybe this post is the impetus I need to actually get off my ass and do it.