1 00:00:00,433 --> 00:00:04,270 In the 1960s, when NASA was preparing to meet 2 00:00:04,270 --> 00:00:07,240 a tough goal of landing on the moon. 3 00:00:08,475 --> 00:00:13,046 Star Trek, the TV series, began inspiring viewers 4 00:00:13,613 --> 00:00:16,916 to even go further. 5 00:00:16,916 --> 00:00:21,287 For decades, Star Trek's fictional depiction of exploration. 6 00:00:21,788 --> 00:00:26,059 It's inspired the NASA workforce in our quest 7 00:00:26,059 --> 00:00:29,863 to venture out into the cosmos, but also inspired the country. 8 00:00:30,764 --> 00:00:35,969 Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, was certainly ahead of his time. 9 00:00:36,803 --> 00:00:42,175 Star Trek featured an unprecedented diversity in its cast members. 10 00:00:42,876 --> 00:00:46,579 It represented a bridge working together. 11 00:00:48,248 --> 00:00:51,484 NASA also embraces 12 00:00:51,484 --> 00:00:55,722 people to work together from all backgrounds 13 00:00:56,056 --> 00:00:58,892 and in celebration of Gene's one hundredth birthday. 14 00:00:59,759 --> 00:01:04,297 I'm happy to introduce you to Gene's son, Rod Roddenberry. 15 00:01:05,165 --> 00:01:07,400 Who will be moderating a panel 16 00:01:07,934 --> 00:01:12,772 with George Takei and some of NASA's best and brightest 17 00:01:13,673 --> 00:01:15,875 to discuss diversity at NASA 18 00:01:16,676 --> 00:01:21,347 and that visionary Star Trek bridge. 19 00:01:22,782 --> 00:01:26,119 In light of the exciting discussion you're about to have, 20 00:01:26,886 --> 00:01:30,090 here are some very fitting words 21 00:01:30,090 --> 00:01:32,892 from the man himself, Gene Roddenberry. 22 00:01:34,394 --> 00:01:36,563 The whole show was an attempt to say 23 00:01:36,563 --> 00:01:40,533 that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day 24 00:01:40,767 --> 00:01:45,105 that it begins, not just to tolerate, but to take a special delight 25 00:01:45,405 --> 00:01:48,908 in differences in ideas and differences in life forms. 26 00:01:49,742 --> 00:01:53,980 If we cannot learn to actually enjoy those small differences, 27 00:01:53,980 --> 00:01:57,217 take a positive delight in those small differences between our own 28 00:01:57,217 --> 00:02:01,321 kind here on this planet, then we do not deserve to go out into space 29 00:02:01,754 --> 00:02:04,190 and meet the diversity that's almost certainly out there. 30 00:02:06,626 --> 00:02:10,730 So in honor of his birthday, we're sending the words 31 00:02:10,730 --> 00:02:13,700 that you just heard directly into deep space. 32 00:02:14,234 --> 00:02:17,504 And it's going through our Deep Space Network. 33 00:02:17,504 --> 00:02:20,540 NASA's network used to communicate 34 00:02:21,107 --> 00:02:25,411 with the far away spacecraft that explore the heavens. 35 00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:32,619 NASA's Deep Space Network is a truly global network. 36 00:02:32,652 --> 00:02:37,757 It has locations all over the globe. 37 00:02:38,892 --> 00:02:43,630 The Deep Space Network is just one example of how diversity 38 00:02:43,630 --> 00:02:49,469 and cooperation can help us unlock the mysteries of this universe. 39 00:02:50,737 --> 00:02:53,940 And now Rod Roddenberry. 40 00:02:55,241 --> 00:02:58,411 Well, first, I'd really like to thank Administrator Bill Nelson. 41 00:02:58,978 --> 00:03:02,782 Thank you so much for putting this together and that amazing announcement. 42 00:03:05,285 --> 00:03:06,352 So hi, everyone. 43 00:03:06,352 --> 00:03:08,454 Welcome and thank you so much for joining us. 44 00:03:08,755 --> 00:03:13,159 We're here to celebrate my father, Gene Roddenberry's 100th birthday. 45 00:03:14,027 --> 00:03:17,830 Not only that, but his incredible contributions and influences on society 46 00:03:17,830 --> 00:03:19,332 through Star Trek. 47 00:03:19,332 --> 00:03:23,937 Today, I have the pleasure of being joined by an incredible panel of trailblazers 48 00:03:23,937 --> 00:03:27,607 who, like my father, they're pushing boundaries, 49 00:03:27,607 --> 00:03:31,544 they're challenging stereotypes and inspiring a new generation 50 00:03:31,778 --> 00:03:34,814 with their spirit of adventure, courage and hope. 51 00:03:35,882 --> 00:03:38,651 Now, as many of you know, my father 52 00:03:39,786 --> 00:03:44,390 came up with Star Trek in the early, mid to early 60s, 53 00:03:44,390 --> 00:03:49,395 and he had had a very unique life being a World War 54 00:03:49,395 --> 00:03:51,831 Two bomber pilot, a police officer. 55 00:03:52,932 --> 00:03:58,304 He had two major crashes in his career that he survived. 56 00:03:59,239 --> 00:04:02,208 He experienced a lot of life 57 00:04:02,709 --> 00:04:07,113 and saw the beauty of humanity and its darkness. 58 00:04:07,580 --> 00:04:09,816 And I think that really gave him the perspective 59 00:04:10,283 --> 00:04:13,186 to look at humanity in the future 60 00:04:13,553 --> 00:04:15,989 and come up with this idea of Star Trek. 61 00:04:16,522 --> 00:04:19,392 And it was really built on 62 00:04:19,392 --> 00:04:23,696 sort of a backbone philosophy or a principle of idic, I–D–I–C, 63 00:04:24,130 --> 00:04:28,167 which stands for infinite diversity in infinite combinations. 64 00:04:28,835 --> 00:04:34,540 And in Star Trek, it wasn't about a group of people 65 00:04:34,540 --> 00:04:37,543 going out to seek weird looking aliens. 66 00:04:38,211 --> 00:04:42,248 They were going out to find creatures in our universe 67 00:04:42,248 --> 00:04:45,184 that looked at the universe in a different and unique sort of way, 68 00:04:45,184 --> 00:04:48,755 because we had reached a point in our intellectual evolution 69 00:04:48,755 --> 00:04:49,589 where we understood that 70 00:04:51,424 --> 00:04:54,727 we had to experience things that were different, to grow and evolve, 71 00:04:55,161 --> 00:04:57,397 to live the same and only hear the same, ,and 72 00:04:57,397 --> 00:05:00,533 not try to hear things that challenged our intellect, 73 00:05:00,533 --> 00:05:04,370 that challenged the way we saw things, we would never advance as a species. 74 00:05:04,737 --> 00:05:08,541 So Star Trek was much more than just a sci-fi show. 75 00:05:08,841 --> 00:05:12,845 And I think some of the people that we have with us here today 76 00:05:13,579 --> 00:05:18,851 were also on some level influenced by Star Trek and in some way 77 00:05:19,185 --> 00:05:23,089 perhaps even influenced Star Trek, as you'll see from some of our guests. 78 00:05:23,423 --> 00:05:26,092 So I'd like to introduce our panelists. 79 00:05:26,092 --> 00:05:30,163 Here, I'd like to start with someone I think you guys know fairly well, 80 00:05:30,563 --> 00:05:32,165 but George Takei. 81 00:05:32,165 --> 00:05:36,936 He is an American actor and activist, and he's definitely best known 82 00:05:37,236 --> 00:05:40,506 for his famous role as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek. 83 00:05:42,809 --> 00:05:47,113 Next, we have Tracy Drain, the lead flight systems 84 00:05:47,113 --> 00:05:51,718 engineer for the Europa Clipper mission at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 85 00:05:52,385 --> 00:05:57,423 And we also have Swati Mohan, the Mars 2020 guidance, navigation 86 00:05:57,423 --> 00:06:01,060 and controls operation lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as well. 87 00:06:02,195 --> 00:06:04,197 Now we have Hortense Diggs, 88 00:06:04,864 --> 00:06:09,435 director of the Office of Communication and Public Engagement at NASA's John F. 89 00:06:09,435 --> 00:06:10,970 Kennedy Space Center. 