Lessons In Leadership — A Cosmic Collaboration

By Neil Curtis, DVP Sales, Marketing, and Service, Zygo Corporation

Inside the International Space Station (ISS) was a controlled symphony of switches, screens, and buttons, each contributing to the harmonious dance of human ingenuity and scientific progress. 

Amidst this orchestrated complexity, an astronaut floated weightlessly, her eyes fixed on the universe beyond a window in the ISS’s cupola. Through the clear pane, she saw the awe-inspiring beauty of Earth, a swirling ball of blue and green suspended in the velvet embrace of space. It was a view that humbled the most intrepid of explorers, reminding them of their infinitesimal place in the grand tapestry of existence. 

“I recall feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the cupola windows, giving me the incredible privilege of gazing back at the awe-inspiring beauty of our planet”, says retired Astronaut Karen Nyberg, who flew on ISS Expedition 36/37 (May 28 to November 10, 2013). “I was not only captivated by the mesmerizing view, but also reminded of the remarkable workmanship and unwavering dedication of individuals who brought them into existence. The windows serve as our shield, protecting us from the unforgiving harshness of space. They provide both a breath-taking perspective and a vital barrier against the inhospitable environment. For that, I am eternally grateful to the skilled visionaries who made them possible.” 

Many brilliant minds had worked in unison to achieve such perfection. In that moment, Nyberg glimpsed the unspoken collaboration of countless engineers and scientists who had transformed the impossible into reality. The windows embodied the unwavering determination of humanity to push boundaries, to reach beyond what was known, and to grasp the secrets of the universe.