It takes an immense amount of teamwork to safely send people to space. There are countless engineers to develop and test new equipment and operations, scientists and researchers to develop the experiments and plans for the mission, and so many others. Polaris Dawn is a complex mission full of exciting objectives, requiring every person to give their expertise, care, and passion to the project. Every person’s path to supporting Polaris Dawn was different, with many steps along the way. However, it’s safe to say all these incredible team members’ paths share at least one thing in common: at some point each individual has dared to dream new things were possible, for themselves and for our world.
Hear Polaris crew member Sarah Gillis describe some of the moments when she dared to dream, including imagining a new possibility for her future thanks to the support of this conversation’s special guest, former NASA astronaut Joe Tanner.
Joe Tanner Introduction
Joe Tanner Mentors
When Sarah Gillis dared to imagine a new path for herself in aerospace engineering, Joe Tanner helped her believe it was possible. In this Challenge, you’ll be connecting to your dare-to-dream moments!
Think back to a time when you dared to dream and imagined a new idea for yourself, for your community, or for the world. It might have been a moment when you tried something new, changed your perspective, or aimed for something different. Maybe you’ve got a new idea you’re daring to explore right now!
Once you have a moment in mind, ask yourself this Zone’s Challenge Question to think about who supports you as you imagine and grow:
Think of someone who helps you…
- …believe in your own abilities.
- …take action for a positive change.
- …use your creativity in a new way.
- …learn a new skill.
- …find a solution to a problem.
- …see something from a different perspective.
- …try something you weren’t sure you could do.
Say “Thank You” to the person who has sparked you to imagine new possibilities, for yourself or for the world around you. Write them a letter or quick note, or record a brief video or audio message of gratitude. (And, if you can, hug them and tell them in person!) Be sure to let them know how they inspired or helped you.
Want to let us know who you’re grateful to? Share your messages of thanks on social media using the hashtag #space4music. We will be sharing some submissions in this Zone’s Challenge Accepted space. A few messages may even make it to space with Sarah Gillis!
Finally, turn your thoughts to the future and imagine how you could help pass that spark of inspiration and imagination on to someone else.
- How might you support other people to learn something new or see things in a fresh way? How can you help others to dare to dream?
Do you dream about being part of the future of space exploration? There is an amazing array of paths that lead to supporting missions to space!
Find out more in these NASA Stem Stars Interviews where you hear from real people in nearly 100 different careers, all connected to space exploration.
Tune in during the mission to SpaceX.com to watch the live broadcast of the spacewalk!