In April 2023, the new director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Makenzie Lystrup, was appointed — the first woman ever to head this department. The most interesting thing is that she swore in on Carl Sagan’s book “Pale Blue Dot“. Internet users were very interested in why the new director chose this book. At the request of Futurism, she explained her unique choice of literature for the oath.
“Like many astronomers and space scientists, my passion began with watching the documentary “Cosmos” by Carl Sagan on public television,” Listrup explained.
Such prominent figures as Bill Nye and Seth MacFarlane call Sagan one of their main inspirations. Like Listrup, they all pay tribute to his tireless desire to bring science to the masses.
“Sagan worked very hard to make science accessible and popular for humanity. His book the “Pale Blue Dot” highlights the importance of exploring the Universe and understanding our home planet. Given his personal importance to me and how his work resonates with our work that we do at NASA on behalf of the whole world, it is appropriate to include him in this important ceremony,” said Listrup.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center also posted a “Monday Motivation” post on Twitter with a photo of Listrup during the swearing-in, and also included a motivational quote from Sagan in the publication: “Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it we go nowhere”.
“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it we go nowhere.” — Carl Sagan
Goddard has a new center director! Last week Dr. Makenzie Lystrup was sworn in on Carl Sagan’s “Pale Blue Dot” and we’re feeling the #MondayMotivation. https://t.co/xQiET8fMpa pic.twitter.com/KbrPupeLup
— NASA Goddard (@NASAGoddard) April 10, 2023
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