Saturn's Colorful Rings, Up Close

Typically we feature our own pieces in The Rugged Elegance Inspiration Network. But this editorial discovered in The Fort Collins Coloradoan was so good we had to ask permission to publish the whole piece.

Thank you Coloradoan editorial page editor, Kathleen Duff.

Duff wrote:

Every once in a while, hard facts, technology and data are rightfully eclipsed by out-of-this world emotions.

Such is the case with the Cassini spacecraft, which has traveled gracefully into space and provided the first close-up photographs of Saturn's rings.

The spacecraft will tour Saturn and its surroundings for at least four years, depending on when its fuel runs out, studying a planetary neighborhood that mimics the solar system and should provide clues to its formation more than 4 billion years ago and, perhaps, to the origins of life, according to The Associated Press.

In the past week, though, the nuts and bolts and price ($3.3 billion) of the project was replaced momentarily by the unfettered wonder of space. Who couldn't be moved at veteran scientists, engineers and researchers as they pushed aside their sophisticated knowledge, replacing it with childlike awe as photographs began to be transmitted of Saturn's rings. They reacted to their work with pride and an inspiring passion not often seen in such technical endeavors, or in just about any endeavor you want to name.

Wouldn't it be glorious if in all of our workplaces, no matter how small or big the achievement, we could find the same pride and passion in our accomplishments? As the Cassini-Huygens mission moves forward, perhaps one of its side benefits will be that this tiny spacecraft and its human team will inspire the rest of us to find or create things in our professional lives that make us want to jump to the heavens with joy.

NASA, which is a partner on the project, has had its share of tragedies. In the past few days, the agency and its associates have found a way to embrace triumph again. Let their resourcefulness be an example for us all.

Charles Elachi (right) high fives Bob Mitchell (left) AP Photo Credit: John Kennedy

Congratulations Cassini Program Manager, Bob Mitchell, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director, Charles Elachi, the California Insitute of Technology's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Flight Operations team, NASA, the European Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency (called Agenzia Spaziale Italiana), and the entire crew who have shared their passion and success with the rest of the world. We are watching and cheering along with you.

Inspired & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and passionate living!

~ Jennifer King

P.S. Thank you again Kathleen Duff and REK for inspiring Rugged Elegance to share this story with our audience.

For more information, go to one of the links above or:

"Saturn Spotlight - Journey to a Ringed World: Why Go to Saturn" at NASA.gov