Desert Bus for Hope is excited to welcome Bobak Ferdowsi, Systems Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He will be calling in today, Monday, November 18 at 5pm PST.
Bobak Ferdowsi was born in Philadelphia and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. When he was eleven he moved to Tokyo with his parents and attended the American School in Japan. After his graduation in 1997 he attended the University of Washington where he majored in his childhood dream of aerospace engineering.
In 2001 Bobak enrolled at MIT and later joined the Lean Aerospace Initiative. In late 2003, Bobak joined the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and began work on the Mars Science Laboratory and Cassini-Huygens missions, the latter of which he acted as Science Planner.
Despite his impressive body of work it was his hairstyle that won him mainstream attention. During the landing of the Curiosity on Mars Bobak was seated prominently in frame and the media took notice of his unique Mohawk haircut. Bobak soon became a symbol of the landing. His hair even received a nod from President Barack Obama, who said, “”it does seem NASA has come a long way from the white shirts, dark-rimmed glasses, and pocket protectors. You guys are a little cooler than you used to be.” Bobak has used his newfound meme status to aid campaign for a greater number of visas for skilled immigrants in the fields of math, science, and engineering.
If you have questions for Bobak, please put them in the comments below.
Have you landed on Duna in Kerbal Space Program? If so, did you build a skycrane to do it?
How should a new uncle with two nieces try to encourage them to engage in scientific and skeptical thinking?
Have you seen Space Brothers? If so, do you think it will help inspire a new generation to be excited about the space program?
What one major unanswered question in your field would you like to see answered in your lifetime?
Topic: Mars One Initiative
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the Mars One Initiative, it is a an effort to crowd source the first stage of a manned mission to Mars. As you are an employee of NASA who has a more than passing association with Mars, I would like your opinion on the subject.
What were you like in high school/college?
Dear Dr. Ferdowsi,
Do you own any ukuleles, and if so, how many?
As one of the Sexiest Scientists, when can we expect a calendar?
Have other mission control personnel started shaving shapes into their hair to grab attention during launches? If not, why not?
Besides the Mars Science Lander, which current or upcoming space mission do you think is the most interesting? Why?
Hey Son- This is your Not Parents. Will you be home for dinner? Ever? @NotBobak’sParents
If colonization of Mars was possible, and you decided to move to there, what five things would you bring that you wouldn’t be able to live without?
Dear Dr. Ferdowsi,
I teach science to freshmen education students entering college. One of our lessons is over the Speed of Light, E=mc2 as well as science fiction topics related to them. What are some cool NASA experiments/theories I can use to get them interested in these type of astronomy topics?
What is the 5th most interesting thing about space that you know?
Do you image the number of people who have crossed the Kármán line will exceed the number of people who have ridden in a fighter jet in our lifetime?
If you could have a beetle answer any 3 questions what would they be?
Thank you for taking some time to answer weird questions from strangers!
Two parts: first, what got you interested in space as a kid?
Second, what can kids do to get a job that’s as cool as yours education-wise?
Thanks Again! ^_^
Whoops, “Mars Science Laboratory” above.
So, what great achievements have the people at JPL accomplished in playing Kerbal Space Program?
Are you maintaining the Mowhawk for yourself or for everybody?
If you had infinite funding, what projct would you complete and why?
What is your favorite planet? Also favorite star? Another astronomical favorite?
While at MIT, did you live in Building 37 or Building 17? Also, how freakishly awesome are the Cassini images? Can we expect similar quality from Juno?
Do you know of FIRST robotics? Have you ever worked with a team?
I saw you played Magic vs Day9 on SpellSlingers what is your colour of choice?
Do you own any ukuleles? If so, how many?
What do you think about the Grasshopper launch vehicle?
Also, who (as in what person) was your biggest inspiration?
How do you feel about kerbal space program?
Is there actually a spaceship in development, for the purposes of shooting a reality tv series of human life on Mars, that’s also a one-way trip to Mars?
Do you have anything you hope to find in the New Horizons mission?
When you became “Mohawk Guy” what did you mom/dad think the first few days?
Leave a Reply