“What I really think stands out the most is when you go to a launch and you encounter people who have never seen one before. Some people get so emotional, they cry. It’s so energizing to see people get that excited.
“For me, every single time we launch a rocket — whether it be a sounding rocket or something as big as an Antares rocket or anything in between — all the hard work and long hours, all that leading up to it… you kind of forget it as soon as you see the emotion that people are experiencing.
“I always think about that as I drive home at night: ‘Do you know how many people we made happy today?’ And so I think that is important — no matter what we do here, whether it’s my job or the test director’s or the administrator’s or all points in between — everybody’s got something to contribute.
“You ask little kids what their big dream is, and it’s not uncommon to hear ‘astronaut.’ It’s not uncommon to hear they want to fly in a rocket. That’s not uncommon. But we’re doing that. We’re making dreams for people.”
— Rebecca Hudson, Public Affairs Specialist, Wallops Flight Facility
Image Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani
Interviewer: NASA / Thalia Patrinos