NASA Opens Registration for TEDxNASA

"One of "Woman's Day" magazine's 50 women changing the world, an author who could be the next JK Rowling, and a software developer who has an "app" for that - these are just some of the speakers at TEDxNASA, Nov. 4, at the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News, Va. All are people with big ideas about "What Matters Next," the theme of TEDxNASA. This year's event, which is sponsored by NASA's Langley Research Center and the National Institute of Aerospace in Hampton, Va., will feature more than 20 top speakers who will share inspiring and thought-provoking stories. Presenters already announced include NASA's Chief Technologist Bobby Braun and Jim Green, director of the Planetary Science Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Green will speak at the same time NASA's EPOXI spacecraft is flying by and snapping close-up images of comet Hartley 2, more than 11 million miles away from Earth."

Keith's note: This is getting silly. I have sent multiple requests to NASA LaRC PAO requesting the names of the speakers at this event. They simply refuse to release that information. Yet they put out a press release that describes some of the speakers - yet they still refuse to identify them by name. Clearly they know who these people are. So much for being open and transparent. NASA LaRC PAO touts this event as being one whereby the public and NASA can meet to exchange ideas. Curiously, when you go to register for this event, you are asked to pick one of these choices:

"- NASA Langley Civil Servant
- NASA Langley On-Site Contractor
- Other NASA Center - Civil Servant
- Other NASA Center - On-Site Contractor
- Other Government Employee
- Other"

LaRC PAO seems to be concerned (with great specificity) with regard what flavor of NASA/contractor/government employees attend. However, with regard to understanding the backgrounds (interests) of everyone else (teachers, students, doctors, accountants, truck drivers, nurses - i.e. the taxpaying public) LaRC PAO simply lumps everyone into one giant, impenetrable category called "other". This is typical NASA behavior: the agency simply does not understand how to collect metrics about their events so as to show their value in terms of outreach tools. Instead they ask for information in a way that confuses and ultimately obscures the collection of those metrics.

Previous TedXNASA postings

Statement from Buzz Aldrin On The White House Space Policy (April 2010)

"As an Apollo astronaut, I know full well the importance of always exploring new frontiers and tackling new challenges as we explore space. The simple truth is that we have already been to the Moon - some 40 years ago. What this nation needs in order to maintain its position as the 21st century leader in space exploration is a near-term focus on lowering the cost of access to space and on developing key, cutting-edge technologies that will take us further and faster - while expanding our opportunities for exploration along the way."

Why Mars? Buzz Aldrin Wants a Lunar Base First (October 2010)

"President Obama recently green-lighted a brand new mission and a new budget for NASA, including a grand long-term goal: a manned mission to Mars. But Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, says the moon is much more essential to American space efforts. In its haste to make new policy, Aldrin and other experts say, NASA is overlooking a critical component of space travel: a permanent, manned base on the moon that would make reaching Mars a much easier task. Establishing a lunar base could provide a safe source of water and a site for fuel depots, which would reduce the cost of transporting fuel from Earth for an eventual Mars mission, Aldrin told Fox News.com."

Keith's note: I'm a little confused. Back when the President's space policy was released, Buzz had his sights set on Mars, and didn't think that we shoud be going back to the Moon to any great extent - if at all. Now he has done a 180 and says we need to build a Moon base. Which is it Buzz? Moon base or Mars base - or both?

Letter From Representatives Larsen, Boustany and Kirk (PDF)

"We are writing to congratulate you on your upcoming trip to China. U.S.-China space cooperation is an important piece of the U.S.-China bilateral relationship and we hope your trip proves successful. Specifically, we ask your support for the the U.S. and China to establish a joint-rescue capability in space that would enable the U.S., China, and Russia to rescue each other's space crews."

Marc's note: Well it would seem while some members of congress are upset with Bolden's trip to China others see the trip in a totally different light.

Keith's note: These are excerpts from internal NASA email "NASA Administrator Addresses Workforce Later Today -- Thursday, Oct. 14" "You are invited to watch a special message from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden later this afternoon. The administrator has been meeting with the entire senior leadership team over the past two days discussing the path forward for the agency, and he wants to share with you the key points from this important dialogue." "Please join Administrator Bolden for this broadcast today. However, if you cannot watch this afternoon's remarks, the administrator will send an updated message to all employees later today."

