Reach for the Stars Today (Like an Astronaut)
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Back in October, I had the amazing opportunity to witness the launch of Europa Clipper from the historic Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. As part of the experience, we got a behind-the-scenes bus tour of the facility, including a stop at the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building – the last spot where the public sees astronauts before they launch into space.
It was a much more moving experience than I expected. Heroes walked these very steps. The Challenger Seven. Sally Ride. Mike Massimino. Mae Jemison.
If I understand correctly, it’s also where Apollo astronauts like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Jim Lovell also walked the same path.
And we were standing right there. Where they stood.
Pretty incredible. Right?
As I stood there in the midst of all of this history, that sign above the doors made me think of the sign at Notre Dame Stadium. You know. The one the Fighting Irish tap before running onto the field.
That’s right. “Play like a champion today.”
And then everything fell into place and I just knew that I needed to touch that sign like a Notre Dame football player does.
And when I got home, I’d have to print out that sign and tape it somewhere so I could tap the sign every day and make the commitment to Reach for the Stars Today.
So I did. And you can, too. Just print out this pdf.
You’re welcome.
What it means to Reach for the Stars Today
I thought about this question the whole bus ride back to the Press Site. And then I thought about it again the next day as I toured the Kennedy Space Center. It looks like I’m not the only person who has asked themselves this question. Because as you walk through the halls of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inside Kennedy Space Center, you see a list of characteristics that astronauts possess. A hero is:
- Inspired
- Passionate
- Curious
- Tenacious
- Confident
- Disciplined
- Courageous
- Principled
- Selfless
It’s almost like the 12 points of the Scout Law, right?* So I took all of this into account and combined this with some of my own observations and the insight of Moonshot: A NASA Astronaut’s Guide to Achieving the Impossible by astronaut Mike Massimino. Based on all of these things, here are some ways I’m choosing to Reach for the Stars each and every day.^
Remember that one in a million is not zero
That’s straight from Mike Massimino’s book.
“There is always a chance as long as you try. But once you give up, you know the outcome with certainty.” – Astronaut Mike Massimino
Just because the odds are long, it doesn’t mean they’re impossible. But, you know how the saying goes. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
So take your shot.
Apply for that opportunity.
Make that proposal.
Do the thing.
Don’t give up.
In other words, be like Han Solo. I know, I know. He’s not really an astronaut. He’s a smuggler (and he’s not even a real person). But I’ve got to fit a Star Wars reference into a post about space travel. It’s what I do.
Just work with me here…
Remember when Threepio tells him the odds of successfully navigating an asteroid field (3,720:1, by the way), and Han basically said, “Hold my blue milk.”
Don’t focus on the odds. Because you always have a chance as long as you’re trying.
And who knows? You just might find yourself living your dream scenario like my friend Creed did.
Teamwork makes the dream work
This point was really driven home hen I was at the Star Party reception for the Europa Clipper team. The room was full of people who had a role in the Europa Clipper mission. And it was such a celebratory moment. As I stood there and watched, I noticed two people who had worked on the project run across the room, hug each other, and burst into tears. They were full of joy (and possibly a little bit of relief).
This project had been in development for more than nine years. That’s a long time. And people were deeply invested in the mission. Everyone had their role and did it to the best of their abilities, leading to the close of the mission’s first chapter – Launch Day. Even the social media team. You can hear them celebrate in the background of this video. They were all part of the same team and working for the same thing.
Rely on your team and be a good teammate. You’ll achieve much more as a team than you can as an individual.
Never stop exploring
We were made to explore. It’s at the heart of human nature and what drives us to discover new worlds, push boundaries, and seek out the unknown. It’s also what drives us to seek out new information, new answers, and new methods.
I think Astronaut Frank Borman summed it up pretty well, too.
“Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.”
Frank Borman
It’s in our genetic makeup. It’s what we were made to do.
Never stop exploring.
Get back up after you fail
Failure happens.
It’s inevitable.
How do you handle failure?
You dust yourself off, learn from your mistakes, and try again. Even when it hurts.
Or, as Tobymac says in his song Get Back Up…
“You may be knocked down, but not out forever.”
Tobymac, Get Back Up
Be amazed
Amazing things are happening all around you every single day. In a world filled with routine and familiarity, it’s easy to overlook the extraordinary. And the extraordinary is all around us! From the marvels of nature to the achievements of human ingenuity, there’s always something to be amazed by.
So take a moment (or more) each day. Appreciate the beauty of a sunset, the complexity of a flower, or the amazing ways we can connect with people around the globe. Being amazed keeps us grounded and reminds us of the wonders of this world.
It’s our turn to Reach for the Stars Today
I want to conclude my thoughts with this quote from Astronaut Jim Lovell and let it serve as a challenge to all of us to Reach for the Stars Today. And every day.
Who knows? You might even reach the stars.
endnotes
*Ahem – A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent .Just rattled that off in my head in .22 seconds, thankyouverymuch.
And it makes sense that this list echoes the Scout Law, doesn’t it? After all, a whole bunch of astronauts have been involved in Scouting over the years.
^If I were smart, I probably would’ve turned these phrases into some kind of creative acronym like INSPIRE or HERO or ASTRO or something memorable like that. But here we are.
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