Inspiring science

Re: “Mars InSight spacecraft lands on Red Planet”, (Online, Nov 27).

The news reminds me of a British-educated Thai engineer who said he worked at Nasa in the early 70s and who was a chief designer of landing systems for the Mars space probes Viking 1 and Viking 2.

The Bangkok Post should do a story on Dr Art-ong Jumsai Na Ayudhya, whom I found fascinating and awe-inspiring. According to his interview with a TV variety show 10 years ago, his Mars landing designs failed three times. All tested landers crashed and burned.

Disappointed, he secluded himself on a mountain somewhere in California to meditate. After four days of meditation, a new idea popped up in his head and, you guessed it, he succeeded the fourth time. The Viking 1 lander touched down perfectly on the surface of Mars on July 20, 1976, and was joined by the Viking 2 lander on Sept 3.

According to Dr Art-ong, Nasa offered him US citizenship and a salary 20 times what he was making, from US$2,000 per month to $40,000 per month! (Remember it was 1976). He declined and moved back to Thailand to teach at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Engineering.

Dr Art-Ong now serves as the Chief Administrator of Sathya Sai School in Lop Buri province.

His story should inspire students and young Thais to study more science, especially at a time when we are way oversupplied with graduates of business management, the arts and social studies.

SOMSAK POLA