90 00:06:10,970 --> 00:06:12,772 How are you doing, Hortense? 91 00:06:12,772 --> 00:06:14,974 And last but not least, we have Jonny Kim. 92 00:06:15,141 --> 00:06:20,246 Selected by NASA to join the 2017 astronaut candidate class, a U.S. 93 00:06:20,246 --> 00:06:23,483 Navy SEAL and holds a doctorate from Harvard Medical School. 94 00:06:24,317 --> 00:06:25,918 Thank you guys all for being here. 95 00:06:25,918 --> 00:06:29,689 I really appreciate you taking the time. 96 00:06:29,722 --> 00:06:32,325 Well, I think we're going to have a bit of a discussion, 97 00:06:32,325 --> 00:06:34,494 but I do have a few questions for you guys. 98 00:06:34,494 --> 00:06:36,662 If that's OK, if I can throw them your way. 99 00:06:38,364 --> 00:06:42,702 And if you don't mind, I am going to put George on the spot first. 100 00:06:43,703 --> 00:06:45,805 I've known him the longest out of this group, 101 00:06:45,805 --> 00:06:48,541 so I feel a little bit more comfortable getting these questions going with him. 102 00:06:49,842 --> 00:06:54,280 I wonder throughout your years whether they're conventions or events, but 103 00:06:54,547 --> 00:06:57,483 all the Star Trek things that you might have attended, the people you've met. 104 00:06:58,718 --> 00:07:03,689 Do you have, can you recall any stories of optimism? 105 00:07:04,457 --> 00:07:08,628 I'm often asked by fans, you know, has Star 106 00:07:08,628 --> 00:07:12,231 Trek actually changed the world for the better in its own small way? 107 00:07:12,398 --> 00:07:15,902 Admittedly, it is a TV show, but it has inspired people. 108 00:07:16,669 --> 00:07:20,373 I'm wondering, George, if you have any stories or recollections 109 00:07:20,373 --> 00:07:25,478 of of something optimistic that you may have heard or run into in your travels. 110 00:07:25,478 --> 00:07:29,315 In the show, you know, at the height 111 00:07:29,315 --> 00:07:32,251 of the various social issues, 112 00:07:32,552 --> 00:07:35,822 we had the civil rights movement going on, 113 00:07:36,155 --> 00:07:39,392 African Americans demonstrating for equality, 114 00:07:40,059 --> 00:07:43,062 that were being attacked by 115 00:07:43,963 --> 00:07:47,600 law enforcement officers and 116 00:07:48,734 --> 00:07:51,471 having attack dogs and 117 00:07:51,771 --> 00:07:54,740 fire hoses used on them. 118 00:07:56,442 --> 00:07:59,111 Gene was inspired to 119 00:07:59,111 --> 00:08:04,383 show how we can get over that by using another metaphor. 120 00:08:04,750 --> 00:08:09,522 We had two alien breeds fighting each other. 121 00:08:09,989 --> 00:08:12,558 One was black on the right side 122 00:08:12,792 --> 00:08:16,496 and white on the left side, and the other one 123 00:08:16,496 --> 00:08:20,566 was black on the left side and white on the right side. 124 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,169 And they couldn't get along with each other for that. 125 00:08:23,569 --> 00:08:26,606 And we had Frank Gorshin, the comedian, 126 00:08:26,906 --> 00:08:31,544 who brought those characters to life, and it really made 127 00:08:32,612 --> 00:08:34,480 that look ridiculous. 128 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,817 And ultimately with the perspective, 129 00:08:37,817 --> 00:08:43,022 hopefully not of another 100 years, we can deal with it. 130 00:08:43,289 --> 00:08:45,691 We are still dealing with it today 131 00:08:46,092 --> 00:08:49,562 as in the form of Black Lives Matter. 132 00:08:49,762 --> 00:08:52,899 I was involved in the civil rights movement. 133 00:08:53,165 --> 00:08:55,101 I marched with Dr. King. 134 00:08:55,101 --> 00:08:57,436 I did a a civil rights musical. 135 00:08:57,436 --> 00:09:00,806 And I sang. And Dr. King 136 00:09:02,775 --> 00:09:04,944 heard the music from 137 00:09:04,944 --> 00:09:09,482 what we call the musical we call was Fly Blackbird. 138 00:09:09,849 --> 00:09:13,753 And so that was optimistic 139 00:09:13,753 --> 00:09:16,289 look toward the future, 140 00:09:18,024 --> 00:09:20,126 hopefully not that far in the future. 141 00:09:20,126 --> 00:09:24,463 But we will be able to recognize what Gene was telling us 142 00:09:24,764 --> 00:09:26,832 by working together in concert. 143 00:09:28,301 --> 00:09:30,770 It's an optimistic sense. 144 00:09:30,870 --> 00:09:36,042 And here we are together today, the rest of this panel, 145 00:09:36,709 --> 00:09:42,281 as part of the NASA team, we're boldly going where we hadn't been. 146 00:09:42,481 --> 00:09:48,287 Well, I've been for about two minutes where you guys are going or have been. 147 00:09:48,721 --> 00:09:54,460 But technologically, scientifically 148 00:09:54,594 --> 00:09:58,097 and in terms of engineering, we are getting there. 149 00:09:58,531 --> 00:10:01,701 We're looking together in concert 150 00:10:02,368 --> 00:10:05,338 today for this brief hour, 151 00:10:05,972 --> 00:10:11,043 looking to the future as a brand new place where new possibilities 152 00:10:11,310 --> 00:10:14,447 can perhaps happen. 153 00:10:15,748 --> 00:10:16,616 Well, thank you, George. 154 00:10:17,917 --> 00:10:19,385 That's beautiful. That's awesome. 155 00:10:19,385 --> 00:10:24,190 I appreciate the kind words and the kind words from my father as well. 156 00:10:25,458 --> 00:10:29,095 If you wouldn't mind, Hortense, Swati, Tracy, Jonny, I. 157 00:10:29,095 --> 00:10:31,163 I do have a question for you guys. 158 00:10:31,998 --> 00:10:35,201 Each of you do have the unique fortune to work at NASA, 159 00:10:35,201 --> 00:10:38,337 and you played a role in exploring our galaxy for real. 160 00:10:38,337 --> 00:10:41,741 And not to take anything away from you, George, you've explored 161 00:10:42,441 --> 00:10:45,111 the galaxy in our hearts. 162 00:10:45,111 --> 00:10:48,781 But what is it about your work at NASA 163 00:10:49,749 --> 00:10:52,985 and what's out there, the unknown that really inspires you? 164 00:10:52,985 --> 00:10:55,221 And I wonder if I can ask each one of you. 165 00:10:55,221 --> 00:10:58,991 And because you're squares on my screen, I'm going to I'm going to start with, 166 00:10:59,291 --> 00:11:03,195 I think Tracy in my right hand corner, if you're ready. 167 00:11:04,730 --> 00:11:07,266 I am ready. There are so many things about the work 168 00:11:07,266 --> 00:11:11,170 that I get to do with my team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory that inspires me, 169 00:11:11,504 --> 00:11:15,241 and a lot of it is about what we get to go and explore and find. 170 00:11:15,274 --> 00:11:19,278 I think it's amazing all of the wonders that there are out in space 171 00:11:19,278 --> 00:11:21,113 that we could never have imagined. 172 00:11:21,113 --> 00:11:25,451 One of the spacecraft that I worked on recently, Juno, has flown over the north 173 00:11:25,618 --> 00:11:26,886 and south poles of Jupiter. 