Jim Garrett

[wpbinzel]

Jim –

I wanted to add my best and good wishes for you as well.

I had the good fortune to spend part of this week at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, which was the mission control center for the New Horizons probe to Pluto. (My brother is one of the leaders of the New Horizons Science Team.) I was there Tuesday evening when New Horizons “phoned home” and confirmed that the mission was a success.

The reason I mention this is that as I met and spoke with members of the New Horizons’ team, I was struck by the incredible power of the human spirit. New Horizons was launched in January 2006, and has taken 9.5 years to arrive at its destination. Over a decade of work went into the mission before it was launched. These men and women persevered in spite of long odds, and professional and personal challenges – including, in at least two instances of which I am aware, cancer.

So as you face the challenges ahead, I hope the events of this week may be an inspiration. That, and the knowledge that you have a lot of acquaintances and friends who are pulling for you as well.

Bill Binzel