“I have to put Star Trek at the top of my list for inspiration and influence [in my life]. It was about a vision for the future of humanity where we can be better than who we are in several different aspects. Even more than the technology, that future vision for society was inspirational. The slogan goes, ‘These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange, new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before.’
“To me, that’s another way of saying NASA’s core values. That’s what we are and should be about.
“The dream future in Star Trek is an accumulation of small contributions from many people over lifetimes. That’s true for big science accomplishments and discoveries too.
“I realized long ago that I am an ant carrying my little grain of sand. But someday, this anthill will reach the stars, and I find that completely satisfying.”
– Dr. Aki Roberge, Research Astrophysicist, Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Lab, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Image Credit: NASA / Taylor Mickal
Interviewer: NASA / Tahira Allen