174 00:11:26,886 --> 00:11:29,989 We've never done that before and literally didn't know what it looked like. 175 00:11:29,989 --> 00:11:33,225 And if the audience has never seen those images, please go take a look, 176 00:11:33,492 --> 00:11:37,029 because there are crazy like storms up there, especially 177 00:11:37,029 --> 00:11:40,066 on the North Pole that has eight kind of equally spaced storms. 178 00:11:40,066 --> 00:11:43,102 And the super beautiful pattern that you can see in infrared. 179 00:11:43,102 --> 00:11:47,573 And being on the forefront of helping the scientists as an engineer, helping 180 00:11:47,573 --> 00:11:49,041 the scientists get their data 181 00:11:49,041 --> 00:11:52,311 and see what our solar system is like is amazing to me. 182 00:11:52,311 --> 00:11:55,815 We're literally expanding humankind's knowledge of this backyard 183 00:11:56,082 --> 00:11:57,016 that we live in. 184 00:11:57,016 --> 00:11:59,218 And with the Kepler mission that I also got a chance to work 185 00:11:59,218 --> 00:12:00,853 on, it has really revolutionized 186 00:12:00,853 --> 00:12:05,024 our understanding of how many planets are out there in our galaxy. 187 00:12:05,257 --> 00:12:08,194 I grew up watching Star Trek, and the idea of humans being able 188 00:12:08,194 --> 00:12:12,465 to explore different places really drove a lot of my desire to work in space. 189 00:12:12,732 --> 00:12:15,468 And knowing now that not just maybe there are planets out there, 190 00:12:15,468 --> 00:12:17,436 but yeah, the galaxy is like dripping 191 00:12:17,436 --> 00:12:19,672 with planets all over the place and ones that are 192 00:12:19,805 --> 00:12:23,375 in the habitable zones of their star. So I find that to be super inspiring. 193 00:12:24,577 --> 00:12:25,711 That's beautiful. That's awesome. 194 00:12:25,711 --> 00:12:28,114 Like more planets, more planets. 195 00:12:28,948 --> 00:12:31,250 Hortense, do you mind if I throw the question at you? 196 00:12:31,250 --> 00:12:35,888 What is it about your work at NASA and the unknown that inspires you? 197 00:12:37,456 --> 00:12:40,392 Well, Rod, what really inspires me 198 00:12:40,392 --> 00:12:44,296 is, is people like a lot of us, people inspire me. 199 00:12:44,764 --> 00:12:48,100 And in the Apollo era, 200 00:12:48,267 --> 00:12:51,570 which is the same time that Star Trek 201 00:12:51,570 --> 00:12:56,542 aired, we saw a huge increase in the number of students 202 00:12:56,542 --> 00:12:58,677 pursuing careers in STEM. 203 00:12:59,712 --> 00:13:04,784 And as was just stated, I am sure that this people on this panel, 204 00:13:04,784 --> 00:13:08,821 as well as others in the NASA workforce, was inspired 205 00:13:08,954 --> 00:13:11,590 by the fictional characters of Star Trek. 206 00:13:12,191 --> 00:13:15,194 And I would like to think that what inspired them 207 00:13:15,461 --> 00:13:18,397 was that the diversity of the Enterprise crew 208 00:13:18,998 --> 00:13:22,234 and them working together toward a common goal, 209 00:13:22,568 --> 00:13:26,806 which we all still remember and some of us can repeat 210 00:13:27,072 --> 00:13:32,444 as exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life 211 00:13:32,545 --> 00:13:38,184 and new civilization and boldly go where no one has gone before. 212 00:13:38,818 --> 00:13:43,522 So as I stated before, what inspires me is people 213 00:13:43,556 --> 00:13:48,060 working together collectively and committed to NASA's vision, 214 00:13:48,594 --> 00:13:53,299 which is to reach for new heights and to reveal the unknown, 215 00:13:53,499 --> 00:13:58,337 so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind. 216 00:13:58,938 --> 00:14:02,441 You know, 60 years ago, children and adults 217 00:14:02,441 --> 00:14:06,846 were inspired by fictional characters and fictional technology. 218 00:14:07,246 --> 00:14:11,684 But today, people look to NASA and are inspired 219 00:14:11,684 --> 00:14:16,722 by real technology, real science, real innovation and passion. 220 00:14:17,022 --> 00:14:21,460 And as a NASA employee, that is truly what inspires me. 221 00:14:23,629 --> 00:14:24,697 That sounds like the 222 00:14:24,697 --> 00:14:28,868 embodiment of idic right then in there, what you said, and that's incredible. 223 00:14:29,702 --> 00:14:31,237 Thank you. Thank you. 224 00:14:31,237 --> 00:14:34,406 Swati, if I can share that question with you. 225 00:14:35,975 --> 00:14:38,477 Absolutely. What is it that inspires you? 226 00:14:39,979 --> 00:14:45,251 So what inspires me is very similar to JPL's motto: to dare mighty things. 227 00:14:45,251 --> 00:14:49,755 You know, I grew up watching Star Trek, and the part that I loved best about 228 00:14:49,755 --> 00:14:55,027 it was that for each episode, it had a way of turning what you thought 229 00:14:55,060 --> 00:14:59,531 you knew about the universe on its head and making you realize 230 00:14:59,531 --> 00:15:05,004 that there was so much more out there than what you could comprehend right now. 231 00:15:05,404 --> 00:15:11,076 And the vastness of the universe and what we know about it is so different 232 00:15:11,076 --> 00:15:15,214 that the part that excites me most about the missions that we work on 233 00:15:15,214 --> 00:15:20,419 is seeking out that knowledge in whatever shape or form 234 00:15:20,819 --> 00:15:24,223 that it may come in, seeking out the knowledge and understanding 235 00:15:24,223 --> 00:15:28,994 of the universe for that purpose of knowing in the first place. 236 00:15:28,994 --> 00:15:34,600 You know, it transcends company profits, it transcends country borders. 237 00:15:34,767 --> 00:15:40,372 It's really for the betterment of all of society and all of humankind. 238 00:15:40,739 --> 00:15:45,544 The latest mission that I got to work on was Mars 2020 Perseverence rover. 239 00:15:45,844 --> 00:15:52,117 And the main science objective was to seek out the signs of past life on Mars. 240 00:15:52,117 --> 00:15:57,022 Being able to work on a mission whose express purpose is to seek out 241 00:15:57,022 --> 00:16:01,994 the signs of life, very similar to the motto of Star Trek, 242 00:16:02,027 --> 00:16:06,632 goes to these fundamental questions that affect all of humanity, of 243 00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:08,767 are we alone in the universe? 244 00:16:08,767 --> 00:16:12,805 And as we start answering that, the answers to that 245 00:16:13,639 --> 00:16:18,711 can have such a profound impact for society as a whole 246 00:16:18,711 --> 00:16:24,850 and has the opportunity to realize, you know, Gene Roddenberry's 247 00:16:24,917 --> 00:16:30,022 vision of getting people to understand that we're not alone. 248 00:16:30,155 --> 00:16:31,857 We're so much more similar. 249 00:16:31,857 --> 00:16:34,960 And to appreciate the differences and come together 250 00:16:35,361 --> 00:16:39,732 not just as a particular race or species, but as the whole planet 251 00:16:39,765 --> 00:16:45,771 to accomplish what we want to accomplish and to explore our universe. 252 00:16:47,172 --> 00:16:48,273 And once again, Jonny. 