9-Year-Old Applies to Be NASA Planetary Protection Officer

Interested in NASA's Planetary Protection Officeholder position? There'southward still time to apply, simply NASA has already received applications from potent candidates, like ix-year-sometime Jack Davis.

The New Jersey fourth grader sent a pretty disarming cover letter to the space agency last week expressing his interest in the position, which comes with a salary of $124,406 to $187,000 per year.

"I may be nine but I think I would be a fit for the job," he writes. "One of the reasons is my sis says I am an alien."

Planetary protection officer

Davis also points out that he's seen Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.Eastward.L.D. and "nigh all the infinite and alien movies I can," adding that he nonetheless hasn't watched Men in Black, only hopes to do that before long.

Some other one of his qualifications: "I am bang-up at video games."

Davis saves his virtually convincing argument for terminal: "I am immature, so I can acquire to think like an alien," he writes.

In response, NASA'southward Planetary Science Director, Jim Green, encouraged Davis to "study hard and exercise well in school."

"We are always looking for bright hereafter scientists and engineers to assistance us," Light-green added. "Nosotros hope to run across you hither at NASA one of these days!"

The position, which has been around since the 1960s, has "generated a lot of excitement in the public" since the posting went up concluding month, NASA said. The office "is most protecting Earth from tiny microbes when we bring back samples from the Moon, asteroids, and Mars," co-ordinate to Greenish'southward letter. On pinnacle of that, the Planetary Protection Officer volition also be tasked with "protecting other planets and moons from our germs as we responsibly explore the Solar System."

If you, too, are interested in the role, you lot have until Aug. xiv to apply.

"Although the Planetary Protection Officer position may not be in existent-life what the championship conjures up, it does play an of import role in promoting the responsible exploration of our solar system by preventing microbial contamination of other planets and our own," NASA wrote.

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Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag's expert on fitness and smart home products. Teaching yoga for nearly 10 years has helped her in evaluating a range of continued health products including fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela also tests smart abode devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to proper noun a few.