How does NASA REALLY work? by Shi

How does NASA REALLY work? by Shi - June 2014 Scholarship Essay

When asked what my favorite books of all time are, there are two that soar above the rest. These novels are So What Do YOU Care What Other People Think by Richard Feynman and Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut by Mike Mullane. However, then the question becomes, why is that these two top my list? What bonds these two stories together? True, I do enjoy the subplots relating to the Space Shuttle program and NASA, however this is not the basis of my choices. The most influential part of these stories is that they are extremely humorous, albeit a bit risque. In addition, they leave me knowing something new relating to science and the space program. This has helped me gear my aspirations towards the space program and guided me towards the college Major of either aerospace engineering or astrophysics. Had I never read these influential novels, there is a large possibility that my aspirations would be entirely different in a not-so-pleasant way. If I were to author a novel as an adult, I would try to live up to the genius of Mullane and Feynman. I would attempt to bring to light the possible benefits and difficulties associated with a career in the space and/or aviation industry in a comical and illuminating manner.

I believe the trademark of a great novel is one that expresses the author’s perspectives, is informative, and is intriguing enough to prohibit a reader from putting the book down. I would probably begin my book by explaining what my first reaction was to learning about the cosmos. I’d describe how when I was a toddler I would dress my Barbies in tin foil and claim they were astronauts. I’d describe later my exploits in model rocketry, with entirely homemade parts, including homemade engines. I would also mention my high school Astronomy Club that I founded, and the trials and tribulations faced to begin this club. Furthermore, I would include information regarding my college admissions, as to allow for future students to be able to gain some valuable insight on this process. However, the focus of my book would be analyzing the space industry from an inside perspective. This novel would help answer, “How does NASA REALLY work?”, and possibly help improve the general consensus on the importance of the space program. This may help the public have a better understanding what headlines such as Atlas V Rocket Launch Successful From Cape at 9:05 (Space Coast Daily, May 22, 2014) really mean and why budget cuts have such a large impact on NASA. This potentially could help improve nationwide respect for this agency, resulting in an increase in funding and in extension, an increase in astronomical knowledge and missions to our cosmos. A novel of this caliber could also potentially inspire a new generation of people to pursue occupations in aerospace engineering, as well as provide a general increase of interest in the STEM field.

Although my main intention would be to write a comedic novel that is both enjoyable to read and write, that is not the true purpose of my supposed book. The objective would be to truly answer the question, “How does NASA REALLY work?” and increase interest in the space program. After all, if there is little public interest in the space program, we are all just sitting ducks, waiting for the Earth to be destroyed, and in extension, the human race. As to quote Stephen Hawking, “I don't think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I'm an optimist. We will reach out to the stars.” This novel would help the public realize that our only hope is not Obi Wan Kenobi, but rather the next generation to take interest in the space program to keep the human species alive.