Gratification
In some sense I am involved with two space programs. My own endeavors, which have yet to see anything like a prototype, but do have plenty of ideas for how things ought to be done. And even some plans that verge on being called something like blueprints. Of course, funding for this program is virtually nonexistent. And then there's the PSAS program. They have built rockets, and are currently in the process of designing and building another, to replace the one that launched successfully but failed to deploy it's parachute.
In my time with PSAS, I have been working with the airframe team, which is responsible for basically everything except communication and software. Nearly all of the rocket is to be a repeat of the last. Since I've been a part of it, only one thing has been seriously thought about as far as changes in the design: The recovery system. The last one failed so this has been a particularly touchy subject for Tim, the guy who has recently started to take over a leadership role in the organization in a sort of power vacuum.
Anyway, needing a more reliable design, there were a couple of brainstorming sessions. In those sessions, several ideas were explored, primarily based on those used by other teams around the country. I, on the other hand, had another idea. After talking through several ideas, we all went our separate ways with the idea that a couple of ideas would worked out more fully and then voted on at the next meeting.
I was unable to attend the next meeting, and submitted no detailed plan for bringing my idea into reality. And yet, my idea was the one that was chosen. There have even been mock-ups made. Now that is gratifying.
Of course, if the thing fails, then it's my idea that failed, no matter that it was selected by them.
In my time with PSAS, I have been working with the airframe team, which is responsible for basically everything except communication and software. Nearly all of the rocket is to be a repeat of the last. Since I've been a part of it, only one thing has been seriously thought about as far as changes in the design: The recovery system. The last one failed so this has been a particularly touchy subject for Tim, the guy who has recently started to take over a leadership role in the organization in a sort of power vacuum.
Anyway, needing a more reliable design, there were a couple of brainstorming sessions. In those sessions, several ideas were explored, primarily based on those used by other teams around the country. I, on the other hand, had another idea. After talking through several ideas, we all went our separate ways with the idea that a couple of ideas would worked out more fully and then voted on at the next meeting.
I was unable to attend the next meeting, and submitted no detailed plan for bringing my idea into reality. And yet, my idea was the one that was chosen. There have even been mock-ups made. Now that is gratifying.
Of course, if the thing fails, then it's my idea that failed, no matter that it was selected by them.