Curiously these comments will not be on NASA TV or made available to the public or the media - unless someone inside NASA leaks details. This is, of course, not PAO's doing - but rather the agency adhering to White House direction to avoid all possible interaction (direct and indirect) between Bolden and the media. He'll beam in, talk to his staff, and then beam out.

Keith's update: NASA circulated this internally but did not see the need to send this to the public. If you are inside NASA's firewall you can watch a video of this presentation here.

Internal Message from Charlie Bolden to NASA Employees: Moving NASA Forward

"Over the past two days, Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and I were joined by NASA's senior leadership -- the center directors, the heads of our mission directorates, and other members of our management team -- at a retreat to plan the agency's future. With passage of the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, we now have a clear direction and can begin making plans for moving the agency forward. All of us engaged in a thoughtful and productive dialogue about the challenges and opportunities we face, and you'll be hearing more about the outcomes in the near future. We are united in our goals."

NASA And Gowalla Launch Partnership With Search For Moon Rocks

"NASA and Gowalla, a mobile and web service, have partnered to bring users one small step closer to the universe. The partnership populates Gowalla with NASA-related information and four virtual items -- moon rocks, a NASA patch, a spacesuit and a space shuttle -- that can be found at agency-related venues. ... Gowalla users can find virtual moon rocks by checking in to any location where a real one is on display. The United States successfully brought lunar samples back to Earth during the Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 missions. NASA provides a number of lunar samples for display at museums, planetariums and scientific expositions around the world. Most lunar displays are open to the public."

Keith's note: I wonder if Gowalla has the location of these four small Apollo 11 Moon rocks on display - on the ISS...

NASA Chief's Trip to China Sparks Controversy, space.com

"NASA chief Charles Bolden is preparing to visit Chinese space authorities. But the trip has met opposition from some lawmakers over its intent to continue a dialogue on human spaceflight cooperation between the U.S. and China."

NASA Administrator's China visit draws congressional ire, Nature

"I do not believe it is appropriate for the Administrator to meet with any Chinese officials until Congress is fully briefed on the nature and scope of Mr. Bolden's trip," said one of the congressmen, John Culberson (R-TX), in a 12 October letter addressed to President Obama."

NASA boss to land in China, Global Times

"Although it has been impossible for the two sides to work out any substantive agree-ments, the visit could pave the way for possible future cooperation," Hu Yumin, a senior researcher at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times Thursday. "The US, a leader in space technology, possibly conceives cooperation with China as helpful to addressing obstacles in future US space projects," he said. "Many scientists in both countries have longed for cooperation between China and the US. Bolden's trip will not only cement bilateral cooperation but also increase trust between the two countries," he added. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times in January, Bolden said that, as a former astronaut, he advocated international cooperation in space that could benefit humankind and that he preferred collaboration over conflict with China."

Space Station Living, Radiation, and Monkeys, Discovery

Former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao "You may have heard about planned monkey radiation experiments, and the recent protests against them. I understand the necessity of animal experiments in developing drugs and treatments, but I must admit that this one has me scratching my head a bit. I have no doubt that some advances in scientific knowledge would be realized through these planned experiments, but I'm an operational guy (despite my Ph.D.). How would these experiments help us to survive in deep space? I don't see it. The bottom line is that exposure to high levels of radiation is bad. We need to figure out how to detect, and protect against exposure as well as to treat if exposure occurs."

Keith's note: The following was forwarded to me by PeTA today: "We recently received several documents from the Department of Energy which indicate that in Aug 2010 the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) made a decision about whether to move forward or not with the controversial NASA-funded monkey radiation experiments. Attached is a heavily redacted statement that BNL drafted and sent to the DoE announcing their decision (although it has yet to be released to the public). You may have seen that NASA has recently stated publicly that the experiment 'might not happen'. These new documents are the first we've heard of any final decision being made at all."