253 00:16:48,273 --> 00:16:54,313 Last but not least, I'm curious, what is it about what you've been doing 254 00:16:54,313 --> 00:16:58,751 that inspires you, your contributions and your experiences with NASA 255 00:16:59,151 --> 00:17:01,253 that have been inspirational to you? 256 00:17:02,521 --> 00:17:06,158 It's great to hear the various perspectives on 257 00:17:07,126 --> 00:17:11,597 what we're inspired by here at NASA and in general, 258 00:17:11,630 --> 00:17:14,366 I'm inspired by human efforts 259 00:17:15,667 --> 00:17:20,039 that accomplish hard things, especially for the betterment of others. 260 00:17:20,739 --> 00:17:24,076 And that's a really general statement that can be accomplished 261 00:17:24,076 --> 00:17:27,780 in a lot of settings, not just in space exploration. 262 00:17:27,780 --> 00:17:31,817 But in particular, in space exploration, we seek hard things. 263 00:17:32,684 --> 00:17:34,920 Human space exploration is hard. 264 00:17:35,721 --> 00:17:37,723 Learning about climate change is hard. 265 00:17:37,723 --> 00:17:41,960 Doing experiments in microgravity are hard things to do. 266 00:17:43,095 --> 00:17:44,997 Humans have not are not 267 00:17:44,997 --> 00:17:49,168 physiologically able to survive in space. 268 00:17:49,735 --> 00:17:53,639 So doing these things require grand 269 00:17:54,073 --> 00:17:57,943 human efforts in planning and execution and engineering. 270 00:17:58,277 --> 00:18:03,449 And so that's why I love and I'm inspired by NASA, that we work as a team. 271 00:18:04,116 --> 00:18:06,552 Just recently, we had some challenges, 272 00:18:06,552 --> 00:18:09,088 some unique challenges with the space station. 273 00:18:09,688 --> 00:18:13,092 And we as an international team, 274 00:18:13,392 --> 00:18:16,095 collaborated and worked together to solve that problem. 275 00:18:16,395 --> 00:18:19,131 And so that's what we do here at NASA on a daily basis. 276 00:18:19,631 --> 00:18:23,435 And it's for the betterment of our Earth, 277 00:18:23,869 --> 00:18:27,439 as well as for humanity, all while 278 00:18:28,207 --> 00:18:32,778 inspiring the next generation of kids, of explorers and leaders and scientists. 279 00:18:33,479 --> 00:18:36,148 So that's what I'm really inspired by here at NASA 280 00:18:36,181 --> 00:18:38,851 and why it's just a phenomenal place to be. 281 00:18:39,585 --> 00:18:43,555 The whole goal of NASA is to promote that exploration. 282 00:18:43,555 --> 00:18:46,992 And like I said, for knowledge sake, when you look at the solar system as a whole, 283 00:18:47,226 --> 00:18:51,163 you look at the planet as a whole, it does transcend all the boundaries. 284 00:18:51,497 --> 00:18:53,932 It provides a platform 285 00:18:54,500 --> 00:18:58,871 to explore the universe and bring that to the masses 286 00:18:58,871 --> 00:19:02,941 to show that what we can accomplish if we work together. 287 00:19:03,242 --> 00:19:07,980 When we landed on Mars just earlier this year, we landed amidst 288 00:19:08,547 --> 00:19:11,850 huge societal changes, with Black Lives Matter, 289 00:19:12,417 --> 00:19:14,987 in the middle of a pandemic that was raging in our country, 290 00:19:14,987 --> 00:19:19,558 when people were so uncertain about what they were going to do, 291 00:19:19,558 --> 00:19:23,829 whether they were going to survive, if they could even go outside their doors 292 00:19:23,829 --> 00:19:27,599 for one reason or another, and to see the world come together 293 00:19:27,933 --> 00:19:32,471 in an accomplishment that really had ties across the world 294 00:19:32,471 --> 00:19:37,910 with scientists on multi different nationalities, from vendors 295 00:19:37,910 --> 00:19:43,582 across the country, from diaspora on all aspects of the planet, from Hawaii 296 00:19:43,582 --> 00:19:47,419 to Argentina to India to Philippines in one room, coming 297 00:19:47,419 --> 00:19:52,891 together to have this accomplishment of going to another plant for express 298 00:19:53,125 --> 00:19:58,130 purpose of exploring, not to colonize, not to seek profit, 299 00:19:58,397 --> 00:20:02,034 but to learn, and that learning benefits all of society. 300 00:20:02,034 --> 00:20:06,939 It gives you an anchor to plant your flag that people can rally around. 301 00:20:07,239 --> 00:20:10,909 And just having that opportunity and a platform to plant that anchor 302 00:20:10,909 --> 00:20:15,247 gives one more leg for society to have the opportunity to rise 303 00:20:15,247 --> 00:20:19,651 above those differences and have something to come together around 304 00:20:19,651 --> 00:20:23,422 that can help them reach for the positive aspects 305 00:20:23,422 --> 00:20:27,326 and to see past those differences, then to focus on the negatives 306 00:20:27,326 --> 00:20:28,660 or the things that divide us. 307 00:20:28,660 --> 00:20:33,799 And I appeal to young people with your knowledge of science 308 00:20:33,799 --> 00:20:39,504 and engineering and mathematics to bring that kind of intelligence 309 00:20:39,738 --> 00:20:44,643 to dealing with the issues of our times here. And 310 00:20:45,944 --> 00:20:49,014 I just, you know – it's wonderful that we're going out there 311 00:20:49,648 --> 00:20:55,020 and we did inspire with Star Trek and Gene Roddenberry's vision, 312 00:20:55,320 --> 00:21:01,093 the importance of infinite diversity in infinite combinations coming together. 313 00:21:01,526 --> 00:21:07,866 But also, we need your kind of minds working on the problems, 314 00:21:08,367 --> 00:21:13,305 the social justice problems, that we have in our society today. 315 00:21:13,639 --> 00:21:15,641 I think your point might be, and then I'm going to stop talking, 316 00:21:15,641 --> 00:21:17,743 I know Horetense is going to chime in too. No, don't stop! Don't stop! 317 00:21:17,743 --> 00:21:24,583 That even if you agree with the notion that the kind of challenges 318 00:21:24,583 --> 00:21:26,485 and endeavors that we're doing in terms of space 319 00:21:26,485 --> 00:21:29,755 exploration are a unifying force, and that's great. 320 00:21:29,955 --> 00:21:33,125 I think your point is don't assume that that's going 321 00:21:33,125 --> 00:21:36,428 to do all the work just behind the scenes because. 322 00:21:36,428 --> 00:21:39,231 Like actually put some mindful thought into it. 323 00:21:39,231 --> 00:21:42,334 Be thinking about how we address those problems head on, 324 00:21:42,668 --> 00:21:46,171 as well as doing the exploration that we're in the midst of. 325 00:21:47,873 --> 00:21:49,775 Correct. I like what 326 00:21:49,775 --> 00:21:52,711 Tracy said, and it kind of hits on one of the topics 327 00:21:53,512 --> 00:21:57,649 that's near and dear in my heart is that the diversity 328 00:21:57,649 --> 00:22:01,853 in the teams that we have, you know, diversity in the science 329 00:22:01,853 --> 00:22:05,023 technology, engineering and math pipeline 330 00:22:05,324 --> 00:22:08,460 is nowhere near as equal as it could be. 331 00:22:08,460 --> 00:22:11,163 That opportunities 332 00:22:11,163 --> 00:22:13,598 in the pipeline to encourage 333 00:22:13,598 --> 00:22:16,702 young students, especially those from minority backgrounds, 334 00:22:16,702 --> 00:22:21,473 to actually pursue science and technology, to stay in that pipeline, throughout it. 335 00:22:21,473 --> 00:22:25,444 To even get to a point where we at NASA can hire them, 336 00:22:26,078 --> 00:22:29,114 could definitely use some effort 337 00:22:29,448 --> 00:22:33,018 and love to just to feed that pipeline. 