In the final keynote of the 2024 Space Education and Strategic Applications (SESA) Conference, Carl Starr took the audience on an inspiring journey. Professor Starr is a part-time instructor for the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and he obtained a master’s degree in space studies at the University.

Starr began his presentation by telling a story about his boyhood fascination with space. His family lived in New Mexico and his mother once discovered him lying in a field of alfalfa, staring up at the stars.

When she asked what Starr was doing, he replied, “I want to fly one of those!” and pointed to a satellite gliding across the sky. His mother told him, “You can do anything you want.”

Space Exploration Is More Than Rockets and Astronauts

During his presentation, Starr broke down the space industry into three key areas:

• Commercial space ventures
• Military space operations
• Scientific research

Starr invited the audience to consider these areas of the space industry not as distant or impossible, but as places where anyone – whether they were building rockets or working behind the scenes – could make a mark.

The Commercial Space Revolution

The commercial space industry, according to Starr, is absolutely “booming.” He noted that companies like SpaceX^®, Blue Origin^®, and Virgin Galactic^® are pushing boundaries and making space exploration feel more within reach than ever. From satellite launches to space tourism, private enterprises are lowering costs and increasing accessibility in ways that seemed like science fiction just a decade ago.

But space is not just about astronauts or engineers. Starr highlighted the often-overlooked roles that are just as critical to space missions – like ground support, logistics and even regulatory roles.

He even had a fun anecdote about a friend who works for what he calls the “Better Business Bureau for space.” This organization ensures commercial organization leaders act ethically as they explore space.

“Space isn’t just for people building rockets,” Starr observed. “There’s a whole lot of work going on down here to make sure things up there actually happen.”

The Military’s Role in Space: Securing the Final Frontier

The military has a unique relationship with space. Starr shared some eye-opening details about how satellites are essential to nearly every military operation, whether it’s communication, intelligence activities or troop movements.

But with that reliance comes vulnerability. “Satellites are basically sitting ducks,” Starr remarked and explained how countries like Russia and China have developed weapons capable of disabling or destroying valuable satellites. The stakes are high, and space is now a critical battleground for maintaining homeland security.

Starr also explained the growing trend of rideshare rocket launches. For these launches, military and commercial payloads share space on the same rocket.

JWST’s Window into the Early Universe

Starr rose from a boyhood fascination with space technology to leading the mission operations team for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). When Starr began talking about the James Web Space Telescope, it was easy to sense his pride and excitement. He described the monumental achievements made possible by the telescope’s advanced technology – a project Starr labored on for over 20 years.

Starr described how the James Webb Space Telescope gave scientists the ability to look back over 13 billion years to observe galaxies that came into being just after the Big Bang. One standout discovery was Maisie’s Galaxy, which was detected just 400 million years after the Big Bang.

“It’s wild to think that JWST lets us see something that old. I mean, 13 billion years? That’s like looking back in time,” Starr said, still awestruck. “And the crazy part? We’ve only scratched the surface.”

To make his point, Starr compared images from the James Webb Space Telescope to images taken by the older Spitzer Space Telescope. The difference was stunning.

“People did incredible science with Spitzer,” Starr explained. “But when you see what JWST can do now, it’s like going from a blurry Polaroid to a 4K HD image.”

He shared some of the telescope’s most striking images, including one of Cassiopeia A, a supernova remnant (the aftermath of an exploded star) located 11,000 lightyears away. The telescope captured unprecedented detail that reveals the intricate structures within the remnants of Cassiopeia A.

“It’s the kind of image that just leaves you speechless,” Starr said. “And the best part? We’re going to keep finding more.”

The Space Industry Has a Wide Variety of Potential Career Paths

Throughout his presentation, Carl Starr emphasized that space exploration is the ultimate team sport. “You don’t have to be an astronaut to make a difference,” he said.

Carl Starr mentioned that whether you’re an engineer, a communications expert or an information technology (IT) professional, there are a variety of job opportunities available in the space industry. He noted, “It takes a whole ecosystem to keep missions running, and everyone’s role is important. It’s not just the folks on the rockets – those of us on the ground are making it happen, too.”

Starr also shared a bit about the future of the space industry’s workforce. “With more jobs going remote, it’s even easier for people to contribute to space missions without being in the same physical location. During the pandemic, we had over 200 people working on JWST’s launch remotely – double the number who were on site!”

Carl Starr encouraged audience members to get involved in space, regardless of their background. “The industry needs people from all sorts of fields. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist. You could be a database administrator, a cybersecurity specialist, or someone who just loves astronomy. There’s a place for you.”

He also mentioned that space-related degrees can provide a solid foundation for gaining the knowledge to seek job opportunities in the space industry. “The University is doing incredible work preparing students for roles in space. And I can tell you – they’re ready.”

The Future of Space Is Now, According to Carl Starr

Carl Starr’s presentation was a technical dive into space exploration, but also captured the child-like wonder of stargazing. Most importantly, his presentation put a spotlight on all the exciting opportunities that space exploration contains for people who dare to dream big and work hard enough.  

Starr’s message was clear: “Space is for everyone. It’s not about how far away it is – it’s about what we can do to get there.”

So, what’s next for Carl Starr? “Honestly,” he smiled, “I’m just excited to see what we discover tomorrow.”

SpaceX is a registered trademark of the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation.

Blue Origin is a registered trademark of Blue Origin, LLC.

Virgin Galactic is a registered trademark of Virgin Enterprises, Ltd.