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Dava Newman Brings Her Optimism, Passion For Space From MIT To NASA
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When she was a kid, Dava Newman wanted to be an astronaut.
"I loved space," NASA's new deputy administrator told us. "I was hugely influenced by the Apollo program. What it taught me was — I grew up in Montana, so for a young girl growing up in Montana, to dream. And space flight and exploration are just boundless, and I took that as a call to exploration."
Dava Newman is a former professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, a job she took a leave from earlier this year to join NASA.
She's back in town for the International Space Station Research and Development Conference that's being held in Boston, and she joined us to talk about Mars, space exploration and the challenges she sees as the second-in-command at NASA.
Guest
Dava Newman, NASA's new deputy administrator. Former professor of aeronautics and astronautics and of engineering systems at MIT, where she also co-directed the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics' Man Vehicle Laboratory. She tweets @DavaExplorer.
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MIT News: Dava Newman Confirmed As NASA Deputy Administrator
- "The U.S. Senate yesterday unanimously confirmed the appointment of MIT Professor Dava Newman as NASA deputy administrator, the agency’s number-two position. The appointment will become official when signed by President Obama."
MIT Technology Review: Suiting Up
- "Establishing a human colony on mars will require exceptional qualities in an explorer, not least of which are ingenuity, a collaborative spirit, and the iron will of a true pioneer. But it will also require a good suit."
CNN: NASA Probe Set To Make History At Pluto
- "It's traveled more than 3.6 billion miles to get there, and it will only stay a few hours, but a small space probe is expected to revolutionize the way we look at Pluto."
This segment aired on July 9, 2015.