TR;DL: I’ll leave JPL and join Georgia Tech as an associate prof in July. I'm looking for students and post-docs in robotics, AI/ML, and space systems. If interested, LMK via the form below: https://lnkd.in/g3HE9At7 --- Dear my six-year-old self, on August 25, 1989, 1. Now that Voyager 2 is flying away from Neptune, your dream is firmly taking shape. Your space-geek father watched the Voyager news with excitement every day, and that excitement infected you. You were captivated by the beautiful blue planet—and by the idea that a small machine, engineered by humans, could travel across the vast solar system for 12 years, reach its farthest planet, send back stunning images, and make profound discoveries. That’s when you decided: you want to join JPL and build a spacecraft like Voyager. That will become your lifelong dream. Would you be surprised if I told you that your dream will come true in 24 years? That you will help program autonomous driving for a Mars rover, work on AI for future spacecraft, and lead a team building a snakebot called EELS—one that may one day explore the subsurface ocean of Enceladus, a small icy moon of Saturn, in search of alien life? All of these incredible things have happened to me — and will happen to you — at JPL. And you will be a father. Wouldn’t it be amazing? You will get the most precious gems in the whole universe. And the boy will look exactly like you! He will build LEGO rovers. The girl will sometimes draw EELS for you. They will be amazed when you point to the red planet in the sky and tell them your code is working there. They won’t say it, but you can feel that they are proud of your work. Nothing will make you happier. Indeed, you will come to realize that working at JPL is not just exciting—it is deeply meaningful. Not simply because we build cool spacecraft. We do so to seek answers to the most fundamental questions of humanity – the questions about our existence. How did the universe start? How did life emerge? Are we alone in the universe? You will soon start asking these questions. And they will stick in your mind. Well, answering those questions won’t make anyone materialistically rich. It won’t save people suffering from poverty or diseases. But always be true to your heart. There are things humans must do even if they will never make money. 2. Would you think I’m crazy if I told you I’ll leave JPL? Why? Not because your dream will change—but because JPL will. (Hit the character limit...) Continue on my blog: https://lnkd.in/gfGeu9_w
Adriana Wall
1w
Hiro, I will miss your passion for the work in Robotics. GT is very lucky to have you. I will miss you and your smile and your enthusiasm for the mission. There has been so much change, I get why you need to leave. All I can say, is that JPL will always be with you, it’s in your DNA. You will always take that passion with you. I hope to see you before you leave. I enjoyed being your business partner. You made sure to keep me sharp and engaged. Your passion was and will always be contagious. Never loose that my friend.
Cindy Chiu
1w
What an incredible journey, Hiro!! I'm so excited for your next chapter. You were one of my early mentors in propelling me towards the space environment and I'm forever grateful. I'm so happy that you'll be taking on this role to inspire and share your wealth of knowledge with the next generation of planetary explorers! Wishing you the best!! Ad Astra!
Wow Hiro, I loved getting the chance to work with you at JPL! Georgia Tech is very luck to have you, but I know you will be hugely missed at JPL. Wishing you the best in your new adventure, and move across the country!
Congratulations Hiro, I'm looking forward to seeing what you create
Your imagination and ingenuity on EELS has been an inspiration to me for years! I can't wait to see what you do next.
Thank you for all you have done for students over the years. Wishing you so much luck and appreciate you so much!
I remember glancing at the EELS design during a brief while I was interning at JPL! I was blown away by the concept. So imaginative and complex
Congratulations, Hiro! Sad day for JPL but a good day for Georgia Tech. They are lucky to have you. Enjoy academia! I am sure you will.
Beautiful words. I'm so sorry, but you will rock in anything you do. They can never take the JPL spirit from you!
“…I told my boss that I would leave JPL. But to be honest, I feel that it is JPL who is leaving me.” I feel that Hiro. If it helps, I believe it does not matter where the frontier gets pushed, just that it does. There are true dreamers everywhere, and now I’ll know one in Atlanta ;-)