HBR IdeaCast

NASA’s Science Head on Leading Space Missions with Risk of Spectacular Failure

Oct 18, 2022

In this enlightening discussion, Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's Head of Science, dives into the high-stakes world of space missions. He details a groundbreaking asteroid mission, emphasizing teamwork and budget management. Zurbuchen reflects on his remarkable journey from Switzerland to leading innovative projects at NASA. He underscores the importance of embracing failure to foster creativity and shares his insights on maintaining accountability while pushing technological boundaries. This chat is a testament to the power of effective leadership in challenging environments.

29:30

Creator website

Episode guests

Thomas Zurbuchen

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

From Mountain Village to NASA: A Journey in Astrophysics

10min

Fostering Innovation Through Embracing Failure

4min

Balancing Innovation and Budget in Space Missions

11min

Reflecting on Leadership and Legacy in Space Science

3min

In 2021, the U.S. space agency NASA launched a spacecraft toward a pair of asteroids more than 11 million kilometers away. The target? The smaller of the two asteroids, just 170 meters wide. The success of the $300 million, seven-year project demanded careful coordination of scientists, engineers, and project managers across different national space agencies. It also required strong leadership from NASA's head of science, Thomas Zurbuchen. He shares his path to an executive role at NASA, his management philosophies, and how he oversees trailblazing space missions with high risk of failure.

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