US midterm elections: Policy row launches NASA into limbo, Nature

"Congress baulked, and on 29 September passed an act requesting funds for projects initiated under Constellation and granting less than half of the administration's request for private spaceflight. With Congress now in recess and unable to allocate funds, NASA is funded at current levels and cannot change course. "It has to keep spending on programmes that it's going to kill, and can't start new programmes that it wants to," says Keith Cowing, editor-in-chief of the website NASA Watch. ... For Cowing, competing interests could spell a troubled future for the space agency. "How can NASA progress if it's pulled in ten different directions?" he asks. "

Reader note: "Have a look at this September 13, 2010 Youtube video "Music Hack Day London 2010: interview with Kelly Snook (Imogen Heap)" recorded in London. NASA's Kelly Snook is featured and her name badge says "NASA/Imogen Heap". She says that she is a studio engineer for Imogen Heap (a band that performs in Europe) and that she also works for NASA.".

Keith's note: Kelly has always been very creative artistically. From what I understand she's on a sabbatical - without pay - in the UK.

Keith's update: Kelly was at MIT last year as a "Sonic scientist" and attended Berklee Music where "Music production lights me up like nothing else in the world," she says. "The professional benefits of simply doing it, as opposed to sitting at my desk at NASA and just dreaming about doing it, are already immeasurable, but adding to that the systematic knowledge and training of the Berkleemusic coursework is light upon light."

Flight added to shuttle mission, Houston Chronicle via St Louis Today (they initially stated that this was an AP article - it is not)

"Even as President Barack Obama signed off Monday on plans to steer the nation's space program toward Mars, Senate staffers on Capitol Hill reported growing speculation that the White House was preparing to replace NASA administrator Charles Bolden. Bolden, a former astronaut, has the reputation of being a can-do leader known for sometimes ignoring bureaucratic constraints. However, top administration officials have eased him into the background as the midterm congressional elections approach."

Keith's note: The White House is very dissatisfied with Mr. Bolden's performance of late. Departure and replacement choices are topics of frequent discussion in the White House and on Capitol Hill. This will all pick up once the mid-term elections, STS-133, and Thanksgiving holiday approach.

NASA's Bolden walks tight rope on China trip, Christian Science Monitor

"The trip, at the invitation of Chinese space officials, comes at a time of upheaval in the US human spaceflight program, and amid growing ripples of doubt among observers in Washington about Bolden's future at the space agency's helm. "He's sort of viewing the trip as a victory lap," says Keith Cowing, editor of the website NASAWatch, as momentum appears to be building to replace him."

Nasa chief on visit to China, Al Jazeera

"Space programmes require a lot of technology, industry, and money but remain an international status symbol, Morris Jones, a space analyst, told Al Jazeera. But Morris said he did not think Bolden would be given much in the way of useful technical data during his visit. "Bolden is there basically just to shake a few hands. It's the first step in a very long process to get co-operation between the US and China in space flight," Morris said. "Relations between the US and China are very bad at the moment for all sorts of political and economic reasons."

Reader note: Nothing left.(

JSC's biggest metaphor is engulfed in flames, Implementation, Detail

"The Outpost tavern apparently burned down tonight. Let me rephrase that. The remains of the Outpost tavern, which had been balanced precariously on cinder blocks and scrap lumber for the last several months, apparently burned down tonight. Let me rephrase further. Another aging NASA institution died tonight. Rest In Peace, The Outpost. Does this mean we can we get on with exploring?"

- Outpost Tavern fire, Webster TX, 10/15/10, Flickr
- Puting the fire out, YouTube

More photos below.

Reader note: The Outpost Tavern is burning down tonight. 🙁

Discovery's Cargo Arrives at Launch Pad for Final Flight, Ken Kremer

"Discovery's primary cargo is a new module for the International Space Station which will provide much needed storage space for the resident crew of the orbiting outpost. The module -or PMM - will be the last permanent addition to be contributed by the United States to the ISS. The secondary cargo element is the Express Logistics Carrier-4 which will house exterior space parts. The Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) - also named Leonardo - was transported inside a large shipping canister from the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) to the top of Launch Pad 39 A. The canister was then hoisted up to a holding position on the massive Rotating Service Structure (RSS) from which the cargo will soon be loaded into the shuttle payload bay."

