To Be Continued ...
Feb. 28, 2013
"There is no escaping our obligations: our moral obligations as a wise leader and good neighbor in the interdependent community of free nations..."
– John F. Kennedy, Nov. 3, 1961 in establishing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
I have often expressed the strong belief that the technology developed for space exploration and the research conducted in space can make huge contributions toward solving many of the problems facing our planet. Beginning tomorrow, I will act on that belief and go "on loan" to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). While there, I will help apply space technology to the challenges facing the developing world.
President Kennedy's landmark speech at Rice University a little more than 51 years ago shifted the U.S. space program into high gear. "We Choose To Go To The Moon" became the mantra that set our nation on a peaceful path of space exploration and scientific achievement for the betterment of all humanity. A few weeks after the Rice speech, and with the same spirit of progress and innovation that would propel humans to the moon, President Kennedy established USAID to help lift millions out of poverty, alleviate suffering and advance the foreign policy interests of our nation.
Today, NASA and its international partners continue to build on both legacies. The International Space Station is a premier and unique research facility that operates around the clock to improve life on Earth while it orbits our planet 16 times a day. The research conducted aboard the space station simply cannot be duplicated anywhere on Earth and is leading to new materials, new medicines, a better understanding of the human body, environmental issues facing our planet, and much more.
USAID humanitarian commodities, being unloaded at Djerba, Tunisia. Credit: AFRICOM Public Affairs
USAID seeks to "extend a helping hand to those people overseas struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country." It has embarked on an ambitious agenda that aims to change the way it does business by establishing new partnerships, emphasizing innovation and focusing relentlessly on results. This agenda provides the opportunity to transform USAID and unleash its full potential to achieve high-impact development. I'm looking forward to being part of the team that implements these new changes as we strive to more effectively help improve the lives of others.
NASA and USAID already collaborate on significant programs to apply scientific and technological solutions to challenges facing millions around the world. My role will be to help USAID establish a broad applied research program and to act as program manager for USAID's participation in the Unity Node project.
The Applied Research Program seeks to find innovative ways to advance technology development and to apply new technologies to development challenges. The Unity Node project seeks to build a universal open source collaborative platform that humanitarian organizations around the world can use to work together toward their common goals.
USAID's goals are ambitious: protecting human rights, improving global health, advancing food security and agriculture, improving environmental sustainability, furthering education, helping societies prevent and recover from conflicts, and providing humanitarian assistance in the wake of natural and man-made disasters.
NASA research and experience will greatly help USAID achieve its ambitious goals. I am excited to be a part of both teams, where I'll be able to help fulfill NASA's mission of bettering life on Earth by working with USAID to give it practical application in the developing world. By combining expertise from NASA and USAID, we will help meet even more sustainable development challenges on the ground, solving problems for the world community.
I recently had the opportunity to fly what could be my last flight in a T-38 jet for a while. As I flew a few laps around the Gulf of Mexico, I remembered my last moments aboard the International Space Station before Andrey Borisenko, Sasha Samokutyaev, and I flew a few laps around our planet prior to returning to our Fragile Oasis. I felt then, and I feel now, that I'm completing one chapter of my life and about to begin a new one. It's an exciting moment, and I can't wait to see first-hand the results of applying space technology to development challenges.
Suggested Viewing: Full Screen, 1080P, with the volume UP
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6Comments about this post
Bloggernaut
Ron Garan
Fragile Oasis Founder
Other posts by this author
- One Young World Summit - The Key Is We
- Moonshot
- Why Should We Spend Money on Space Exploration When We Have So Many Problems Here on Earth?
- Guardians of Earth
- Do 1 Thing Day - July 20, 2012
- The Orbital Perspective of Nicholas Kristof
- An Invitation to Participate in the International Space Apps Challenge
- LAUNCHing Ideas for a Waste-less Tomorrow
- We Get to Carry Each Other
March 1, 2013
Maria E.
All the best for you Ron in this new path! Your dream about global collaboration have just started!
All the best for you!
March 1, 2013
Ron G.
Thanks Maria and thanks for all you do for our Fragile Oasis
March 1, 2013
Peter C.
Ron,
you're the best man for that work. With NASA's technology, experience, and skills in your finger tips and the heart and compassion in your acting for supporting human beings in those parts of the world that are not so well off I'm convinced that your efforts will lead to lasting improvements in the living conditions in those areas where you will be active. I will follow that with interest. All the best to you.
March 1, 2013
Ron G.
Thanks Peter for your kind words and for all your help over the past couple of years identifying and describing the pictures we send back from space.
March 6, 2013
Christopher C.
Congrats! This sounds like a great continuation of the work you're already doing - enjoy the next stage of your adventures :)
-Chris
March 7, 2013
Ron G.
Thanks Chris and I wish you all the best with Restart Democracy, Ron