Unleashing Potential: How a Simple Email to NASA Changed Everything

So following my recent post about Windows Server Being 30 years old and subsequent discussion on what would be your book title would be best describing your IT journey to date, I have been digging around in my digital archives and happened upon an e-mail that I wrote for my now wife Lucy (yes, yes I am a digital hoarder) whilst we were at University.

At the time she was doing a Maths and Computing degree and was struggling on ideas for her dissertation and in discussion, up came the topic of the Galileo probe and she wondered if she could do it on how NASA calculated the trajectory to Jupiter. She was hugely enthused at the idea and I could see it was something she really wanted to do however, at the time, she discarded the idea stating "no way NASA is going to respond to me" and instead continued her search for other ideas. I could see what this meant to her and anything else really would have just been a poor alternative. So, on Tuesday 26th June 1996, I wrote an e-mail to NASA on her behalf!

Looking back, this was one of my very first moments where I realised I can use what I had at my disposal to help others progress - in this instance it was just a carefree 'well so what if they don’t answer?' but in doing this, I then bore the brunt of any potential rejection and was able to support Lucy in her ambition to have this for her dissertation. Much to my surprise not only did they respond, but they in fact responded the same day with more contacts to follow up with! So, Lucy in fact did do her dissertation on something she loved and through the welth of information subsequently shared by NASA, ensured she received great marks for it! As for me.... well I just loved the fact I was able to make this happen for her.

Honestly, as I wind the clock forwards to today, 7th July 2023, some twenty seven years later, being able to recognise when you can support folk to do their best work is such a huge part of being a #leader, these small moments of insight and/or support can have profound impact for folk - so listen, stay curious and use your position to help others rise!

For those interested, the e-mail I sent is below and to the folk at #NASA, you made a huge difference in responding, thank you!

Received: from SMTP_MAIL by CS_FS15 (Mercury 1.21); 26 Jun 96 00:47:42 GM
Return-path: <[email protected]>?
Received: from plymouth.ac.uk by cs_fs15.csd.plym.ac.uk (Mercury 1.21) with ESMTP; 26 Jun 96 00:47:38 GMT
Received: from gal.arc.nasa.gov (actually host galileo.arc.nasa.gov) by plymouth.ac.uk with SMTP (PP); Wed, 26 Jun 1996 00:48:10 +0000
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 16:46:09 -0700 (PDT)


From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Calculating the Galileo orbit to Jupiter


Dear Lucy:


YOUR REQUEST:

I was wondering if it would be possible for you to Email/Mail me some information on how you calculated the trajectory of the probe, and any relevant information you may think could help.?

The Navigation Team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (as opposed to the Galileo Probe Team here at NASA Ames Research Center) is in charge of all navigation associated with both the Galileo Orbiter and Probe. The Probe was released from the Orbiter on July 13, 1995 and arrived at Jupiter on
Dec. 7, 1995. The probe had no maneuvering rockets. At the time of proberelease the Orbiter was on a trajectory leading to atmospheric entry aswell, and a small delta v was given to the probe by springs which allowed the Probe and Orbiter to separate. Several days after probe release, the
Orbiter fired its main engine (for the first time in fact) to change its trajectory so it would go into orbit rather than into the atmosphere. For more information on navigation associated with the Galileo Mission, I suggest you contact the Galileo Team at JPL at:[email protected]?

Keep up with the data return and results from the Galileo Probe over the next months at the Galileo Probe Homepage at URL: https://ccf.arc.nasa.gov/galileo_probe/?

Thanks for your support and interest,


Dr. Julio Magalhaes


Space Science Division
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CAT        

(apologies for the lack of word wrapping, couldn't quite get it the way I wanted!)

#leadership