Do you want
the opportunity to work in the space sector? Don't we all! Many space
enthusiasts say human and robotic space exploration is an addiction. Once you
start going to the International Space Development Conferences (ISDCs), visit a
spaceport or two or religiously visit as many space-related websites you can
without getting caught by your boss while you're on the clock...you just can't
stop.
One of the
most grueling yet inspiring event in one's life is to stand in front of a
crowded room with some of your childhood heroes sitting in the first couple of
rows, giving a lecture on human and robotic space exploration and how we must
have a robust public policy program in order to ensure the stability of our
goals for the advancement of technology and exploration.
That same
day, after exchanging hand shakes and business cards, you quickly go home,
change your outfit, squeeze as much education outreach materials in your car as
you can and race to your neighborhood high school in order to give a lecture to
about one-hundred students and educators on how they can achieve their goals by
studying math, science and technology and encouraging them to actively
participate in their local university's internship programs and join
space-related organizations. Then, after your lecture is over, you pass out
posters, lithographs and your business cards (again) to those students who
eagerly want to know more on how to be a scientist, engineer or an astronaut.
At the end
of your day you think back on all that was accomplished in the last twelve hours.
You then realize you didn't get paid at all for what you did! The lecture you
gave in the morning was for the JPL Solar System Ambassadors, a public outreach
program designed to work with motivated volunteers across the nation. The 494 volunteer
Ambassadors communicate the excitement of JPL's space exploration missions and
information about recent discoveries to their local communities, bringing the
excitement of space to the public.
The high
school lecture was for the National Space Society, another volunteer-based
organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. This
lecture promoted human spaceflight, how to be an astronaut, how to save energy
by using solar cells, and included some fantastic images from the Cassini mission, the Mars Exploration
Rovers and a couple from the Hubble Telescope to depict how far our goals
really stretch.
As a
student, I was lucky to be paid by the NASA Space Grant Consortium to learn, as
an Intern, how to conduct planetary investigations related to geology,
astrobiology and engineering. With the guidance of my Mentor, I contributed to
planetary missions such as the Mars
Exploration Rover (MER) and the European Space Agency's Mars Express. Today,
I contribute to the upcoming Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. All this
from being a student worker who started out at $7.00 an hour!
As time
went on I realized there was more to learn than what was being offered in the
classroom. That's when I joined space-related organizations as a chapter member
to become more active in the space community. The more you are involved in, the
more you learn. I put more time aside for my volunteer duties in each
organization, and now I am heavily involved in helping to make a difference in
the space sector as a Director of the National Space Society, Chapter President
for the NSS Phoenix Chapter and a JPL Solar System Ambassador. I have also
participated and now command several Martian
analogue missions in order to help develop the protocols necessary for
human exploration and settlement of Mars.
Ahhhh...if
I only got a dollar for each hour I have volunteered!
When I give
my lectures, I eagerly anticipate the Q & A sessions. There are the proverbial
questions I yearn to answer:
"How did
you get to where you are today?"
"Why are we
spending so much money on space exploration when we have so many problems here
on Earth?"
I have to
admit it also saddens me when I hear those who say, "I will NEVER see humans
back on the Moon or on the surface of Mars in my lifetime!" I personally was
only seven months old when Apollo 17 reached the Moon.
I pray that I was not born too early to see humans to the Moon, Mars and
beyond.
I always
end my presentations by encouraging the audience to actively participate in organizations
that make a positive impact in their communities and in the space sector. I ask
them if they would work for space even if they didn't get a paycheck. Only a
dedicated few raise their hands.
Now ask
yourself...if I asked this question and you were in the audience, would you have
raised your hand?
Veronica
Ann Zabala-Aliberto is the National Space Society Board of Director (Region 3),
NSS Phone Tree Coordinator, NSS Phoenix Chapter President and is on several NSS
Committees such as the Policy, Strategic, and Space Book Committees. She is
currently working on her Bachelors of Science degree in geology within the
School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University.
NOTE: The
views of this article are the author's and do not reflect the policies of the National
Space Society.
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