An Inspirational
Story
The Curiosity Mars rover was named by an 11 year old
girl in Lenexa , Kansas , USA
On Aug. 5 at 10:31 p.m. PST, a rover named Curiosity
touched down safely on the surface of Mars, and I was lucky enough to have a
front-row seat.
My name is Clara, and when I was in 6th grade, I won the
essay contest NASA held to name its next Mars rover. The essay I wrote was not
even 250 words long, but somehow it was enough to change my life.
I still remember that chilly December day, sitting in
science class. I’d finished a worksheet early and decided to get a TIME for
Kids magazine off of Mrs. Estevez’s bookshelf. It was the 2008 Invention Issue,
but that wasn’t the only thing that caught my eye. In the magazine, there was
an article about a girl who named the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity .
The article also talked about the essay contest NASA
was holding to name its next Mars rover. Before I even knew anything else about
it, a single word flooded my 11-year-old mind: Curiosity.
I couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so I could get
started on my essay. That afternoon, I raced home from the bus stop, sat down
at the computer, and typed until my fingers ached. It turns out I was just in
time. A few days later, and the contest would have closed.
Five months later, shortly after I had turned 12, I
was watching a National Geographic special on mammoths when the phone rang. My
mom answered, and immediately, a wide smile spread across her face.
When she told me that I had won, I was happier than I
could ever remember being. I screamed and ran up and down the stairs and all
around the house. I completely forgot about the mammoths and did not even
remember to turn off the TV until it was really late.
Curiosity is such an important part of who I am. I
have always been fascinated by the stars, the planets, the sky and the
universe. I remember as a little girl, my grandmother and I would sit together
in the backyard for hours. She’d tell me stories and point out constellations.
Here in the heart of the country, my grandmother would
say, there were no bright city lights to compete with the brilliance of the
stars. There was just the chirping of the cicadas and the soft summer breeze.
My grandmother lived in China ,
thousands of miles away from my home in Kansas .
I loved the stars because they kept us together even when we were apart. They
were always there, yet there was so much I didn’t know about them. That’s what
I love so much about space. No matter how much we learn, it will always possess
a certain degree of mystery.
In the past, space exploration may have been a
competition to see who got somewhere first or the fastest. But now, it is one
of the few things that bring people together. Science is a language that needs
no translation. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you look like — you
just have to have a thirst for knowledge and a passion for learning in order to
succeed.
People often ask me why we go to faraway places like
Mars. Why do we explore? My answer to that is simple: because we can. Because
we’re curious. Because we as human beings do not just stay holed up in one
place. We are constantly wondering and trying to find out what’s over the hill
and beyond the horizon.
The Curiosity rover is more than just a robot. It is
more than just a titanium body and aluminum wheels. Curiosity represents the
hard work, passion, love and commitment of thousands of people from all over
the world who were brought together by science.
Science is so awesome. It is breathtaking and
mind-blowing, intertwining and unifying; and sometimes, it’s just a little bit
crazy. The discoveries we make about our world are incredibly humbling. They
move us forward and have the potential to benefit all of mankind.
This December it will be four years of my life that
have been tied to Curiosity in some way. I’ve met so many amazing people
through this experience, from scientists to engineers to administrators to
volunteers. Their dedication and fervor inspire me immensely. My journey with
Curiosity and the MSL mission team has shaped the person that I am today, as
well as the person I would one day like to become.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible
for me to have this amazing adventure. And to you, I hope your curiosity takes
you far.
By Clara Ma
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