My name is Joe Bruce : artist , teacher , JPL solar system ambassador . As a kid growing up in a small logging and farming town in Central Washington State , my family did not have extra money , but what I did have were dreams .
In elementary school I read Ray Bradbury ’ s “ Martian Chronicles ” and dreamed about exploring Mars . I could imagine what Mars looked like , even if my visions were not totally in line with what we knew of Mars at the time .
Later , I saw my heroes jump and drive across the surface of the Moon . I watched as they worked on the Moon , and I dreamed about what it would be like to work in a spacesuit .
As an adult , I lived out another dream when I first heard the roar of a Space Shuttle launch . I was even able to get an invitation that put me three miles from Space Shuttle Columbia as it roared to life !
My dreams continued when I was able to walk under Shuttle Endeavour while it was under construction in California .
10 LET ’ S GO AEROSPACE