Stormy skies for NASA's chief, Houston Chronicle

"Obama's decision to sign NASA's hard-fought legislation into law alone and without Bolden by his side robbed the NASA chief of the high-profile White House signing ceremony and cherished White House photo that amount to symbolic presidential backing in the status-conscious capital. "I don't think Charlie has been treated very well by the White House," says space historian John Logsdon, former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University. "He has been faithful in his defense of the Obama strategy for space, but some seem to believe he has not been totally convincing." Bolden, in the job since July 2009, did not comment for this story. Instead of standing out front, Bolden has been relegated to reading prepared statements and taking no questions during telephone news conferences."

This post is cross posted with permission from Steven González Advanced Planning Office Blog (note: this link works only behind the JSC firewall).  Leave a comment either here or on the original post.

“This week I am introducing a new feature from the Advanced Planning Office. The idea for the project came from listening to all of the conversations around the center about the uncertainty and changes before us in 2011. Much of the conversation that I hear is focused on what we will not be doing and the loss of our workforce. Undoubtedly it is going to be a difficult transition as some of our colleagues will be leaving the JSC community and yet we WILL continue the Human Exploration of Space. JSC will carry the torch forward and what we do today will determine how quickly we get to extend our reach into our solar system. So with the inspiration of Pat Rawlings, we would like to engage the JSC community on a discussion of what we CAN DO today that will ensure the below vision of JSC at the 100th anniversary of our landing on the moon. Enjoy and let us know what you think.”

NASA will host an Open Government Community Summit on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 from 9pm – 12:30pm at NASA HQ. The Open Government Community Summit Series is an inter-agency collaborative event hosted by a different agency each month, facilitated by the Open Forum Foundation. The September workshop was hosted by the EPA and the November workshop will be hosted by the OPM. Previous summits and workshops have been hosted by the Department of Transportation, the General Services Administration, the US Department of Agriculture, and the US Department of Treasury.

NASA has a solid schedule planned with a heavy emphasis on remote participation for those that cannot attend in person. The first hour will include presentations from leaders in the Open Government Community as well as remarks from Astronaut Jose Hernandez. The presentations will be streamed on NASA TV and will begin at 9am and conclude at 10am. Afterwards, the participants will move into the collaborative workshop which will take place at NASA HQ and online. Due to the availability of live streaming and Internet access, this will be our most collaborative workshop so far. Registration is required to receive all the information regarding the event, so if you have not registered, do so today!

The focus of the collaborative workship is on agency’s use of open data and the future of the open government community. This summit will provide an opportunity for us to also document the challenges to open government that span multiple agencies, and to take concrete steps toward overcoming them. To be clear, this is not a discussion about NASA’s Open Government Plan, rather its an opportunity for the OpenGov community to spend the day working together on common OpenGov topics.

RSVP: http://october-opengov-workshop.eventbrite.com

Earlier this week, in a conversation with a friend, I mentioned that I had offered a friend a tour of Johnson Space Center. She told me that she had just given some family friends a tour of our facilities, and we commented on how sharing our work with our friends and family is one of the most enjoyable aspects of our job. She ended the conversation with something that I’ve been thinking for many months now: “I think doing these types of things should be a part of our job.”

Several months ago, I stood before a tent full of space enthusiasts, some odd one hundred and fifty of them, relating my experiences with training the crew of STS-132. The participants of the STS-132 NASA Tweetup came from all walks of life: in and outside of NASA, engineers, scientists, artists, journalists, students (you name it, and it was quite possible they were there) – all bound by one common thread: their passion for human spaceflight.

As NASA shared its story with them, I witnessed two transformations:

One, within the minds and hearts of those Tweetup participants, as most saw first-hand what, to put it simply, NASA was all about…all of whom (perhaps I’m being a bit presumptuous) were awed by the beauty of one of mankind’s technologically marvelous creations;

And two, within my own self, as I reveled in the power of sharing and communicating – not just a story, but an experience; not just words, but feelings.

