Voyager’s Influence: A Family Affair and an Unforgettable Experience

Growing up, I was heavily influenced by the plot of Voyager, both professionally and personally. Not only did it impact my career trajectory, but it also played a significant role in the timing of my children’s births. My daughters, Jennifer and Jessica, often joke that the planets aligned for their arrival during a five-year window between the Voyager flybys of Saturn in 1981 and Uranus in 1986.

In addition to me, other Voyager moms like my friends Candy Hansen and Sue Linick also started their families during this period. As a result, our children grew up together, forming strong bonds as they navigated childhood alongside each other.

Interestingly, we were all experiment representatives for Voyager instruments on a scan platform during our time as experiment reps. 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 unique 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.