Goldin’s Golden Tech Bits (in Under a Minute)
The Hon. Daniel Goldin
07.05.22
Independence Day 1997
On Independence Day 1997, a quarter of a century ago, the Mars Pathfinder Spacecraft safely landed the Carl Sagan Memorial Base Station on Mars at 2:56:55 local solar time. The next day it deployed the Sojourner Robot, which became the first rover to explore a planetary surface beyond Earth Orbit. Just as compelling as the mission engineering and science, this pioneering system was conceived and developed in one third the time, 3 years, and at a tenth of the cost, $300 M, of a prior NASA Mars lander two decades earlier.
The brilliant team of NASA Jet Proulsion Laboratory (JPL) scientists and engineers was led by Tony Spear, a truly inspirational and highly capable leader, who was a a leading agent of change. Many of the exceptional Mars Pathfinder contributors have since gone on to enable NASA and JPL to inspire America with brilliant feats of science and engineering that contributes to our continued freedoms and pioneering capacities.
Happy Birthday America, may we continue to blaze new trails in space, science, and engineering in building a better and richer life for our children!
The AI Great Power Advantage
America has the competitive advantage in AI origin, and in the tech titans who are racing to perfect and mobilize it. These titans, running companies known for other things, are now competing to see who can create the best face of the future.
Purdue announces growing presence in India at event with Sen. Young and Ambassador Garcetti
Purdue University strengthens its partnership with India, announcing its Center for Education and Engagement, and U.S.-India Center of Excellence in Semiconductors (CES) jointly with the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, with support from the governments of the U.S. and India. Right: Purdue President Mung Chiang shakes hands Friday with (left) Eric Garcetti, U.S. ambassador to India, and U.S. Sen. Todd Young (Purdue University photo/John Underwood)