When I started working with NASA in 1989 as part of a mission to send spacecraft to Pluto, I knew it would take at least 10-15 years to see results of my efforts.
Alan SternRead
If two billion people wanted to watch a robot fly by Pluto, imagine what it will be like when the first humans step on Mars. It'll be the most unifying event anybody could ever put on.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The anticipation of human exploration of Mars can unite people in a way that few events can.
Alan Stern emphasizes the unifying power of significant human achievements, particularly the upcoming human mission to Mars. By comparing it to the global interest in a robot flying by Pluto, he suggests that this monumental event will create a sense of wonder and connection among people, transcending borders and differences.
Themes
MarsExplorationUnityHuman AchievementSpace
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about space exploration.
More from Alan Stern
All quotes →The first mission to Mars did not expect to find craters and river valleys, and yet they did. The first mission to Jupiter didn't expect to find ocean worlds and volcano worlds, but they did.
Alan SternRead
I can't imagine how many kids around the world will look at pictures of Pluto and think, 'I want to grow up to be a scientist.'
Alan SternRead
We're going to find Marses and maybe Earths out in the solar system's attic of the Oort Cloud and the Kuiper Belt.
Alan SternRead
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