Bringing an artist mindset to rocket science with the dearMoon mission


Hopefully you already know that Japanese billionaire Yusaka Maezawa (MZ is his nickname) has purchased an entire set of seats – 12 total – for a SpaceX Starship flight around the moon in 2023.

If you haven’t seen an inspiring video with MZ and Elon Musk about this dearMoon mission, I’ll provide a link below.

MZ has reserved 4 seats for himself and those going with him. He originally planned to reserve the other 8 seats for artists of different kinds who would create amazing art based on their trip around the moon.

Then this month (March 2021) he announced that he was opening up this selection to artists of all kinds. And people could apply themselves to be considered!

That’s when I decided that I qualified!

THE BEST TECHNICAL WORKERS ARE ARTISTS

The most successful and effective technical professionals consider themselves as artists in their craft. The best computer code is a work of art. So is the most expensive and desirable precision machinery.

When you saw the twin rocket boosters from SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy descend in tandem down to their landing pads side by side, wasn’t that a beautiful form of artistry in rocket science?

SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy Double Booster Rocket Return

When you think of yourself as an artist in your field, you appreciate quality, beauty, elegance, harmony, balance, and simplicity.

These are all valuable qualities to strive for in rocket science!

Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

Pablo Picasso

INNOVATORS ARE ARTISTS

What really shifted my attitude towards thinking like an artist in the aerospace field was when I wanted to bring more innovation into my workplace.

I had many tools and resources at my disposal. People, processes, tools…

How could I work with them and combine them in a new way to create something new, remarkable, and unexpected?

If you want to be an innovator, you need to think – and act – like an artist!

The power of a visionary purpose, plus the creativity of an artist, make any endeavor a success.

Brett Hoffstadt

We are living in an amazing world of abundance and opportunity today. If you want to learn something, you can pursue it.

If you want to find and connect with experts or champions on a certain topic, you can do it.

If you want to create your own work – whether they are thoughts, ideas, questions, digital items, or even physical products – you can do it.

Artists don’t have to wait until they are told do to something. They can’t be told exactly how to do something. Artists are driven to envision, start, create, and release artful work independent of what others might say or do (or not say or not do).

Reject the tyranny of the picked. Pick yourself.

Seth Godin

Giving these messages to people who want a career in aerospace or aviation is why I wrote How To Be a Rocket Scientist. And it’s why I decided to pick myself for the dearMoon mission.

Here is my receipt for the #dearMoonCrew to prove it:

dearMoonCrew certificate for Brett Hoffstadt

If I am fortunate enough to be selected as one of the passengers on the dearMoon mission, I will use this tremendous opportunity to emphasize that everyone today has the opportunity – even the responsibility – to consider themselves an artist in their chosen line of artful work.

I will also use the profound cosmic vantage point of this Starship #dearMoon flight to scout out potential locations for the future site of humanity’s first permanent moon base. Manifesting the vision of a permanent, peaceful, and prosperous moon base into physical reality is why I’m working on the upcoming book Goodnight Moon Base.

Goodnight Moon Base cover (click for more info)

Follow news of the dearMoon crew selection process along with me. There is the dearMoon Project on Twitter and Instagram.

SENDING ARTISTS TO THE MOON

Here’s to the artist in all of us! And to the amazing “artwork” we will celebrate in 2023 thanks to the dearMoon mission funded by Japanese artist Yusaka “MZ” Maezawa!

Here is the promotional video of MZ and Elon Musk talking about the dearMoon mission. Let’s use this awesome mission to realize the fullest potential of the artist – and the artful work – inside all of us.


About Brett Rocket Scientist

Brett creates artful work in engineering, ideas, and innovation. In addition to 2 degrees, 3 patents, and over 15 years experience in aerospace engineering, he is the author of several books to foster STEM careers. He volunteers his time and skills as an officer with professional societies.

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