I found in subsequent weeks an ignited passion, a compelling desire to relate not only the awe-inspiring adventures I’ve found myself fortunately a part of over the years, but the tale of the organization that made those very adventures possible. I realized the importance and power of imparting (or attempting to, anyhow) in others the same passion, vigor, excitement, marvel in space exploration that I experienced the first time I saw Mission Control; the first time I went diving in the largest pool in the world; the first time I flew on the “Vomit Comet” (definitely NOT a misnomer, as folks on my flights will attest!); the first time I sat at a console, supporting real-time operations onboard the ISS (you know, SPACE!); the first time I saw a shuttle launch…really, the list could go on.

In the days following, it occurred to me, as I sat in a backroom in the bowels of Mission Control, reeling from an adrenaline-inducing event like a shuttle launch, seeing my crew on-orbit: I, too, have a duty, a sort of unspoken, undirected oath, to share not just my experiences and my stories, but those of NASA.

With the advent of social media, private industry and government alike have been given the power to communicate its message, its purpose, its vision, with the general public in a much quicker, more efficient format. NASA has embraced this new medium with open arms, using it to not just broadcast information out, but to engage and interact. Likewise, these outlets and services have allowed many within the agency to also share their perspectives with those very people, weaving a rich and personal tapestry of stories and experiences that humanize the agency like never before. From astronauts to engineers, scientists to mascots (@Camilla_SDO – I’m looking at you!), NASA has successfully leveraged a mechanism for interaction with the general public like no other organization.

Since…

I first saw Twitter feeds light up with questions to and answers from astronaut TJ Creamer (@Astro_TJ) & the excitement that his crewmate Soichi Noguchi’s (@Astro_Soichi) “space pictures” caused around the world,

I gave Camilla Corona (@Camilla_SDO), whose exploits are followed by many on the Internet, a tour of the NBL – and she tweeted about it,

I saw the passion with which astronaut Ron Garan (@Astro_Ron) spoke of his experiences in human spaceflight and the impact he hopes to have on the world on his website, Fragile Oasis (http://www.fragileoasis.org),

I watched as people’s faces lit up when they first met one of Twitter’s biggest proponents at NASA, the lovely Beth Beck (@bethbeck), who’s made it her job to share NASA with everyone,

I’ve seen the value of adding human faces to all of the incredible things that we do. And with this enlightening perspective, I’ve come to realize that it is no longer solely NASA’s responsibility to communicate with the world. As employees, we are ambassadors for the organization for which we all have such passion and reverence. It is our duty to share NASA with those around us, to share the sense of wonder and awe with which we came to realize our dreams. In such changing, often uncertain times, more so than any other, we must appreciate the importance and impact of humanizing a very incredible, beautiful, but risky endeavor – sustaining human presence off of the planet Earth.

And so, if with the above, for any reason, I’ve been unable to convey how incredibly imperative I feel this engagement is, I leave you with the following anecdote:

The same friend I mentioned earlier in this post related to me a story from the tour she gave to her family friends, whose children are 9 and 11, of our ISS mockup training facility. As they came upon the prototype of a rover the little 9-year-old had seen on TV, he grabbed my friend’s hand and said,

“This is the best day of my life!”

As she shared that moment with me, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps that child’s life was changed forever. Perhaps in that opportunity, he discovered a passion and interest he never knew existed…all because of the simple act of sharing an experience, a perspective, an opportunity we all, as employees, are fortunate enough to have.

And so, I challenge those who are reading, who have the privilege to be a part of human spaceflight, in whatever capacity, to inspire such a reaction from just one person in your life.

Share a story, give a tour, volunteer at an outreach event…communicate not just your drive and passion for human spaceflight, but NASA’s message and vision. We are the best advocates for the value of space exploration, not just in our lives, but those around us.

And those of you who know of people who work in the human spaceflight industry, I encourage you to ask your friends and family to share their life’s work with you.

Perhaps together, by simply sharing – a tenet of our younger years, we could very well see a surge in public interest in something so many of us hold so near and dear to our hearts.

