Per Aspera Ad Astra

 

A life well lived is one that will be long-remembered, and Nichelle Nichols truly lived that meaningful life, where the example of talent and heart, interest and intellect, will long outlast the mortal journey. Her portrayal of Starfleet officer Lt. Nyota Uhura, an African woman who was a key crew member of the Enterprise 's bridge on the influential original Star Trek series, did not only entertain but inspired by representing to young people what could and should be. 

That her work on that sf tv program, so influential some of us want to see it as our aspirational future world, was seen as vital by Dr. Martin Luther King, and lead to her own considerable influence in the careers of actors and NASA figures--scientists and astronauts alike, is a story about her commitment to the idea of the future and human advancement. 

We humans are a messy folk, but there are people among us who remind us to look to the stars. Nichelle Nichols did that so uniquely. Set course for home--among the stars. 

Mary Winston Jackson Elementary School has a Great Ring to It

The community of Salt Lake City made a pretty good choice to rename one of their elementary schools, formerly named for President Andrew Jackson, who was a white supremacist whose story meant pain for indigenous people and the descendants of bond slavery alike, to represent a hero of the space age, Mary Winston Jackson, whose contribution to science speaks of the value of education and the value of the development of all minds. 

Choosing which history we respect is a reflection of our values. This is a great choice. 

The Katherine Johnson Computational Research Facility Has Opened

NASA names its new Langley Research Center after legendary mathematician Katherine Johnson, the woman featured in the movie "Hidden Figures" pic.twitter.com/AbsL5lo6L0

— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 23, 2017

I think it's great that NASA has recognized someone who helped make the space program really work with this lasting tribute. (There are more fun tributes to the contribution of women to NASA--but this is pretty awesome.)

If this seems like more of my shameless joy about women getting their due in STEM fields, well, yeah.

We Have Always Been At War with Barsoom

Pence: "We will put American boots on the face of Mars" https://t.co/bADqoanYL6 pic.twitter.com/NJ1kt4oJuz

— The Hill (@thehill) July 7, 2017

Leave it to Mike Pence to phrase a Mars-shot in a way that my brain insists on taking in the worst possible way (space totalitarianism is an American boot, stamping on the face of Mars, forever). I just don't see the Trump Administration as being the greatest fans of science or education in the first place, and I don't really trust their long-range planning skills to marshal such a scheme into fruition. Also, there might be plans to create a military branch--for space.

I've joked before about this Trump timeline not being the one I belong to. In the timeline I'd prefer, humans as a species would approach space as a non-political opportunity for exploration and cooperation in branching out off the homeworld into something less tribal, trivial and political, and face the real challenges of being not just global citizens, but solar system citizens. While it sounds like such a military branch would have a defensive mission guarding our orbiting assets, I'd worry about "mission creep". Trumpists have enough issues with earth "aliens" entering the US--I don't know if this is the leadership I'd want for a first encounter situation.

But I'm just being speculative. There are lots of reasons why I treat the Trump Administration as if it was populated by hordes of six-limbed belligerent green giants, and I was Princess Dejah Sore-Ass.

John Glenn Has Boldly Gone

The legacy of John Glenn as a space pioneer is a story about 20th century American optimism and courage. Being the first US astronaut to orbit the Earth was no small undertaking. Proceeding from that great event to a career of public service and an eventual re-entry to space in 1998, he showed a constant drive to do important things.

This year, 2016, has been discussed as having been marked with passages of many greats. In some ways, to me, it feels like a cutting of ties to the current of the 20th century, to make this 21st century whatever it needs to become. But I hope the future continues to show such examples of "the right stuff", the sureness and boldness to look to new frontiers, and the commitment to providing service to others as a form of not just patriotism, but humanity.

John Glenn had an astonishing life--most worthy of celebration at its completion.

Juno is in Jupiter's Orbit

This actually beats fireworks for stuff the US has done in the sky in the vicinity of July the fourth.

We are sciencing like a boss.