Real Rocket Scientists and a Layperson

I am no science expert. Not at all. What I am, though, is curious, willing to learn, and committed to exposing upcoming generations to all of the scientific possibilities that lie ahead of us.

When I had an opportunity to participate in the #NASAMarsDay NASA Social at Michoud Assembly Facility (New Orleans) and Stennis Space Center (Mississippi) last week, I got to hear presentations from and speak to numerous personnel from NASA and its contractors, the ones who are responsible for getting humans to Mars by the 2030s.

While I would love it if you would read my entire post about #NASAMarsDay (and watch the very cool video at the end of the engine test fire), with its additional detail about NASA’s plan to get to Mars, as well as the incredible people behind the plan, for now, two takeaways that even this layperson can digest:

Additive manufacturing is essential.

Niki Werkheiser said it best in this podcast: “…additive manufacturing is actually the kind of formal term for 3D printing. Traditional manufacturing is subtractive. You have a material and you take away from it. Additive is any process where you actually build the part that you’re trying to create, layer by layer, so it’s additive instead of subtractive.”

Short layperson’s explanation: there’s no Lowe’s or Home Depot on Mars. When you need a part you don’t have, you can’t go down the street to buy it. You have to know how to make it yourself out of components you already have.

Cleanliness matters.

When we visited the RS-25 assembly area at Stennis Space Center, we were reminded of the importance of keeping things clean, clean, clean. Even the oil from a quick touch of a finger can compromise the manufacturing process. Everywhere you go, “FOD” reminders are posted.

FOD is foreign object debris/foreign object damage and it is apparently the devil’s equivalent in the space construction arena. This post is older, but it’s an example of FOD analysis and follow-up planning.

Short layperson’s explanation: when you are in a facility that constructs launch vehicles, engines, crew modules, or any other component of space travel, don’t be careless. Don’t touch anything without permission and for heaven’s sake don’t carelessly drop your gum wrapper or last week’s crumpled up grocery list. Small debris can do huge damage.

Why A Layperson Social Media Enthusiast Matters in the Journey to Mars

When I sat at the initial briefing for this NASA Social, I was blown away to learn that approximately 25% of the participants learned about the opportunity via Snapchat. Nine short months ago, Snapchat didn’t even come up at my first NASA Social.

Our group encompassed a broad array of ages, occupations, expertise, and hometown. Our job is to let our audiences know that the space program is hardly fading, to encourage them to advocate with their legislative delegations to continue funding NASA (whose advances help us here on earth), to tell today’s 2nd graders (girls AND boys) that they can can be a part of discovering a whole new frontier.

To learn more about NASA Socials, click here.