Shoot the Moon

October 8, 2009 by Taylor Studios in General

A standard definition of “shoot the moon” is to aim high. It essentially means set higher than normal goals for yourself, and try your best. Don’t aim at easy-to-reach goals. Go for something that shows the best of your ability.

Anonymous quote: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

In June of this year, NASA launched the $79 million LCROSS probe along with a lunar orbiter that is circling the moon as I am writing this. The probe is scheduled to separate from its orbiter early tomorrow morning to determine whether water ice (a potential resource for future astronauts) actually exists in the craters at the moon’s south pole.

The fascinating aspect of this scientific endeavor, aside from the potential chunk of lunar knowledge we will add to our greater cosmic understanding, is the fact that this probe, which is a 5,216 lb (about as much weight as a large SUV), 42-foot long centaur rocket stage, will be chucked from orbit at a whopping 5,600 mph and slammed into an existing crater. This impact will kick up tons of moon dirt more than 6 miles above the lunar surface and create a new crater 12 miles wide.

AWESOME!…but wait. Why smash one thing into the moon when you can smash two at double the awesomeness?! So, four minutes after the initial impact, the 1,664 lb. orbiter will smash into the newly formed crater, which will belch up even more lunar debris. “Frikkin’ sweet!” is what the scientist who came up with this idea must have said to herself as she patted herself on the back at the end of the “What to do with the Orbiter” meeting.

In following this story, I realized a parallel between the scientists involved in the lunar project and the collective diversity of talent here at Taylor. These scientists are on a serious quest for knowledge and discovery and are using the most up-to-date highly sensitive scientific instruments to catalogue this event. But let’s face it, they are chuckin’ rocks at the moon to see what will happen. I know there has to be that insatiable curiosity and childlike excitement among them like a group of kids setting off firecrackers on an anthill and witnessing the glorious aftermath. I am fortunate to be working with just such a group here at Taylor. Like these scientists, I see and experience that level of curiosity and imagination in my co-workers and see it creatively expressed in our work here. If we had continually set the bar low and made the goal easy to achieve, we would have forfeited much of the creativity required to achieve that sense of awe and wonder in those that are involved with and experience our creations. Likewise, our knowledge of cutting edge processes and materials would have begun to wane.

So, like those NASA scientists currently smashing stuff into the moon in order to learn something new, I am happy to see and actively encourage all the talented people I am fortunate to work with to seek knowledge in unorthodox ways. In other words, in every creative expression, continue to Shoot the Moon!

Posted by: Brian