Thread: Hi from SpaceCadet

I just found this forum through Facebook. I graduated in 1982 with a B.S. in Physics, Math, and Comp. Science. The first few years of my career, I actually used physics while doing work on stealth technology and advanced antenna design for spacecraft. Then, I had to switch to software engineering for survival. I've been doing software engineering and systems engineering since then. I've worked on the Mars Observer spacecraft, Mars Global Surveyor, some LEO Air Force technology demonstration sats, and some black projects that I can't talk about.

I just recently started relearning some of the physics that I've forgotten, but I've been reading popularized books all along. The most recent one, which had a big impact on me, was The Cosmic Jackpot by Paul Davies.

Why cant physicists just do physics? We end up writing SOPs and doing QA work and mechanical engineering and all kinds of other distractions. How are we going to make progress at this rate? We have the skills and the knowledge to solve our energy crisis and debt crisis now, but our hands are tied behind our backs?