Last spring, my former supervisor at NASA, Beth Beck, pointed me to a new scholarship competition that GovLoop (a social media network for government employees) was running. For my entry, I wrote an essay on my aspirations to break down the barriers in government through the use of technology and social networking. As it turns out, my essay has been selected as a finalist and is now up for voting. I’ve cross-posted it below. If you like it, please go over to GovLoop, check out some of the other finalists, and vote – I’d love your support!

Far too often, it seems that Americans have the perception of their government being a monolithic block, incapable of progress, change, or efficient functionality. While this may be true in some cases, it’s not something that should be allowed to continue. American government lacks the trust of its citizens, and the goal of getting it back should be our top priority.

Our government needs to be for the people. It needs to be open. It needs accountability. It needs to leverage technologies to enable citizens to participate and collaborate in the same way they do among their coworkers, friends, and family. By paving a road of information, ideas, and community between policymakers and everyday citizens, a new bond of trust can be formed, and fresh insight into our most troubling problems can be found. Our government, to an extent, has already begun to work on this challenge. Efforts such as Data.gov, the Open Government Directive, and increased citizen financial oversight have placed previously unavailable tools in the hands of the public. But what’s next? How do the tools made available get used by the average person who is likely to only use a .gov domain once a year when filing their taxes? How do the thousands of comments, criticisms, and questions flooding government inboxes everyday turn in to real, implementable solutions?

That’s the problem I want to work on. I’m fascinated by the intricate network of our government – the massive flow of information, people, and ideas that passes through a complex, and sometimes bizarre, system that runs our nation. It’s a network that is social by nature, but in most circumstances is virtually impossible to gain access to by an ordinary citizen. I want to work on breaking down the barriers that prevent the free flow of information to the people and on building the infrastructure to support their direct involvement in their governance. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to sample what a difficult challenge this is. As a Policy Studies and Economics dual major at Syracuse University, I’ve had the chance to spend the last semester living in Washington, D.C. and working at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Some of my work has tackled these very issues, and I realize the huge challenges in making such change. As much as I’d love to jump in and get my hands dirty, I also need to go back to Syracuse in the fall to finish my degree and, most likely, obtain a graduate degree before pursuing a real career in the public sector. The CampusGov and GovLoop scholarship will enable me to continue my educational pursuits, in the hope that I can use the skills I gain to help bring positive change to a process that sorely needs it.

Click here to vote on GovLoop – my essay is #7

One of the great things about new digital platforms like openNASA is that they allow us to easily connect, share, discover and expand our experiences.  This includes sharing with each other those experiences that inspire us and impact the way we see the world.  Today, I thought I’d share a talk I heard the last semester of my MBA experience at the University of Texas by one of America’s greatest entrepreneurs, Gary Hoover.  Hoover created Hoovers.com, the world’s largest Internet-based provider of information about enterprises and is also well know for essentially creating the big box bookstore we know today.  His pioneering venture, Bookstop, was eventually sold to Barnes & Noble and became a cornerstone for their industry-dominating superstore chain. Today, Hoover is the “Entrepreneur-in-Residence” at McCombs Business School and spends much of his time today sharing his experience about creating and building lasting enterprises and inspiring students to do the same.  I’ve included a picture I took this morning of the back of his business card, which summarizes his talk.  It’s a list of 8 key ideas on how to create successful business and is a list that he has refined throughout his career.  Hoover gives this talk regularly, in fact he’s shared this now over 700 times on every continent but Antarctica.  This is also the topic of a book he wrote in 2001, called “Hoover’s Vision: Original Thinking for Business Success.” The rest of this post includes the detailed list (as posted on Hoover’s personal website) and if you’d like to watch Hoover give this talk, I’ve posted links to his webinar and the slides as well.  My hope in sharing this with you today is to spread these great ideas further, challenge us all to think differently, and inspire us to continue to do things that amplify our impact and reach.

Hooversworld blog | Gary Hoover Webinar | Presentation Slides

Gary Hoovers 8 Keys to Creating and Building Lasting Enterprises

1. Curiosity — nothing is ever discovered by looking in the same place as everyone else, or looking in the same way as everyone else.  All discovery starts with exploration. Ask a lot of questions. Go beyond the first “why.” Study the mundane, the “everyday.” Travel, observe, talk to people. Read, go to concerts, try new things. Look at other industries. The answers are rarely where you expect to find them. Opportunities are everywhere.