338 00:22:33,018 --> 00:22:36,521 And until we can get equality in our 339 00:22:36,521 --> 00:22:41,893 teams, we'll never really fully utilize the people, 340 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:46,031 the whole society, that we could, because we won't have 341 00:22:46,031 --> 00:22:49,134 the diversity of mindset, we won't have the diversity of thought 342 00:22:49,434 --> 00:22:53,305 that will really allow us to think outside the box to solve 343 00:22:53,605 --> 00:22:57,075 these hard technological problems. 344 00:22:57,075 --> 00:23:00,345 We have innate bias to hire people just like us. 345 00:23:00,345 --> 00:23:05,217 And it takes effort and conscious effort to step outside that 346 00:23:05,217 --> 00:23:08,954 and to be able to say, no, it's useful, it's 347 00:23:08,954 --> 00:23:11,723 valuable to have diversity. 348 00:23:12,090 --> 00:23:15,794 So let's go make an effort to make sure our teams and our people 349 00:23:15,794 --> 00:23:20,165 reflect society as a whole so that we can really capitalize 350 00:23:20,165 --> 00:23:25,070 on all the different backgrounds of how people have been brought up and thought 351 00:23:25,070 --> 00:23:28,807 and experience that will help us to solve the real challenges 352 00:23:29,174 --> 00:23:32,144 and the real hard challenges that we can potentially unlock 353 00:23:32,144 --> 00:23:36,515 if we can get to that equality in the diversity of our teams. 354 00:23:37,449 --> 00:23:39,584 I was going to say, just follow 355 00:23:39,584 --> 00:23:42,587 what you said and say if we can we can definitely get there, 356 00:23:42,854 --> 00:23:47,726 but we have to be intentional about getting there. 357 00:23:47,759 --> 00:23:53,198 And it is a circle of things that happen. 358 00:23:53,398 --> 00:23:57,002 We talk about inspiring underserved, 359 00:23:57,002 --> 00:24:00,071 underrepresented minority young people. 360 00:24:00,238 --> 00:24:04,943 But as I stated before, most of what inspires people is people. 361 00:24:05,110 --> 00:24:11,049 So until we bring some diversity to the teams now, and we have no excuse 362 00:24:11,049 --> 00:24:15,921 for not being able to do that, it's not that we don't have people from diverse 363 00:24:15,921 --> 00:24:19,891 backgrounds who have gone out and majored in these STEM fields and could be 364 00:24:19,891 --> 00:24:23,528 an excellent asset to NASA and what we do. 365 00:24:24,062 --> 00:24:27,466 But for whatever reason, we are not being creative enough 366 00:24:27,766 --> 00:24:31,236 to go get them and bring them to us so that then we can 367 00:24:31,236 --> 00:24:36,041 then inspire future generations to follow in our steps. 368 00:24:36,308 --> 00:24:38,376 So it's not an impossible. 369 00:24:38,543 --> 00:24:41,112 It's something that we have to be intentional 370 00:24:41,546 --> 00:24:44,983 and work hard and don't give up on doing it and do it. 371 00:24:45,283 --> 00:24:47,686 We do it just like we want, just like Jonny said, 372 00:24:47,819 --> 00:24:51,389 we want to explore for the betterment of humankind here. 373 00:24:51,523 --> 00:24:55,494 We have to make that same decision that we want to have diversity 374 00:24:55,660 --> 00:24:58,029 for the betterment of humankind here. 375 00:24:59,397 --> 00:25:01,600 Hortense, I completely agree 376 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,803 about the aspects you talked about being intentional. 377 00:25:05,303 --> 00:25:08,874 And while it's not perfect, I think here NASA 378 00:25:09,474 --> 00:25:12,544 we have done a phenomenal job of being intentional 379 00:25:12,811 --> 00:25:17,315 in marching towards that representation that reflects our society. 380 00:25:17,849 --> 00:25:21,353 The astronaut corps itself is a diversified group. 381 00:25:21,686 --> 00:25:25,924 And our Artemis mission, which, as you may know, 382 00:25:26,258 --> 00:25:28,960 is our return to the to the Moon 383 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:32,697 to stay, is going to have the first woman 384 00:25:32,931 --> 00:25:36,635 and the first person of color on boots on the ground, on the Moon. 385 00:25:36,635 --> 00:25:41,039 And I mean, that's why, 386 00:25:41,039 --> 00:25:44,042 you know, when I was growing 387 00:25:44,042 --> 00:25:49,514 up, I had a picture of the Apollo 11 crew over my bed. 388 00:25:50,382 --> 00:25:54,152 But as I told you earlier, I had never once thought to be an astronaut. 389 00:25:54,853 --> 00:25:57,022 All I wanted to do was be a Navy SEAL. 390 00:25:57,022 --> 00:26:00,158 But I didn't think that people, and even doing that 391 00:26:00,158 --> 00:26:03,728 endeavor, I hadn't met many Asian SEALs before. 392 00:26:03,762 --> 00:26:05,697 I never met an Asian SEAL before that. 393 00:26:05,697 --> 00:26:12,203 And that's just, when we don't see someone that we can relate with 394 00:26:12,304 --> 00:26:16,741 in the places we want to be or the things that we're striving to do, 395 00:26:16,975 --> 00:26:19,578 we just don't think about doing it. It's just the way it is. 396 00:26:19,945 --> 00:26:22,614 And so I never thought I could be an astronaut. 397 00:26:22,614 --> 00:26:25,784 I didn't think people who came from my background, or 398 00:26:26,251 --> 00:26:28,587 people who looked like me, could do something like that. 399 00:26:28,987 --> 00:26:32,057 But then I was introduced I was exposed to that idea. 400 00:26:32,057 --> 00:26:35,694 And I think that's what we do here at NASA, is we strive towards 401 00:26:35,694 --> 00:26:39,497 that representation and to do bold things and to do them together. 402 00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:43,902 You know, Jonny, that's 403 00:26:43,902 --> 00:26:48,640 you know, when I was a kid, my understanding of NASA, JPL 404 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,943 and the other, you know, aeronautics and space-related agencies, industries, 405 00:26:53,278 --> 00:26:55,046 were really about technology 406 00:26:55,046 --> 00:26:59,150 and mechanics, just rockets and getting people up into space. 407 00:26:59,684 --> 00:27:02,387 And I think what everyone here has done so 408 00:27:02,387 --> 00:27:06,358 well is reeducate me 409 00:27:07,225 --> 00:27:12,831 on NASA, and again, JPL and all the related industries 410 00:27:13,298 --> 00:27:18,570 are much more than just that, the way that you guys have have spoken about them 411 00:27:19,037 --> 00:27:22,307 and the work that you've done and who you've done it with. 412 00:27:23,108 --> 00:27:26,444 And the fact that it's not just a U.S. 413 00:27:26,444 --> 00:27:31,883 or an American quest anymore, it is a global sort of effort 414 00:27:32,317 --> 00:27:36,187 and that we're working with agencies all around the world to do these things. 415 00:27:37,389 --> 00:27:41,026 That is I mean, at least from my point of view, that is the epitome. 416 00:27:41,026 --> 00:27:43,928 That is that is United Federation of Planets. 417 00:27:43,928 --> 00:27:47,098 That is Starfleet. NASA is the beginning of that. 418 00:27:47,132 --> 00:27:50,068 And I'm sorry to bring it back to a fictional story. 