Well folks, it looks like my efforts to break into the space industry have all been for nought. Despite three and a half years of efforts to secure a position (and nearly bankrupting myself in the process) I find that the financial industry is much more accomodating for someone seeking to develop a career, and the overall level of professionalism (and compendsation) is much higher.

The last of many nails in the coffin was my receipt this week of a form rejection letter from NASA Goddard indicating that I did not meet the "minimum qualfications [sic]" for a business management specialist position, basically someone who reviews budgets and expenditures, analyzes variances, etc.

This despite the fact that I have over ten years professional experience in the financial industry analyzing companies, administering multi-billion dollar loan portfolios, and so forth. This is coupled with a Master of Space Studies degree from the International Space University and direct work experience in the space field at Boeing and the NASA Academy.

Of course, NASA was at least courteous enough to send a rejection letter. Most companies in the space field can't be bothered. Heck, they can't even be bothered to return phone calls or e-mails. So, I've had it. Enough is enough. Back to the wild world of international finance (my current position will involve management of a portfolio of Collateralised Debt and Loan Obligations, including the French language portfolio given my fluency in that language). It's challenging, detail-oriented, and offers numerous career advancement opportunities.

Space offers me nothing despite all my efforts. It's certainly been quite an adventure, visiting Goddard, Langley, Wallops, NASA HQ, Kennedy, Johnson, Orbital Sciences, JHU-APL, Snecma, EADS, CNES, ESOC, Astrium, the VLA, and many more places. Working on Boeing's proposal to JPL for the Mars Sample Return (including helping to design the science architecture), working at the NASA Academy this last summer, meeting Sean O'Keefe at Congressional hearings, meeting with CNES and CSA for business development work for the Academy. Visiting the Tyco Brahe Planetarium in Copenhagen, the Planetarium in Amsterdam, the Observatory in Strasbourg. Going to adult Space Camp and winning the Right Stuff medal. Serving as a youth delegate to the Space Generation Forum at UNISPACE III in Vienna back in 1999. Working at the first Yuri's Night in Los Angeles. Attending the World Space Congress and STAIF. Conducting a Model UN on the Outer Space treaties for over 300 NYC high school kids. Talking to elementary school classes about space. Meeting hundreds of great young folks from all over the world working in all different aspects of the space program. Visiting places that most folks will never get to see up close.

All for nought but a nice set of souvenir scrapbooks.

Y'all have fun, I'm out of here.

Cheers,
"kadet" Ken Murphy
(Space: 1999-2002)