Today I am writing a long overdue entry into the annals of the Rocket City Space Pioneers (RCSP) regarding my grand adventure in reaching out to help with laying the cornerstone of great engineering feats. This cornerstone is education, but it is not just that either. There have been cries from all quarters these last few decades about the decline in the quality of education in the United States, how today’s students are totally unprepared for the realities of the world in which they live. However, there are people and institutions that have adapted to the changing world and are finding ways to keep the attention of the brightest young minds and help give them something worthy and amazing to shoot for in their lives. In many cases, these people do this on their own time not expecting pay or any other compensation but seeing the light sparkle in the eyes of students when they learn about great things from those who love to do those great things. Fuel to Inspire My career path was set by many milestones in my youth that helped steer me in moments when I could have walked away from challenges that seemed too hard. One example that comes to mind is the summer after my freshman year in high school. That year was one of monumental adolescent struggles and countless distractions. This, of course, led to my having to take algebra classes in summer school because of not being able to pass it during the regular year. The class was divided into six modules and I still needed to pass the last two in the summer term so I could take the next level of classes by my sophomore year. The first class was a failure and I had to repeat it again in the summer. I was feeling down and out. Luckily for me though, I was also scheduled to take my second trip to U.S. Space Camp in the time between classes. The Space Camp story could fill three other blog entries, but needless to say, it was one of the most significant and exciting moments in my childhood. It set the stage for my career and it helped me regain confidence and focus when I needed it the most. When I returned to my summer school classes, I flew through the rest without any other problems and passing with A’s. One thing to carry away from my story about my 1992 summer of math classes and Space Camp missions is inspiration given from a few folks. I received my very first propulsion lecture on that visit from Konrad Dannenberg, a retired member of the original team of scientists and engineers that came over from Germany with Wernher von Braun to kick-start the American space industry. What a treat it was for a space nut like me to learn from a Space Pioneer like him. There was nothing like a firsthand account to show how all of the science and math came together to send men to the moon and other great things. Fast forward to the present day and I can say now that in the intervening years of college and my career, I was able to meet up with and learn from people like the late Mr. Dannenberg over and over again. It was inspiration for me to carry that torch, to help spread my love and enthusiasm for space exploration and keep the legacy alive. I am forever grateful for opportunities presented to me in my youth - many kids are in situations where they cannot afford to go to places like Space Camp, and I was lucky to be able to go myself. Because of this, I have felt the strong urge to pay it forward and I have spent a good portion of my career taking the time to talk with students with the hope of seeing that spark light up in someone else, at a time when they may need it the most. By David Hewitt Propulsion Engineer Dynetics Inc.