419 00:27:50,568 --> 00:27:52,003 The world is not about Star Trek. 420 00:27:52,003 --> 00:27:57,108 However, from my point of view, my interest in celebrating my father's centennial. 421 00:27:58,243 --> 00:28:00,545 I do love the United Federation of Planets. 422 00:28:00,578 --> 00:28:04,516 I do love the future where we no longer have borders between us, 423 00:28:05,250 --> 00:28:06,418 literal borders between us. 424 00:28:06,418 --> 00:28:09,287 But we've embraced the differences among us. 425 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:13,124 And for you guys to to share 426 00:28:13,124 --> 00:28:16,494 that the projects you've worked on, the projects you've been involved with, 427 00:28:17,495 --> 00:28:21,833 involve people of all walks of life everywhere around the world, 428 00:28:22,367 --> 00:28:26,204 and that we need more of that is what I hear everyone saying. 429 00:28:26,204 --> 00:28:29,040 And I think we all agree with that. 430 00:28:29,207 --> 00:28:31,476 I couldn't be more proud 431 00:28:32,177 --> 00:28:37,015 of not necessarily to be an American, but to be part of a group 432 00:28:37,682 --> 00:28:42,253 that has NASA, that has people like this who really believe 433 00:28:42,253 --> 00:28:46,291 in our future of unity and thrusting into space together. 434 00:28:47,058 --> 00:28:48,626 That is what I'm proud of. 435 00:28:48,626 --> 00:28:52,097 And I thank you guys so much for 436 00:28:53,298 --> 00:28:56,735 sharing your your history, your background and what you've been working on 437 00:28:56,735 --> 00:29:01,673 and how you've perceived and experienced NASA, JPL and the other agencies. 438 00:29:02,340 --> 00:29:07,545 I do have one one last question, and it's really just to maybe get some background. 439 00:29:07,545 --> 00:29:09,647 I mean, you guys have shared 440 00:29:09,647 --> 00:29:12,250 the things that you're working on now, but I kind of want to know 441 00:29:13,017 --> 00:29:17,155 how did you get into what you're doing now 442 00:29:17,622 --> 00:29:20,558 and what inspired you to get there? 443 00:29:20,558 --> 00:29:23,261 And I guess if I'm leading this, I'm going to start with 444 00:29:23,862 --> 00:29:27,699 with Jonny first, because Jonny I've picked the last so far every time. 445 00:29:27,732 --> 00:29:31,369 So Jonny, please. 446 00:29:31,503 --> 00:29:34,639 Yeah, I guess I'll give a shorter answer on this, but 447 00:29:37,475 --> 00:29:38,743 it's a good question. 448 00:29:38,743 --> 00:29:41,045 How I got here to where I am today. 449 00:29:41,045 --> 00:29:44,883 I as a boy, I had a lot of challenges 450 00:29:44,883 --> 00:29:48,219 growing up and I wanted to become the best version of myself. 451 00:29:48,887 --> 00:29:52,524 And the path that I was on as an adolescent was not leading me there. 452 00:29:53,525 --> 00:29:55,727 And I didn't feel like I had an identity. 453 00:29:56,194 --> 00:29:58,797 I felt in between worlds, 454 00:29:58,797 --> 00:30:03,334 perhaps many people, many panelists on this can feel I can understand that. 455 00:30:03,334 --> 00:30:05,203 My parents were immigrants. 456 00:30:05,203 --> 00:30:08,540 And culturally, I felt in between worlds. 457 00:30:08,540 --> 00:30:12,243 And something about the warrior culture of becoming a Navy SEAL 458 00:30:12,243 --> 00:30:14,312 really called out to me. And, 459 00:30:15,513 --> 00:30:18,683 I try to tell you, it discovered a little bit of who I was. 460 00:30:19,184 --> 00:30:23,755 I discovered the goods and the bads of humanity, of human struggle. 461 00:30:24,122 --> 00:30:26,825 And I was inspired to become a physician from there. 462 00:30:27,492 --> 00:30:30,995 And in doing that, I found NASA, 463 00:30:30,995 --> 00:30:35,700 I discovered NASA as a platform to do what I love to do, which is seek 464 00:30:35,700 --> 00:30:40,538 hard things, challenging things to push beyond limits. 465 00:30:40,805 --> 00:30:43,508 But at the same time, make the world a better place. 466 00:30:44,075 --> 00:30:46,444 And, George, you said you're an optimist. I'm an optimist, too. 467 00:30:46,544 --> 00:30:49,547 And I balance that. I try and balance that with a sense of realism. 468 00:30:50,915 --> 00:30:52,817 And for me, it's important to 469 00:30:52,817 --> 00:30:56,421 inspire the next generation because they are our future. 470 00:30:56,855 --> 00:30:59,824 And that's what it means to me to be here at NASA. 471 00:30:59,824 --> 00:31:01,893 It's that I have an opportunity to do what I love, 472 00:31:02,026 --> 00:31:04,262 to do the hard things, to explore. 473 00:31:04,662 --> 00:31:07,232 But more importantly, I get that opportunity 474 00:31:07,866 --> 00:31:11,536 with my fellow astronauts, with all my teammates at NASA, 475 00:31:11,870 --> 00:31:15,607 to plant the seeds for those young children watching at home 476 00:31:15,907 --> 00:31:20,044 who get to see us do the impossible, to work together to achieve the impossible. 477 00:31:20,211 --> 00:31:25,316 And that's what I really enjoy about being an astronaut here at NASA. 478 00:31:27,585 --> 00:31:29,621 That's amazing, thank you. 479 00:31:30,054 --> 00:31:32,991 I guess if I can hand it over to you, Swati. 480 00:31:32,991 --> 00:31:37,095 Yeah, how did I get to where I am today? 481 00:31:38,096 --> 00:31:41,099 It's interesting, Jonny, when you say you felt like you're in between worlds. 482 00:31:41,099 --> 00:31:43,468 I definitely felt like that growing up 483 00:31:44,435 --> 00:31:45,970 as a child of immigrant parents. 484 00:31:45,970 --> 00:31:46,838 I came to the U.S. 485 00:31:46,838 --> 00:31:52,243 when I was one, and for the longest time, it definitely felt bifurcated. 486 00:31:52,277 --> 00:31:56,481 I was one culture when I was at home and one culture when I was in school. 487 00:31:56,714 --> 00:32:01,085 And to get beyond that and get beyond what I thought 488 00:32:01,519 --> 00:32:04,856 an appropriate career path would be for me, I thought I was 489 00:32:04,856 --> 00:32:07,859 going to be a physician all throughout growing up, it 490 00:32:07,859 --> 00:32:12,530 took a lot of soul searching and being honest with myself 491 00:32:12,563 --> 00:32:16,901 as to what I was really passionate about 492 00:32:17,201 --> 00:32:20,939 and what I was really good at. 493 00:32:20,939 --> 00:32:25,877 Like, not to be, not to take in 494 00:32:25,877 --> 00:32:30,381 what I thought I needed to do or how I thought I needed to be based on 495 00:32:31,215 --> 00:32:35,954 my upbringing or my culture, but what I really wanted for myself inside 496 00:32:35,954 --> 00:32:40,758 and the space exploration called to me 497 00:32:40,758 --> 00:32:44,462 because it was that final frontier of 498 00:32:44,762 --> 00:32:50,201 this is the place where we really can go and build the better world 499 00:32:50,201 --> 00:32:53,504 to find the aspects 500 00:32:53,504 --> 00:32:56,808 and bring out the best of all of us. 501 00:32:56,808 --> 00:33:01,679 And being able to contribute to that goal, to contribute 502 00:33:01,679 --> 00:33:07,018 to seeking the knowledge of this final frontier was very exciting to me. 503 