Dr. Kenneth F. Harris II

Discover how NASA engineers built and launched the most ambitious telescope of all time.

Starting at NASA when he was just 16 years old, Kenneth Harris II has worked on weather satellites that predict hurricanes and telescopes that can “see back in time” to the origins of the universe. He knows the importance of failure and why it is an essential part of executing a technical project, if done right.

This interview was recorded at GOTO Copenhagen 2021 for GOTO Unscripted. #GOTOcon #GOTOunscripted #GOTOcph https://gotopia.tech Read the full transcription of this interview here: https://gotopia.tech/articles/behind-the-scenes-with-a-nasa-engineer Kenneth Harris II - Senior Satellite Engineer & Forbes Magazine '30 Under 30 Science' Honoree Preben Thorø - CTO of Trifork Switzerland DESCRIPTION Kenneth Harris II shares his journey to becoming an engineer at NASA and why learning to fail is a key cornerstone of their culture. Find out what exciting projects follow the well-known Hubble Telescope. TIMECODES 00:00 Intro 01:57 How did it all start? 04:30 Fail early and fail fast 09:43 Writing history: James Webb Space Telescope 14:43 Outro RECOMMENDED BOOKS NASA • NASA Systems Engineering Handbook • https://amzn.to/3FWjqhR Bernice Kastner • Space Mathematics • https://amzn.to/3oQCDKF Kellie Gerardi • Not Necessarily Rocket Science • https://amzn.to/3CW4HS9 Piers Bizony & Roger D. Launius • NASA Space Shuttle: 40th Anniversary • https://amzn.to/3xgsNWh https://twitter.com/GOTOcon https://www.linkedin.com/company/goto- https://www.facebook.com/GOTOConferences #NASA #Space #SpaceTravel #JamesWebb #SpaceTelescope #Hubble #JamesWebbSpaceTelescope #JamesWebbTelescope #Forbes30under30 #Forbes #Science #RocketScience Looking for a unique learning experience? Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket at https://gotopia.tech SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL - new videos posted almost daily. https://www.youtube.com/user/GotoConferences/?sub_confirmation=1

Space is actually FULL of dust — we're talking about pillars of dust extending over a BILLION kilometers in size. So how exactly are orbiting observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope able to see anything? » Subscribe to Seeker! http://bit.ly/subscribeseeker (then hit the little 🔔 icon and select "all.") » Watch more Elements! http://bit.ly/ElementsPlaylist » Visit our shop at http://shop.seeker.com Alright, first let's go over the basics of what cosmic dust actually is. In contrast to your typical household dust bunnies, cosmic dust is a collection of extremely tiny solid matter particles drifting around in space. And I mean really, really, really small. Like just a few molecules across. You may be wondering: how much dust is there in the universe...and where did it even come from?! So here's the thing—astronomers don't exactly know the answers to these questions. BUT they do know that around 4,700 metric tons of dust falls onto Earth every year. AND they know that supernovas played a huge part in its production and distribution. All the light that gets absorbed or scattered by the dust clouds makes stars tucked behind them seem more red and faint. This means that the average human eye looking through a regular old telescope is no match for a dust cloud since most of the light reaching that telescope will be outside the visible light spectrum. But now astronomers want to see in even greater detail. And this is where the James Webb Space Telescope comes into play. #JWST #jameswebbtelescope #astronomy #space #seeker #science Read More: 5,200 tons of space dust falls on Earth each year, study finds https://www.space.com/extraterrestrial-dust-falls-on-earth "The culprit for a majority (around 80%) of this interplanetary dust is the Jupiter family comets. These cosmic snowballs of frozen gases, rock and dust primarily originate in the Kuiper Belt, just beyond the orbit of Neptune." What Dust From Space Tells Us About Ourselves https://www.quantamagazine.org/matt-genge-uses-dust-from-space-to-tell-the-story-of-the-solar-system-20210204/ "For a century, scientists thought that the strange spherules found on the seafloor had dripped off the molten surfaces of larger meteors as they crashed through the atmosphere. In fact, cosmic dust floats here from space rocks hundreds of millions of miles away, bearing tiny messages." Cosmic dust that formed our planets traced to giant stars https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170130133415.htm "Our Solar System is believed to have formed from such a cloud around 4.6 billion years ago, the team says. While most of the grains were destroyed in the process of making new rocks and planets, a small fraction survived and is present in meteorites." ____________________ Elements is more than just a science show. It’s your science-loving best friend, tasked with keeping you updated and interested in the compelling, innovative, and groundbreaking science that's happening all around us. Join our passionate hosts as they help break down and present fascinating science, from quarks to quantum theory and beyond. Seeker empowers the curious to understand the science shaping our world. We tell award-winning stories about the natural forces and groundbreaking innovations that impact our lives, our planet, and our universe. Visit the Seeker website https://www.seeker.com/videos Elements on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SeekerElements/ Subscribe now! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=dnewschannel Seeker on Twitter http://twitter.com/seeker Seeker on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SeekerMedia/ Seeker http://www.seeker.com/

