Humans are explorers by nature. We are drawn to seek what is unknown so that it can be understood. In a handful of years we will arrive at our destination: the polar region of the Moon and later to Mars — goals that are both audacious and dangerous. How will we succeed? I was recently surprised to find that an answer can be found in a familiar symbol.
The space series StarTrek implores us to boldly go where no human has been. Star Trek’s badge is a widely-identified and cool-looking logo (at least to many of us Trekkies.) It holds however a deeper meaning; it represents what the essential elements are to succeed.
“Live long and prosper,” are Star Trek words exchanged in farewells and are offered as a sincere blessing. It turns out that the Star Trek logo itself is a symbol of these words and more — it represents two necessities for achieving them. Unexpectedly, this deeper meaning of the logo was expressed at a conference I attended this Fall — not a Trekkie one though attending one would be fun — but an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) virtual conference.
AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace technical society with nearly 30,000 individual members from 85 countries, and 95 corporate members. The name of the virtual conference, ASCEND, stands for “Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery.” The ASCEND 2020 conference was structured as an experience for all participants, addressing the why, what, and how we will achieve our space goals (https://www.ascend.events/about/). The conference offered a place to share technical developments, hear inspiring speakers, and find a surprising and uplifting metaphysical message, a message that couldn’t be more timely.
The special guest speaker at ASCEND was very special indeed: George Takai, who played the Star Trek USS Enterprise helmsman, Hikaru Sulu. Takai said our goals will require our best imaginations and science. It will also take something more. Then he explained the meaning of the Star Trek logo. The logo, he said, stands for Infinite Diversity and Infinite Combinations. It’s a theme that is conveyed throughout Star Trek stories that have timeless lessons: that collaboration and curiosity are necessary if we expect to live long and prosper.
Star Trek, its logo and stories of bold journeys to a universe of unknown challenges tell us this important thing: We need each other. We need our different outlooks and need our novel ways to problem-solve. We need to be as one on our journey of discovery with a mind-set that values the differences of many. Without these, our hope for living a long and prosperous life, will fade.
I participated in an engagement at the conference to show curious participants our new start-up’s novel way to unify individuals separated by time (with time delays) and space (distance), because embarking into the unknown will be a very lonely and most dangerous endeavor without each other. I’m very excited about what our company can do for space. But one of the best parts of ASCEND 2020 for me was Takai’s message.
May 2021 be a New Year that brings us together.
May we have long life and prosperity, as one world, of infinite possibilities.