00:33:07,385 --> 00:33:11,155 You know, I had the privilege of being the voice of EDL 504 00:33:11,155 --> 00:33:16,127 for the Perseverance landing and the feedback that I got after it of 505 00:33:16,694 --> 00:33:20,965 all these young students, so complimentary, seeing me and 506 00:33:21,599 --> 00:33:25,336 the expressions of, wow, now we think we can do it 507 00:33:25,336 --> 00:33:28,940 because we actually saw someone else who was doing that. 508 00:33:29,374 --> 00:33:34,846 We're just inspiring and serve to remind us that 509 00:33:35,413 --> 00:33:38,583 we're not alone, and even if we think we're just one 510 00:33:38,583 --> 00:33:42,720 small piece of a big puzzle, there is some pay it forward 511 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:48,493 responsibility where even if we're not, you know, in charge of anything, 512 00:33:48,593 --> 00:33:51,796 the opportunities we have from working in the field 513 00:33:51,796 --> 00:33:55,066 and just paying it forward to bring the future generation, 514 00:33:55,066 --> 00:34:00,238 we never know what that impact can have down the line of a phone call 515 00:34:00,238 --> 00:34:03,674 with a student to give a piece of advice or just shaking a hand, 516 00:34:03,975 --> 00:34:07,045 you know, in a conference, to spend 517 00:34:07,045 --> 00:34:10,081 time with the little kid who wants it. 518 00:34:11,549 --> 00:34:13,017 That exploration and 519 00:34:13,017 --> 00:34:18,056 motivation for others is also what drives me to give forward 520 00:34:18,056 --> 00:34:21,325 and to use space as a platform for inspiring others. 521 00:34:22,894 --> 00:34:25,596 Well, thank you, Swati. 522 00:34:26,030 --> 00:34:29,967 Hortense, if I can direct the question of what inspired you 523 00:34:29,967 --> 00:34:35,073 to get into the field you're in and where you are today. Wow. 524 00:34:38,176 --> 00:34:42,380 I had no desire to work for NASA, 525 00:34:42,380 --> 00:34:47,118 I didn't even know about a NASA, to be honest, in 526 00:34:47,752 --> 00:34:52,256 what I wanted to do up until probably 527 00:34:52,256 --> 00:34:56,761 my junior year in high school, I wanted to be a pediatrician. 528 00:34:58,196 --> 00:35:04,168 But I grew up in a time where in my family and those around me, 529 00:35:04,168 --> 00:35:08,372 everyone was a teacher or a general practitioner. 530 00:35:09,340 --> 00:35:16,481 And so you tend to want to do what you see others, because that's what you 531 00:35:16,681 --> 00:35:19,851 you know, but I knew I didn't want to be a teacher 532 00:35:20,551 --> 00:35:24,755 and knew I wanted to be a pediatrician because I've always loved 533 00:35:25,056 --> 00:35:29,894 working with kids and with students, but didn't want to be a teacher. 534 00:35:30,561 --> 00:35:34,232 But I talked myself out of 535 00:35:34,532 --> 00:35:37,735 going to school, majoring in biology to be a teacher, why? 536 00:35:38,035 --> 00:35:42,140 Because I didn't see anyone that looked like me that was doing that. 537 00:35:42,907 --> 00:35:45,977 But I had great math grades, 538 00:35:46,444 --> 00:35:51,916 so I received a scholarship to Prairie View A&M University in engineering. 539 00:35:52,383 --> 00:35:55,319 And to be honest guys, I didn't even know what engineering was. 540 00:35:55,319 --> 00:35:56,320 I was like what is it the man on the back of the train? 541 00:35:58,456 --> 00:36:01,592 What, I'm way too cool for that! 542 00:36:01,626 --> 00:36:06,631 And my mother, in her wisdom, I don't care what it is. 543 00:36:06,631 --> 00:36:09,634 They've given you a scholarship, you're going, and that's what you're going to do. 544 00:36:10,368 --> 00:36:12,103 So, you know, of course, 545 00:36:12,103 --> 00:36:16,607 while they're OK, this is not this is not the way I like this. 546 00:36:17,041 --> 00:36:21,245 And so after graduating, I started my career 547 00:36:21,913 --> 00:36:26,817 with the Navy, Naval Ordinance Station and then got married 548 00:36:26,817 --> 00:36:30,321 and needed to relocate, came to Patrick Air Force Base. 549 00:36:30,755 --> 00:36:34,258 And there was NASA And I was like, oh, boy, 550 00:36:34,625 --> 00:36:37,328 they have one of those back in Texas where I'm from. 551 00:36:37,862 --> 00:36:40,531 I need to get over there, so I can get back to Texas. 552 00:36:40,831 --> 00:36:46,804 So that's really how I got to NASA was a desire to to move back to Texas. 553 00:36:47,104 --> 00:36:50,675 But after taking guys nine years 554 00:36:50,975 --> 00:36:56,614 to get on with NASA, I no longer had a desire to go to Texas, 555 00:36:56,981 --> 00:37:02,787 but I loved NASA because it allowed me to do my passion. 556 00:37:03,354 --> 00:37:05,690 My passion was going to work with students. 557 00:37:05,990 --> 00:37:08,793 And NASA had this office called education. 558 00:37:09,093 --> 00:37:11,596 I'm like, OK, what do they do? 559 00:37:11,596 --> 00:37:15,666 And I went over there and I loved their mission, their mission 560 00:37:15,900 --> 00:37:18,536 going out telling students what NASA do 561 00:37:18,736 --> 00:37:21,872 all in the hopes of inspiring them to go into STEM. 562 00:37:22,106 --> 00:37:28,512 It was just such a full circle thing for me, a job that I would do for free. 563 00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:32,450 So I just loved it, loved it, loved loved it. 564 00:37:32,450 --> 00:37:34,518 So I absorbed myself in that. 565 00:37:34,752 --> 00:37:38,289 And as a result of that, just got opportunities 566 00:37:38,289 --> 00:37:41,892 for other things and took advantage of those opportunities. 567 00:37:42,159 --> 00:37:43,761 So to go back to what 568 00:37:44,729 --> 00:37:47,198 Jonny said about loving these people. 569 00:37:47,198 --> 00:37:49,267 That is what I love. 570 00:37:49,267 --> 00:37:54,038 I believe that we have to talk to these young students 571 00:37:54,305 --> 00:37:57,341 because we love our astronauts and they see them. 572 00:37:57,775 --> 00:38:02,413 But NASA is so much bigger than our astronauts. 573 00:38:02,713 --> 00:38:06,951 So I want to make sure they know about the other things that are out there 574 00:38:07,118 --> 00:38:10,988 so that they can find a passion for what NASA is doing 575 00:38:11,188 --> 00:38:14,458 and be inspired to one day join NASA 576 00:38:14,825 --> 00:38:17,495 in our exploration. 577 00:38:18,329 --> 00:38:20,398 That's amazing. Yes. Yes. 578 00:38:21,499 --> 00:38:26,237 That's amazing. Tracy, if I could throw the last question at you there. 579 00:38:28,239 --> 00:38:30,174 Yeah. So how did I end up at NASA? 580 00:38:30,174 --> 00:38:31,275 I got to say, usually 581 00:38:31,275 --> 00:38:35,780 I don't talk about this piece of it, but Jonny and Swati are reminding me 582 00:38:35,780 --> 00:38:39,317 that I also was a person who was kind of between two worlds. 583 00:38:39,583 --> 00:38:41,552 I grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood 584 00:38:41,552 --> 00:38:43,688 and a working class family in Kentucky. 585 00:38:43,688 --> 00:38:47,191 But from second grade and on, I went to schools 586 00:38:47,191 --> 00:38:49,527 that were in predominantly white neighborhoods, 587 00:38:49,527 --> 00:38:53,564 and I was usually the one or maybe one or two black kids in class. 