As a journalist, I have always been fascinated by the Voyager missions and their impact on my life. Not only did they influence my career path, but they also played a significant role in the timing of my children’s births. I often joke with my daughters, Jennifer and Jessica, that the planets aligned for their arrival in our family during a five-year window between the Voyager flybys of Saturn in 1981 and Uranus in 1986. Interestingly, the same timing applied to other Voyager moms like my friends Candy Hansen and Sue Linick, who also started their families during this period.
As experiment representatives for Voyager instruments on a scan platform, we were all passionate about our work and shared a unique bond. Candy worked on the Imaging Science Subsystem, Sue on the Ultraviolet Spectrometer, and Bob Nelson on the Photopolarimeter. In a photograph captured during our time as experiment reps, our heads are carefully positioned to mimic the placement of our respective instruments on the Voyager scan platform. The shared experience of working on Voyager and starting families during this time created a bond among us that continues to this day.
Fully embracing the adventures and discoveries of Voyager not only shaped my professional journey but also played a role in the personal milestones that defined my life. Working with such an incredible team gave me a sense of purpose and helped me achieve my goals both personally and professionally.