People

Alison Spalding’s: Fostering Kindness One Backpack at a Time

When asked about the future of Fostering Kindness, Alison Spalding remains characteristically measured. “We don’t need to change the world,” she says. “But if we can give these children a little more hope and dignity, we’re doing something right.”

The Overview Effect: A Profound Shift in Consciousness

The vision behind this movement extends beyond individual transformation; it seeks to inspire collective change. By bringing The Overview Effect and Frank White’s Vision “down to Earth,” White aims to encourage a shift in global consciousness, helping people recognize the interconnectedness of all life on the planet.

Kirby Runyon: From Early Passion to Planetary Science

Runyon became a coach for the Zero Gravity Corporation in 2021. “It was such a thrill to help people experience what it feels like to be in zero gravity,” he says. “It’s one thing to read about space, but it’s another to feel it.”

Mike Leinbach: Redefining Leadership in Space Exploration

Following the Columbia disaster, Leinbach became an advocate for safety. He championed significant changes in NASA’s safety protocols and risk management strategies. His voice carried weight, and his influence continued to shape NASA’s space exploration efforts. His contributions to NASA’s Mission Management Team, established after the Challenger disaster, were vital in refining decision-making processes. “We must never rush,” Leinbach insisted, advocating for ‘schedule awareness’ rather than ‘schedule pressure.’

Burt Dicht: Leading NSS to Space Advocacy and Education

Dicht’s own passion for space was kindled by the Apollo missions. He vividly recalls watching Apollo 8 enter lunar orbit—an experience that sparked his interest in space and led him toward a career in aerospace engineering.