588 00:38:53,631 --> 00:38:55,266 That's why I sound like this by the way. 589 00:38:55,266 --> 00:38:57,034 the rest of my family does not talk this way. 590 00:38:57,034 --> 00:39:00,771 And it's interesting to me that actually the idea 591 00:39:00,771 --> 00:39:05,309 of not seeing someone like myself and therefore not thinking that 592 00:39:05,309 --> 00:39:06,444 I couldn't do that thing, 593 00:39:06,444 --> 00:39:09,947 that was never a thing for me, because I so identified with the kids 594 00:39:09,947 --> 00:39:13,517 and the teachers that I was around all day, that I just assumed I'm 595 00:39:13,517 --> 00:39:15,319 just like you guys, like everybody else is. 596 00:39:15,319 --> 00:39:17,822 Now, there's a double edged sword to that, because I was also a bit 597 00:39:17,822 --> 00:39:20,624 cut off from my own people's culture and history 598 00:39:20,624 --> 00:39:22,727 and only started learning about that in my 30s or so. 599 00:39:22,727 --> 00:39:25,463 So I'm really not saying, please do that, all the kids, and it'll be fine. 600 00:39:25,463 --> 00:39:26,697 Like that's not the answer. 601 00:39:26,697 --> 00:39:28,532 But the thing for me 602 00:39:28,532 --> 00:39:31,702 to bring in and something that I think either Swati or Hortense said, 603 00:39:31,702 --> 00:39:36,207 my mom was a very big influence on my path because she loves Star Trek. 604 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:37,475 She and her sisters, 605 00:39:37,475 --> 00:39:39,577 the four of them would run home from school to watch 606 00:39:39,910 --> 00:39:41,846 because the oldest sister looked like Uhura. 607 00:39:41,846 --> 00:39:43,848 And they're like, well, there's a black woman on TV in Star Trek. 608 00:39:43,848 --> 00:39:44,815 Let's go watch it. 609 00:39:44,815 --> 00:39:47,518 And she got firmly sucked into science fiction 610 00:39:47,518 --> 00:39:49,286 and raised me and my brother on that. 611 00:39:49,286 --> 00:39:52,623 And so around high school, when I was trying to decide what I wanted to do, 612 00:39:52,890 --> 00:39:55,726 I decided I wanted something to do with space like 613 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:59,330 that would keep me interested for an entire career and allow me to help 614 00:39:59,330 --> 00:40:03,401 the world be more like this awesome Star Trek show that I grew up with, 615 00:40:03,401 --> 00:40:06,804 even if we can only move the needle a little bit in my career. 616 00:40:06,837 --> 00:40:10,541 So I studied mechanical engineering in undergrad and then grad school 617 00:40:10,741 --> 00:40:14,044 and was very, very fortunate to do an internship at NASA Langley 618 00:40:14,044 --> 00:40:15,446 when I was an undergrad, 619 00:40:15,446 --> 00:40:18,682 and that the same center where the ladies from Hidden Figures were from. 620 00:40:18,682 --> 00:40:22,920 I had no idea about that history until the book and the movie came out. 621 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:25,122 And it was astonishing to me that I had been walking 622 00:40:25,122 --> 00:40:28,459 those same halls and just had no idea about all that that had taken place. 623 00:40:28,959 --> 00:40:31,662 And I was very fortunate to get hired at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory 624 00:40:31,662 --> 00:40:35,032 right after grad school and have been there for my entire career. 625 00:40:35,199 --> 00:40:38,869 And for me, even though I personally have gotten to work with a lot of people 626 00:40:38,869 --> 00:40:43,407 from so many different backgrounds and just educational experiences 627 00:40:43,407 --> 00:40:46,210 and trying to put together these complex missions, it's been wonderful. 628 00:40:46,477 --> 00:40:47,545 I'll tag onto what Hortense was 629 00:40:48,546 --> 00:40:51,148 saying about the importance of talking to students 630 00:40:51,148 --> 00:40:54,185 and letting them see like all of these things that they could do. 631 00:40:54,385 --> 00:40:57,688 And it's not just about the scientists and the engineers and the astronauts. 632 00:40:57,688 --> 00:41:01,258 We have people who are artists full time who work at the lab 633 00:41:01,258 --> 00:41:05,296 and lawyers and computer scientists and teachers and communicators. 634 00:41:05,296 --> 00:41:08,432 And no matter what it is that you are passionate about doing, 635 00:41:08,432 --> 00:41:13,571 you can find a spot in the space industry if you want to combine those two passions 636 00:41:13,838 --> 00:41:16,640 and help us as humankind, 637 00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:19,910 go off and explore our surroundings and our universe. 638 00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:25,382 I'm blown away, guys. I really am. 639 00:41:26,217 --> 00:41:28,686 The entire conversation, your answers here 640 00:41:29,286 --> 00:41:32,289 and truly at my age, 641 00:41:32,323 --> 00:41:36,794 being able to look within and see a bit more NASA in the space industry 642 00:41:36,794 --> 00:41:40,064 and how it's run today and the kind of perspectives 643 00:41:40,764 --> 00:41:44,401 it embodies and shares and the people who work there. 644 00:41:44,635 --> 00:41:47,137 You know, I started this by saying 645 00:41:47,404 --> 00:41:50,608 people would always come up to me and say they were inspired by Star Trek. 646 00:41:51,509 --> 00:41:54,345 I am so happy to hear 647 00:41:54,778 --> 00:41:58,749 and more that people are inspired by you guys. 648 00:41:59,683 --> 00:42:03,153 You guys are an inspiration, the way that you talk about 649 00:42:03,153 --> 00:42:08,025 not just your agencies and where you work, but why you work there 650 00:42:08,592 --> 00:42:11,662 and your belief in the future and your belief in humanity. 651 00:42:12,029 --> 00:42:14,598 And that is, you know, again, 652 00:42:14,598 --> 00:42:16,967 from my point of view, what Star Trek has always been about. 653 00:42:17,701 --> 00:42:20,137 You guys are doing it for real. 654 00:42:20,137 --> 00:42:23,040 Not just going into space and not just getting people into space. 655 00:42:24,141 --> 00:42:29,413 But again, Star Trek was more than just sci-fi, it was about humanity's future. 656 00:42:29,914 --> 00:42:32,883 And you guys are incredible. 657 00:42:32,883 --> 00:42:35,786 And to hear what you have to say, 658 00:42:36,220 --> 00:42:39,056 you are helping us work towards a better future, 659 00:42:39,056 --> 00:42:40,257 and you are the inspiration 660 00:42:40,257 --> 00:42:43,260 for other people to want to make that better future a reality. 661 00:42:43,260 --> 00:42:45,563 So I can't thank you enough. 662 00:42:45,563 --> 00:42:49,433 I can't thank NASA for letting me and the Roddenberry Foundation 663 00:42:50,668 --> 00:42:51,769 talk to you all. 664 00:42:51,769 --> 00:42:53,971 I thank you. And I'll do this. 665 00:42:53,971 --> 00:42:56,974 Live long and prosper, everyone. 666 00:42:57,841 --> 00:43:00,210 And I will sum it up by saying 667 00:43:01,211 --> 00:43:04,949 celebrating Gene Roddenberry's one hundredth birthday 668 00:43:04,949 --> 00:43:08,819 with all of you absolutely convinces me