“The day of Perseverance’s Mars landing, I remember voicing the rover online, and one kid said to me, “I couldn’t sleep last night because I was worried that when you land on Mars, one of your wheels will land on a sharp rock and you’ll get a flat tire.” I laugh when I think back on the conversation. This little boy couldn’t sleep the night before because he was worried that Perseverance would get a flat tire when landing on the surface of Mars. I told him “my” wheels were very strong so he shouldn’t worry. It’s those interactions that make it all so worthwhile.
“I get really excited talking to kids and inspiring the next generation of explorers. For our role as communicators, it’s important to spark that interest within them at every age. We shouldn’t underestimate what we say. Words are extremely powerful, and little things can make a world of a difference. For example, for my four-year-old-self, it was a pair of Saturn overalls, a piece of clothing, and that was enough for me to fall in love with space. So, you never know who you’re touching, who you’re reaching, who you’re inspiring. As communicators, it’s important to have our ‘A’ game on always and make sure the information we’re distributing is not only accurate, but also as fun, interesting, and relatable as possible.”
– Linda Rivera, Digital and Social Media Specialist, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Image Credit: Ryan Lannom
Interviewer: NASA / Tahira Allen