FOR AT LEAST TWO DECADES, SUPPLIERS IN THE COMMERCIAL AEROSPACE INDUSTRY have understood
that those trained directly in running machinery, understanding measurement and materials, and how things work on the shop floor will perform better than a white-collar worker with a four-year degree. Sure, the educated personnel will better understand sociology, communications, engineering, and management; but do they know how things are actually made?
The Mars Society is taking a bet that the future of space travel will be determined by the builders of the Industrial Revolution 4.0— those who can look at a plan and understand how to make something with their hands, or with machines. So much so that they’ ve signed a 10- year Memorandum of Understanding( MOU) with South Seattle College, one of Washington’ s 34 Community and Technical Colleges with programs like:
• Skilled trades and technical training
• Culinary arts
• Health and medical
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math( STEM)
• Arts, design, and graphics
While this list isn’ t exhaustive, programs in skilled trades and technical training may include automotive technology, aviation maintenance technology, or electric vehicle mechanics, which could translate to direct vehicle maintenance or electric propulsion on the Moon or Mars, for example.
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