2. History — you can’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you are coming from.  Watching key long-term trends is a critical part of successful leadership.  What are some of the trends to watch today? What large demographic shifts are at work? What can be learned from the leaders of the past, including those in your own industry and company?

3. Geography — we all come from somewhere, we all grew up somewhere.  In a shrinking world, it is more important than ever to understand people and places. Do you know the population of your metropolitan area? Do you know the growth rates of your county and surrounding counties? Do you know what is going on in countries around the world, which places are rising and falling and why? What are people leaving some places and moving to others?

(I believe the above three mindsets are the keys to dreaming up innovative new ideas that relate to the real needs of real people.  Once you have a mission in mind, the points below kick into gear.)

4. Clarity of Vision — can any third-grader understand your vision?  Or are you trapped in double-speak and buzzwords, an alphabet soup of acronyms, and jargon?

5. Consistency of Vision — do you stick to what you are good at and what you believe in, through thick and thin? Do you have a consistent purpose?

6. Service — the only valid reason for the existence of an enterprise is to deliver products and services to people, to somehow make the world a better place. The minute you think that power resides in the boardroom or in Washington, or that your company can be made great through making good deals or acquisitions, rather than through focusing on the customers, you are most likely at the beginning of the end. Serving others well must be the top priority – your other stakeholders including suppliers, community, investors, and employees will then have something to share.

7. Unique Vision — do you sound and look like all your competitors or do you stand out, following a unique path that is true to your enterprise and your soul? Differentiation is the key.

8. Passion — if you aren’t doing something you love, you will never be the best at it!

If you haven’t heard about NASA’s Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS, for short), I encourage you to follow along over the next few weeks as astronauts, scientists and engineers meet in the Arizona desert to demonstrate the latest in NASA technology development research and plan for future missions to the surface of the Moon, Mars and other rocky bodies.  Desert RATS began in 1998, and today is one of the many cool things NASA is doing.  This year, four crew members will live in two rovers from Aug. 31 through Sept. 15 to demonstrate the use of a number of interesting technologies, including:

• Space Exploration Vehicles (PDF) – a pair of rovers that astronauts will live in for 7 days at a time
• Habitat Demonstration Unit/Pressurized Excursion Module (PDF) – a simulated habitat where the rovers can dock to allow the crew room to perform experiments or deal with medical issues. The Habitat Development Unit will be used to evaluate the geosciences laboratory in conjunction with the sample collections and to assess the spacesuit maintenance area inside. This team will also focus on procedures for keeping out the dust, the effects on the overall integrated communications and data system and how easy the habitat is for people to use.
• Tri-ATHLETEs, or -Terrain Hex-Legged Extra-Terrestrial Explorer (PDF) – two heavy-lift rover platforms that allow the habitat, or other large items, to go where the action is portable communications terminals. The ATHLETE System, which consists of a pair of Tri-ATHLETE rovers, will be remotely controlled both in Arizona and from Houston to demonstrate long-traverse operations during lunar time delays and portable local operations from the personnel in Arizona.
• Centaur 2 (PDF) – a possible four-wheeled transportation method for NASA Robonaut 2
• Portable Utility Pallets, or PUPs for short – mobile charging stations for equipment
• Navigation systems to help guide spacewalkers and both solar and wind-powered equipment, will be demonstrated and tested.
• And a suite of new geology sample collection tools, including a self-contained GeoLab glove box for conducting in-field analysis of various collected rock samples.

For more information, follow the field season on the internet. Here’s how:

NASA Webpage: The official DRATS webpage is your one-stop shop for all activities occurring during the 14-day mission.

Blogs: The DRATS team shares their field experience on their website’s blog.

Flickr: The team is also posting photos daily!!

Facebook: Click “Like” for DRATS on Facebook. This page includes links, photos, comments/discussions from the DRATS team, students and interested citizens.

Twitter: The team is tweeting from @DESERT_RATS throughout the mission—these are brief communications to give a real-time status of the mission activities.

YouTube: Check out videos of this year’s mission on our NASAanalogTV site.