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James Richardson, Co-Investigator
(continued)
How has working at (or with) NASA impacted your life?
Working professionally in planetary science and directly with NASA's planetary exploration program is the fulfillment of a life-long dream for me. I am thrilled to be making a viable contribution in this field.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Either an astronaut or a scientist.
At what point did you determine that you would pursue a career in space science? Or engineering?
I have been an active amateur astronomer since age 10 or so, growing up during the 60's and 70's and actively following the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo manned spaceflight programs. At age 34 (1995) I had an opportunity to turn my old "dream career" and active hobby into an actual career. I went back to school, pursued a Ph.D. in Planetary Science (graduating in 2005 from the University of Arizona), and now work as a junior Research Associate at Cornell University's Department of Astronomy. I'm having a blast.
Who inspired you growing up?
The astronauts in the NASA space program, namely Alan Shepherd, Gus Grissom, and (of course) Neil Armstrong. I also took inspiration from gifted "natural philosophers," such as William Herschel, or roaming naturalists, such as John Muir.
What advice would you give to someone interested in doing what you do?
I would give two bits of advice. First, discover what it is in life that you have a real passion for, and then pursue that passion doggedly. Second, in those fields (such as mine) that require many years of school and study in what often appear to be unrelated topics: be patient; keep your eye on your long-term goal; and get something useful out of every single course and every single teacher --> *enjoy* the learning process, because it is one that never ends!
If there was one thing you wanted the younger generation to understand about space exploration, what would it be?
That exploring and then seeking to understand the universe around us is a vital aspect of human nature, and always leads to our ultimate benefit: both in the form of further enlightenment, and as a resource for use by an innovative and adaptive species.
How has technology changed through the years to assist you in your research?
In my particular field, the incredible advances that have occurred in computing technology and software have completely revolutionized our ability to model (within the computer) the processes at work in the natural world—and in particular to me, on the surfaces of small solar system bodies.
What are your hopes for future studies and advancements in comet research?
I encourage and hope for more missions to visit comet nuclei and study them at close range, orbiting and even landing upon their very alien (from our Earth-based standpoint) surfaces. This is such a new (and exciting) means of exploration that each mission will uncover about as many new mysteries as it solves old ones. Continued exploration of these most ancient and primitive bodies in the solar system will be a rich "vein" to mine (scientifically) for many years to come.
