Today I practically had front row seating for the visit by Charles Bolden NASA Administrator. Mr. Bolden turns out to be a really friend, down-to-Earth kind of guy. Which is definitely ironic, considering he was on four missions of the now retired US Space Shuttle. Two of those missions, he was pilot, the other two he was the commander. The first Russian-American shuttle Flight and launch of Hubble are Bolden missions.
General NASA Policy
The speech at CU Boulder by Charles Bolden NASA Administrator focused on general policy. Not too much techno mumbo jumbo. Actually, one of the best moments of the presentation was when he borrowed a students headphones to demonstrate the escape velocity – not accounting for drag – required to reach high orbit.
That question was asked by Milo, a young man home schooling himself. Mr. Bolden answered his question and had the audience laughing the circumstances: 12 y.o. grills NASA astronaut.
Charles Bolden Career Highlights.
I didn’t realize it beforehand, but Charles Bolden is a Major General. In his storied career, he has piloted the Space Shuttle twice, flown the A6 Intruder during Vietnam and directed NASA.
In retelling some personal history, he admitted missing his daughter’s birth even though he knew the exact day she would be born. It was his second child and as the first was a C-Section, medical doctrine at the time dictated the second birth be the same. However, Country and career came first on the appointed day (St. Patrick’s Day) and he missed her birth.
Mr. Charles Bolden then described his favorite aircraft of all time. The A6 Intruder. He pointed out, with its unique side by side layout, he really had to count on the guy to his right when flying the plane. It was a two man plane that demanded cooperation. During this portion of the presentation though, Charles Bolden was very animated. The fighter Jock inside him was on full display.
I Sit Next To Crazy
I mentioned being practically in the front row. Well, I arrived before the presentation began, but by no means early. I found a single seat up front – second row. To my left, three cherub faced Astro-Engineers counting down the days to graduation. To my right? Crazy. Yes, I was seated next to the sixty year old fellow with crazy long hair and a long board skate board.
And when the Q and A started, he wanted to know what contingency NASA has for an asteroid hitting the Earth. He asked twice. I would have liked to learn more about Orion – our next launch vehicle, or even in depth about the James Webb satellite (think Hubble on Steroids!). But no, I sat next to crazy – obsessed with Armageddon asteroids.
Best US Space Fact
The presentation was as much educational and informative as fun pro-NASA hype. And that led to Charles Bolden disclosing the single coolest US space fact. In the past thirteen years, there has always been a human in space. Astounding to consider. My Mom vividly recalls the moon landings. But who can vividly recall the last thirteen years, during which time there has always been a human being in space, 24/7. There are children alive today, who have never lived a day of their lives where humans were not in space.
CU Space Connection
And just this week, Steve Swanson, a CU Boulder graduate, launched aboard a Russian space craft for the International Space Station. In September, he’ll take command. What a great Boulder connection to space. Thank you Major General Charles Bolden for delivering a fun and fact filled presentation on the state of the US space policy.