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NASA
Committed to Leadership |
 On Saturday April 7, 2007, I had the great pleasure of
attending a meeting of the 1st Marine Division Association of Central
Florida in Winter Park, Florida. The guest speaker that day was
former U.S. Marine and now Director of NASA at the
Kennedy Space Center,
William "Bill" Parsons.
Bill enlightened the room filled with retired Marines about about the current and future projects that NASA is working on. The great part about hearing this talk, from a Toastmasters point of view, is that Bill knew his audience. He was speaking to comrades from his military days, keeping his focus on their respect for American goals and values. He spoke of the importance of the U.S. Space Program in regard to keeping a presence in outer space at all times. Why do we explore space? "It tames the explorer beast in all of us. Mankind is always curious as to what lies just over that hill. The technology NASA creates and their scientific advances benefit every aspect of our daily lives including medicine, communication and education."
"A trip to Mars", Bill said, "...will take six months of travel time to get there. Then we'll stay for a year of study and exploration, followed by another six month trip home. Keeping a human alive for two years outside our atmosphere will take an inordinate amount of study, research, planning and re-planning if it is going to be accomplished safely. Using the moon as our close by testing ground will be the most critical part of our research".
When I was given a chance, I asked Bill what the favorite part of his job is. His answer? "Making smoke, fire and putting human beings into space!" Should Bill become an active member of Toastmasters International (as Astronaut James Lovell was) he will be a tough act to follow when it comes to International speaking competitions. Speaking of Toastmasters, Bill, did you know that there are several Toastmaster Clubs (South Cape Club #3631, Kennedy Space Center Club #3695, LC-39 Club #9260) at the Cape that would love to welcome you as a new member?
Thank you Bill, for sharing your time with your fellow Marines and fellow
Americans. Bill Parsons with Scott Hoehn, DTM
"Smoke, Fire & Putting Human Beings Into Outer Space!" is what Director Parsons loves most about his job. Seeing it first hand is an awesome spectacle! Here is STS-118 Endeavour as it leaves the launch pad on August 7, 2007. Photo by Scott Hoehn "Wings of a Prayer" by Anthony Gordon |
One
of those present asked "Why bother going back to the moon?"
Bill answered "We went there the first time, because President Kennedy
told us to. We were to win the race into space... and we DID!
There wasn't as much focus at that time about in depth studies of this
foreign celestial body. Now, our goal is to learn more about
long-term existence outside of our atmosphere if we are to ever think
about journeying to Mars." 
