George David Low, son of former RPI president George M. Low, returned to Rensselaer to speak at The Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth 2006 Science and Technology Series: Explorations in Space Sciences and Astronomy on Saturday, October 28. This is the first time Rensselaer was ever asked to host this conference. There were several notable speakers and presenters for this conference which included President Shirley Ann Jackson, NASA scientists and engineers, a former NASA Astronaut and medical director of the Challenger Program, and Rensselaer’s own faculty. David Low was the keynote speaker who spoke to the seventh, eighth, and ninth graders and their families about being an astronaut and his experience in space.
Low said that when returning to RPI he felt like he was “coming home.” His father had been the president of the Institute when David Low was an undergraduate at Cornell University. His first memories of RPI were at the age of five when he first received a Christmas gift with the word “Rensselaer” on it from his grandfather. At that time he could not say the word, but it was always a part of his life. Low also remarked about the changes at the school and how it appeared much nicer then when he had visited campus with his father. He also commented that it was wonderful how the campus was playing host to many improvements.
Recalling his past, Low remembers having the passion to be an astronaut as early as when he was nine years old. He was allowed to stay at home and watch the launches of the Mercury and Gemini programs. Up until then, Low had been scared of being in a spacecraft. He was hooked, however, after he saw the amazing visuals from Gemini III revolving around the Earth.
“Career is not a plan, but seasons of opportunity,” Low quoted from his father’s thoughts. He too went to college, and as a young adult with the goal of being in space, looked for opportunities that would not close doors. After having an interview with Jet Propulsion Lab—where he was shown pictures of the previously unknown rings of Jupiter—he knew he wanted to be there. He took the job and also received a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University. During his time there he had the opportunity to become an astronaut and now works for the Launch Systems Group at Orbital Sciences Corporation, a commercial space company.
Low’s interview with The Polytechnic was conducted in the Center for Industrial Innovation near the George M. Low Gallery, where a new section had recently been added that included panoramic views of an area called the Low Ridge on Mars taken by the Mars Spirit Rover in memory of David Low’s father. Low had explained that the family was unaware of the dedication to his father until one of Low’s brother’s sons had done a Google search on George M. Low and articles about the Low Ridge appeared. He thought the addition was great, however, and noted that the CII gallery remained an excellent exhibit, just as it was in its 2002 unveiling.
The CTY symposium exposed children to different space exploration aspects with the aid of RPI students who directed and participated in various parts throughout the day.
The CTY family program administrator of Johns Hopkins University, Jessica Dorsey, said that the initial feedback from the event has been positive. Dorsey indicated that those involved in coordinating this event were impressed by the faculty, facilities, and the student representatives helping out for the event. Despite the downpours, the event went very well. She also said the applied physics and physics departments worked very well with the CTY administration to create a great event.
