It took courage and leadership for Dan Hicks and his team to carry off the first Spaceport America Cup. Leadership, because if anything went wrong, Mr. Hicks is the one wringable neck. Courage because of the complexity of the tasks to be carried out. When you have students of all ages involved with explosives, think […]
The Reason I Write a Column
I took a pause from this column to think about its direction. Over the last year, rapid fire changes have been happening, and the pace may increase this year. I intentionally slowed down over the Christmas break. I had time to critically analyze the fact that I started reading the paper at night. The Editors […]
The Next 100 Days
Observations for New Mexicans as we transition to the next administration. If you have been reading my column you know I am more focused on science and technology. Most of the people I spend my days with are involved in federally funded programs that require some degree of technical, scientific and administrative know how. Yet, […]
VSS Unity’s First Solo Flight
Finally: Virgin SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity completed her first glide flight! It’s been just over two years since the accident. I wish I could have seen her on her own without the mother ship. Up until Saturday, she was always in captive carry mode. That is she was carried and firmly attached to WhiteKnightTwo, VMS Eve […]
The Janitor Who Inspired Me
Jobe is a church janitor. This is not his real name but he exists. I spoke with him last week. He attended ISPCS and also our SUMMIT on Inclusion. This janitor spent over $1500 to join our community. When people attend ISPCS, we do not ask for their title. When you see a name badge […]
Ambition is necessary for success
My career or any career needs to be nurtured. Careers were on the agenda at NMSU last week because of homecoming. Successful alumni who serve on various advisory boards were on campus, including my former boss who now works at NASA’s Langley Research Center. He still works in the area of technology development. He was […]
It does not matter who gets the credit
It does not matter who gets the credit I’ve heard this and I don’t buy it. People who work hard want credit for the results of their work. Money is not the solution either. Sometimes a thank you works best, so thank you Christine Anderson. Milton Glaser is the Creator of the ubiquitous I heart […]
Hire a Go Getter to Get Us Going
We need a go getter to get going. A spaceport is a business, and that business is transportation. There are 5 modes of transportation; ground, sea, rail, air and space. The State of New Mexico has a Secretary of Transportation. I wonder if the Secretary has been involved in the discussion about the qualifications of […]
Think outside the Can
Where do you go when there is no place left to go? NASA has a great idea. Join them in Space. This week NASA asked us, fellow tax payers, to consider what we would you do if NASA made a port available for you to connect to the International Space Station (ISS). This is a […]
Think small. Think big. Then act.
One of my jobs is to go to Capitol Hill and speak to members of Congress. As the Director of the New Mexico Space Grant, I am one of 52 Directors. We are funded by Congress and NASA runs our program. Every year we go to Capitol Hill to report on our progress. My experiences […]