NASA’s Artemis program has teamed up with Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency to create the next generation lunar vehicle — one that is being described as an 'RV for the moon.' » Subscribe to Seeker! http://bit.ly/subscribeseeker » Watch more Elements! http://bit.ly/ElementsPlaylist » Visit our shop at http://shop.seeker.com In the late 2000’s, NASA proposed a concept for a futuristic space vehicle known as the Lunar Electric Rover or LER. It was set to be the first pressurized, 6 wheel omni-drive lunar vehicle enabling astronauts to go on longer research exploration missions. It was customized with a mobile workspace and [7] other really cool features like a shower and a Suitport allowing the astronauts to get in their space suits from inside the vehicle. This was implemented because lunar surface contamination was a real issue in the Apollo program and sometimes dust could damage the instruments or even get into an astronaut’s lungs. The LER prototype made a public appearance at the Obama inauguration as well as performed several test runs in the Arizona desert. It seemed to hit everything we were looking for, distance, energy efficiency, and adaptability. However, the LER never actually made it to the moon, the program was canceled in 2010 as a part of the larger Constellation Program because of delays and over spending. Now, let’s start talking about the new and improved vision from JEDI. Not only does this agreement bring two major players to the table, but it also describes the plans for both Lunar Gateway and lunar surface exploration. This is a huge accomplishment considering JAXA has already begun developing a self-driving, pressurized lunar rover, with the help of a major car company. #NASA #space #moon #Japan #RV #seeker #science #elements Read More: NASA’s first lunar habitat may be an RV-like rover built by Toyota https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/07/nasas-first-lunar-habitat-may-be-an-rv-like-rover-built-by-toyota/ "A senior lunar scientist who participated in the meeting, Notre Dame's Clive Neal, said the announcement that Japan would now lead the development of a pressurized habitat on the Moon came as a surprise." NASA Artemis RV-style lunar rover could be first moon 'base' https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/nasa-artemis-lunar-rover-like-rv-for-the-moon "Having a place to camp out on the lunar surface — even for a couple of weeks — would mark NASA’s first step toward setting up a longer-term base on the moon. And, let’s face it: it also just sounds plain awesome." Driving on the Moon: The 40-Year Legacy of NASA's First Lunar Car https://www.space.com/12482-moon-car-lunar-rover-apollo-15-legacy.html "In the decades since the end of the Apollo program, engineers have looked to the LRVs for cues on how to develop current and future manned and robotic rovers." ____________________ Elements is more than just a science show. It’s your science-loving best friend, tasked with keeping you updated and interested in all the compelling, innovative, and groundbreaking science happening all around us. Join our passionate hosts as they help break down and present fascinating science, from quarks to quantum theory and beyond. Seeker empowers the curious to understand the science shaping our world. We tell award-winning stories about the natural forces and groundbreaking innovations that impact our lives, our planet, and our universe. Visit the Seeker website https://www.seeker.com/videos Elements on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SeekerElements/ Subscribe now! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=dnewschannel Seeker on Twitter http://twitter.com/seeker Seeker on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SeekerMedia/ Seeker http://www.seeker.com/

Kenneth F. Harris II is a 28-year-old engineer at NASA. His job is to defend satellites in orbit. The threats include physical attacks by enemy satellites in space and cyber threats sent from anywhere on Earth. Satellite technology is essential to keep modern civilization humming, and Harris is an expert at keeping orbital assets fully operational. Use of “The Space Show” title does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by The Space Show ® podcast produced by Dr. David Livingston. Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Follow VICE News here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicenews Twitter: https://twitter.com/vicenews Tumblr: http://vicenews.tumblr.com/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/vicenews More videos from the VICE network: https://www.fb.com/vicevideo

Kenneth Harris II works as a mechanical engineer at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Prince George’s County in Maryland. He said he wants to show people of color that there’s a path for them toward STEM careers. More about Harris can be found on his website, www.kennethfharris.com. ——— Don’t miss an NBC Washington video, subscribe here: http://bit.ly/30u6xr2 For more, visit NBCWashington here: http://bit.ly/2YF3nzj On Facebook: http://bit.ly/2w6E24Z On Twitter: http://bit.ly/2HxVh4r

NASA Goddard's lead engineer Kenneth F. Harris II speaks about his experiences and struggles in his work, and how his father played an instrumental part in inspiring him. Filmed, Directed, and Edited by Taylor Mickal Photos courtesy of Kenneth F. Harris Sr & Kenneth F. Harris II Music: "Coalwood" by Mark Isham (modified/slowed down)