NASA Mars Landing Rover -- Spirit

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by dlavery

I hope that in some way, this project will offer another example of how that is true, and a few more people will get turned on to the idea that they can make a difference, and can have a good time doing it.

It already has worked Dave. I know I speak for many when I say thank you for all that you have done for our global society and for all of us as people. Because of people like you and FIRST, I'm a different teacher and a different person.

For the past several weeks, my two sons (aged 1 and 3) have been watching Mars project videos (along with old FIRST match video) with great interest. The little guy points to the screen saying, "Bobots!!" while his brother sits in an empty box and asks me to count down so he can blast off to Mars. I love rolling around on the floor and playing ball with my sons, but because of this program something else has been added to our relationship - a love for exploration and an understanding that anyone can be anything they want to be.

This morning, when I told my oldest that one of the robots made it to Mars last night he was very excited and spent a large portion of the saying, "Dad, I want to see it bounce again....Dad I want to see it fold out again...."

Yeah Dave, you certainly make a difference and in more ways than you can imagine.