I myself have been intrigued with the concept of space, solar system, stars, universe and multiverse from a very small age. Though I haven’t been able to travel my own country so far, space travel has always been a dream hidden in some corner of the heart.
So, when I read a Business Insider story about a 9 YO bold approaching NASA with a letter for the job as big as “planetary protection”, it astonished me.
The way he had written the stuff in that small letter somewhat excited me and made me imagine for a while that 9 YO boy, Jack Davis must be something big in the small body.
Here’s what he wrote when he came to know that NASA is looking for a “planetary protection officer”.
“Dear NASA,
My name is Jack Davis and I would like to apply for the planetary protection officer job. I may be nine but I think I would be fit for the job. One of the reasons is my sister says I am an alien. Also, I have seen almost all the space movies and alien movies I can see. I have also seen the show Marvel Agents of Shield and hope to see the movie Men in Black. I am great at vidieo [sic] games. I am young, so I can learn to think like an alien.
Sincerely,
Jack Davis
Guardian of the Galaxy
Fourth Grade”
And the Director of planetary science too couldn’t stop himself from replying as he must have noticed something in the guy. He wrote-
“Dear Jack,
I hear you are a ‘Guardian of the Galaxy’ and that you’re interested in being a NASA Plantary Protection Officer. That’s great!
Our Plantary Protection Officer position is really cool and is very important work. It’s about protecting Earth from tiny microbes when we bring back samples from the Moon, asteroids and Mars. It’s also about protecting other planets and moons from our germs as we responsibly explore the Solar System.
We are always looking for bright future scientists and engineers to help us, so I hope you will study hard and do well in school. We hope to see you here at NASA one of these days!
Sincerely,
Dr. James L. Green
Director, Planetary Science Division”
The American space agency didn’t stop there, however.
NASA said in the release.
Jonathan Rall – NASA’s planetary research director – also rang up Davis “to congratulate him on his interest in the position.”
They added-
“Although the Planetary Protection Officer position may not be in real-life what the title conjures up, it does play an important role in promoting the responsible exploration of our solar system by preventing microbial contamination of other planets and our own,”
Interestingly, NASA pays up to $187,000 salary for the post of full-time planetary protection officer – a role established in 1967.
The role is not only responsible for protecting alien worlds like Europa (an icy, ocean-hiding , and potentially habitable moon of Jupiter) from germs on human-launched spacecraft, but also defending the Earth from contamination by alien microbes.
What do you think about this?