The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) was just named #3 on Time’s list of inventions of the year for 2008! http://tinyurl.com/5t6ok9 Congratulations LRO!
However, I don’t know about you, but my reaction to that was “is a spacecraft really an invention?”
As a result, I’ve been looking around for a definition of an invention that I like. The best one I’ve found so far is “a product of the imagination.” I like the simplicity of the definition, and yet somehow, it still captures the excitement and creativity that I like to associate to an invention.
So is a spacecraft an invention? Is it a product of the imagination? Why not? I mean, there was a time, not so long ago, when getting anything into orbit was only a product of someone’s imagination. Now granted, while a spacecraft cannot generically be considered an invention any longer, for the most part, at Goddard each individual spacecraft that we build is generally a unique combination of systems, designed to carry out a unique set of tasks. LRO definitely falls into this category: a unique solution with a unique purpose, created through the imagination of scientists, engineers, and politicians.
What do you think?
November 24th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
MSL (Mars Science Laboratory), which is currently under development at JPL and will be launched in October of 2009, also made the list at #18! Congratulations MSL! It seems to be a very good year for NASA!