tics technology we’ve helped develop, such as chevron nozzles on the Boeing 787 engines, are helping reduce airplane noise and engine exhaust air pollution; that our satellites are being used to integrate space data with ground observations to help people in South America, Africa and Asia respond to natural disasters and make good environmental decisions; that our technologies are being adapted constantly for uses here on terra firma. A technol- ogy used to detect minerals on Mars, for example, has also been used to improve imaging of cancerous tumors. There’s a huge ripple effect from investment in exploration, and the American people and the people of the world are the beneficiaries whether or not they follow all of our missions.
USBE&IT: What does NASA look for in hiring young professionals? Bolden: People who have chosen to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering or math are going to be vitally needed in the workforce of the future. I get asked all the time how NASA is going to deal with
the large number of retirements that are expected to happen in the coming years and how we plan to create a more diverse workforce. These are two big challenges, but we’re undaunted, because of the excitement I see out there in the schools and uni- versities and because of the big, exciting things we have coming up in which many people are going to want to be involved. I tell the members of our NASA workforce that I want all sorts of diversity, not just race and gender, but geography, politi- cal views, cultures and ideas. We have to go out and find people who look different, think different, have different philosophic and political views. I don’t care about your race, gender, sexual persuasion, or political affiliation. Those are not critical fac- tors–they don’t make a difference in your performance and that’s what counts. If you can help me put boots on Mars, that’s what I’m looking for.
USBE&IT: How can students increase their chances for summer jobs and internships with NASA? Bolden: We’re interested in anyone with a passion for ex- ploration and a good grounding in science, technology, engineer- ing and math. We’ve been working to increase interest in these career paths among young people. One of the main activities this year was the Summer of Innovation, which brought middle school teachers and students from across the country into direct contact with NASA missions and professionals. We will expand that in the coming years. But really, it’s about a passion to ex- plore and a willingness to pursue the sometimes-tough subjects that are required.
USBE&IT: Why did you become an astronaut? When and how did you know that is what you wanted to do?
Bolden: It actually wasn’t something I was thinking about when I was in college, even though we were in the Gemini and Apollo programs then. I thought the space program was great, but I had no desire to fly let alone go into space. My career choice coming out of the Naval Academy was to become an in- fantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. During the final portions of my initial officer training at the Marine Corps Basic School, I changed my mind and decided to exercise an option I had to go to flight school. To my pleasant surprise, I literally fell in love with flying on my first flight in Pensacola, Fla. After complet- ing my flight training, I became an A-6 attack pilot; flew combat missions over Vietnam; and eventually attended Test Pilot School and became a test pilot. While serving as a test pilot, I met the late Dr. Ron McNair, who was selected in the first group of NASA Space Shuttle Astronauts. We became good friends and he became an invaluable mentor to me. It was Ron (who died in 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after take off) who convinced me that I should apply for the astronaut corps. He will forever be remembered as one of those key fig- ures in my life, and I have these unforgettable experiences flying in space thanks to his influence.
USBE&IT: Why did you decide to accept the job as NASA administrator? Bolden: I was happy to answer President Obama’s call to come out of retirement to lead an agency in which I had previ- ously served and that I respect so highly. Accepting this position affords me an opportunity to create a brighter future for my three beautiful granddaughters and the generations to come. We are going to develop capabilities that we don’t have now that future generations will need, and it was an exciting prospect for me to be able to have a leadership role in this endeavor. I think humans have an insatiable urge to explore, and just in the past decade we’ve rewritten the textbooks in so many fields, from astrophysics to quantum physics. We’ve developed the ability to look back nearly to the very formation of the universe. We’ve developed an incredible fleet of Earth-observing satellites that are helping us understand the processes and chang- es of our planet and respond to natural disasters and predict the weather. We’re developing new aeronautics technologies that will lead to more efficient, safer and greener aircraft. And while we do all of these things, we’re inspiring the next generation of explorers.
www.blackengineer.com
USBE&IT
I WINTER 2011 11
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