An open letter to the NASA social team

Posted on by

Dear NASA,

I filled out your application to attend the Europa Clipper launch in October. In the application, I explained that I’ve wanted to attend a rocket launch since I heard about Columbia’s maiden voyage in 1981. I was in Kindergarten. I believe I also mentioned how I’ve been kicking myself ever since I had to turn down the opportunity to watch Atlantis land more than a decade ago. You probably got a hint of how big of a deal this would be for me – and for my digital tribe.

I have loved the space program for as long as I can remember. Here’s a few examples of how I can’t stop talking about NASA and the space program.

The time I saw space shuttle Discovery in person

Space Shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Seeing Discovery in person was a monumental event. I know my kids didn’t really understand why this was such a big deal for me. But it was.

The time an astronaut answered my question

Mike Massimino and I had a brief conversation on Twitter. It was such a big deal that I had to write about it.

I’m still geeking out about it, honestly.

via GIPHY

Even movies make me cry

My wife and I went to see Fly Me to the Moon over the summer. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried when the Saturn V rocket left the tower. Just the thought of you (NASA) achieving the goal that previous generations had only dreamed of was so moving. I was a bit overwhelmed.

Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger Seven were my first real-life heroes

I still remember them every January 28.

I still dream about space flight

I’ve even created my own playlist just in case the opportunity ever presents itself.

This is my favorite view at work

Working at the world’s biggest children’s museum means I get to see some pretty cool stuff every day, including massive dinosaur bones and a life-sized Bumblebee from one of the Transformers movies. But my favorite view is the one from my office.

I don’t know if it’s really his name, but I call him Gus (Grissom). You know – a fellow Hoosier.

Please give me a chance

I may not have the follower count of some of the applicants. And I might not post as regularly as I used to. But if you give me a chance and invite me to this launch, I promise you will not be disappointed. I will pour my heart and soul into this opportunity. You can’t fake passion. And I have it in spades.

I’m confident you’ll be happy with your choice. And you’ll also make Five-Year-Old-Me lose his ever-lovin’ mind.

Sincerely,
Matt Todd
@mattdantodd

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Instagram profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profileMy Tumblr blogMy YouTube channel

Matt Todd

Howdy. I'm Matt. My wife, Christy, and I have four kids and two dogs, I'm passionate about orphan care. I'm a die-hard fan of the Evansville Aces, the Indiana Hoosiers, and Star Wars. I'm trying to live life by the Todd family motto: "It behooves us to live!"
Spread the love