From: mk_thisisit
Professor Aleksander Nawrocki, recognized as a highly accomplished Pole at NASA, served as the chief robotics engineer and was also a co-creator of the Java programming language [01:30:17]. His career highlights the significant intersection of advanced technology, space exploration, and industry.
Early Career and Path to NASA
Nawrocki graduated from the Lodz University of Technology in the 1970s, being among the first in Poland to work with the “Odra River” computer system [08:44:03]. His early programming experience involved paper tape and punched card readers [09:01:00]. He later became the youngest director in the history of refrigeration and heavy industry in Poland at 20.5 years old, managing 600 people [09:21:03].
His journey to NASA began after leaving Poland, working in France for Scher [09:42:00]. He then moved to Montreal, Canada, joining one of the largest software companies, where he successfully launched a high-speed data acquisition system for Bombardier that others had struggled with for a year and a half [12:17:00]. This success led him into aerospace, working on satellite communication for Canada, which was the first country to use satellites for telephone communication [13:14:00].
Key Contributions in Space Technology
His work in aerospace positioned him to join the newly formed Canadian Space Agency [14:07:00]. He became involved in the project to create the robotic arm for the space shuttle, a project he led, and which remains in space today [15:30:00], [16:46:00]. The Canadian arm never broke down in orbit, earning the team a very good reputation [17:19:00].
As NASA’s chief robotics engineer, he was responsible for all robotic aspects [19:10:00]. He primarily focused on the Space Station Freedom project, initially budgeted at $14.7 billion to house eight astronauts [17:46:00], [17:53:00]. The space shuttle’s robotic arm was used for various tasks, including carrying astronauts and inspecting the shuttle’s ceramic tiles for damage [19:45:00]. He also became a Mission Controller, one of only 12 people in the main room who make all critical decisions, and was responsible for the first flight built after the Challenger accident [20:18:00].
Co-creation of Java
Beyond his work in space, Nawrocki was a co-creator of the Java programming language [01:32:00], a fact unknown to many Poles [00:31:00]. He was primarily responsible for the real-time programming component [00:41:00]. This project was conducted under the direction of the Institute of Standardization near Washington [24:02:00]. The team’s goal was to create something similar to Ada, a language used by NASA military from the very beginning [24:50:00]. Nawrocki headed the Java consortium for two years [25:44:00].
Understanding Extraterrestrial Phenomena
Regarding extraterrestrial phenomena, Nawrocki believes in extraterrestrial life, but stresses the difficulty of proof due to the immense distances and the speed of light being insufficient for interstellar travel with current technology [02:31:00]. Even to reach Proxima Centauri, our closest star system (4 light-years away), would take 30,000 years with today’s technology [03:02:00], [03:41:00]. He states that NASA and other agencies have no confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial objects crossing Earth’s orbit [04:02:00].
Space agencies often classify information and data due to a perceived lack of complete knowledge, fearing public release could cause an undesirable effect [05:20:00]. This highlights the sensitivity and potential national security implications of space-related information.
Future of Space Exploration
- Mars Mission: While Mars exploration has been discussed since the 1950s (e.g., by Wernher von Braun) [32:10:00], Nawrocki does not believe humans will set foot on Mars before 2030 [33:25:00].
- Lunar Base: He advocates for building a base on the Moon first, which is six times more energy-efficient for a Mars mission and could serve as a “Gateway” space station for safety and development [33:37:00], [34:01:00]. This lunar base would allow astronauts to reload before the long journey to Mars, which could take at least two years for logistics [34:10:00]. Technically, such a base could be built in five years, though financially it presents challenges [34:48:00].
- Purpose of Mars Exploration: Nawrocki emphasizes that Mars exploration is primarily for expanding human knowledge and understanding the laws of physics, potentially even challenging current theories like Einstein’s theory of relativity if faster-than-light travel is achieved [36:43:00].
- Space Tourism: He believes space tourism will become commonplace, though initially only for the wealthy [37:10:00]. He anticipates it could be available within 5-15 years, with technology for low-orbit trips already developed by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin [37:38:00]. These technological advancements and societal impact underscore the evolving relationship between humanity and space.
Engagement with Poland’s Tech Sector
Despite a complex personal history with Poland, Nawrocki retains a sentimental connection to the country [26:43:00]. He runs businesses with teams of programmers in Poland [27:17:17].
He is the president of the Robotics Academy foundation, aiming to engage young people in robotics, believing that the future of robotics and artificial intelligence should be developed at the high school level [38:29:00]. His foundation supports a team from Kraśnik, which represents Poland in international robotics competitions like the Robotics Olympics [38:48:00]. He noted challenges in obtaining funding from the Ministry of Education for this youth initiative, relying on financial self-support and funding from the Ministry of Digital Affairs [39:41:00]. This highlights challenges and opportunities in Polish science and technology.
He observes a significant variance in the skill level of Polish students and suggests that the Polish education system teaches programming too late [40:46:00]. He emphasizes the importance of developing practical skills (the “how-to”) to change the world, beyond just theoretical knowledge [28:40:00]. He also notes that Poland is currently very well-received in the United States, with a shift in perception towards Polish heritage [30:13:00].