So, what makes you an Astronaut Teacher?
Tomorrow’s jobs are in space. Today’s are in the classroom.
I was 42 when I realized I was not going to be an astronaut when I grew up. Age 42 is also when it dawned on me that I had grown up.
So I immediately started to scramble. Astronaut was the one thing I had wanted to do and be my entire life! What was I to do now?
Suddenly, it hit me. “Those who can do, and those who can’t teach.” I would become an astronaut teacher! And so I wrote The Astronaut Instruction Manual for Pre-Teens.
That was 2008. From that point on, I went to work. Blogging, speaking, traveling and addressing students and other space professionals. Starting on my own dime (now somewhat better), it has been non-stop.
Short bio. In 2008, I flew to my first professional space conference and I began to introduce myself as ‘astronaut teacher’. In 2011, I was invited to my first space conference. In 2012, I was invited to speak at my first space conference. The next year I spoke at four.
And in 2013, I co-founded the first-ever summit of interstellar space scientists and science organizations, Icarus Interstellar’s Starship Congress.
All the while I have addressed classrooms of students all over the world, and I have encouraged 1000s of young students to pursue careers in space science and astronautics.
This year, I am a speaker at Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) annual SpaceVision conference. It is the single-largest gathering of aerospace degree-seeking students in the world. On the same ticket are US Space Policy advisor Lori Garver, NASA senior project scientist James Mather, and legendary astronaut Story Musgrave.
If that were not enough, my book, The Astronaut Instruction Manual for Pre-Teens has been selected for publication by — and is currently being crowdfunded on — Inkshares.com.
In the beginning I got this question: “What makes you an astronaut teacher?” Now I can say the answer is research, hard work, tenacity, and (lots of) classroom experience. But now I believe the real question is better phrased, “Why become an astronaut teacher?”
That is a good question! When I started out, my answer was because I wanted — and want — to go to space. I became an astronaut teacher to let space-loving young students who want to live, work, and play in space know that now here in the future they have the opportunity to do so.
(And in doing so just maybe catch a ride to the stars with one of the future astronauts who I hoped to inspire.)
However, an interesting thing happened along the way. My answer to the question changed. It evolved, because I discovered something I learned from the students who I was teaching. Which is this:
Today’s young students need someone to point the way to a future with hope.
Presently, what we present today’s young students with are daunting problems such as resource scarcity, energy crisis, territorial conflict, new diseases, …and a notable absence of solution opportunities.
Space exploration is a notable exception.
Space represents untapped resources, energy opportunities, unlimited territory, scientific breakthrough, and an abundance of solutions.
In fact, I assert that it is in learning to leave for space that we will come to understand precisely what it takes to sustainably live on Planet Earth.
Beyond all else, what makes me an astronaut teacher is I give kids permission to imagine themselves in our space future. And it is a fine place indeed.
Should anyone today ask “What makes you an astronaut teacher?” my answer today would be, “What makes YOU not one?” — because in order to stay on earth human beings are going to have to go off-planet to space.
And it is today’s young students who are going to get us there.
