Today, I got a chance to visit the California Science Center where I saw the Endeavour Space Shuttle, a retired orbiter from NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. I was left stunned looking at the extreme detailing. It’s awe-inspiring and can take your breath away. It’s almost impossible to look at this majestic piece of American achievement and not tear up.

The Museum includes an IMAX Theatre, where we watched the movie Apollo 11, first steps Edition. This is probably the best historical documentary that I’ve ever seen. You see a lot of normal people, engineers, technicians, operators, and the American public along with these amazing astronauts all come together to achieve the impossible. This was an absolute treat to watch and was put together in such a way that you can easily keep up with the incredibly complex calculations, while still keeping you on the edge of your seat despite knowing how it ends.

Here, I’d like to quote President John F. Kennedy, from his Speech at Houston, Texas on September 12, 1962,

“We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon…We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.”

After the end of the visit, I was thinking of how Tech people always complaint about Stress, Work-Life Balance, Project Deadlines, Team Work, and Long work hours. On the contrary, we still get to sit in comfortable seats, work in lavish offices, use the best devices, and have that chance to rectify if something goes wrong by mistake. But what about these Astronauts, Space Scientists, Pilots, and all the people working in the Aeronautics and Space Departments, they make one mistake and everything comes down. Years of work dwindles to nothing, due to one simple error. A part of Apollo’s Success goes to the incredible team, which worked day and night to make it happen. It’s teamwork and complete participation of each individual which led to its success. And that was my take away from the trip.

Take up the responsibility and perform your best in whatever role you handle. Inspire others, be passionate about your work, and Focus on the end goal.

PS: Thank you Office of International Services, USC for arranging the trip.
#OIS #USC #FightOn #CaliforniaScienceCenter #Endeavour #Apollo11