For as long as he can remember, Russell Orr has had a passion for all things involving science and space exploration.
The education specialist at The Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee, said he remembers asking his father what electrons were while they were out for a drive one day, before he was tall enough to see out the car window.
"I always thought science was so neat because it could do things that you don't expect to see," Orr said.
That's why, when NASA sent out an invitation to serve as a Solar System Ambassador in 2018, Orr responded to the call.
According to NASA's website, the Solar System Ambassadors program works with motivated volunteers across the nation to share the latest science and discoveries of NASA's space exploration missions through a variety of events that inspire their communities.
"The main thing we want to do is engage with the community and get people as excited about space exploration as we are," Orr said.
Being a Solar System Ambassador for 2018, he said, means he will be holding four different free programs where he talks to people about the moon, the solar system or current space missions.
"There are all sorts of ways to learn about space, and there are lots of different approaches to get folks excited about it," he said.
Through working at The Discovery Park, Orr has already worked with NASA in several different ways over the years. He said every experience has helped prepare him for this new adventure.
"I love seeing the faces of children who are excited about learning," Orr said. "I absolutely adore it. It's very easy to get children excited about space exploration at Discovery Park."
Often, he said, he will allow children to touch a real rock from outer space.
"Who wouldn't want to do that?" Orr said. "Our exhibits are filled with different things that apply to the solar system and space exploration, and I get to show it to them right there. It makes it quite easy to get people interested in science and space when you have all the things right in front of you."
Orr said he remembers he had all kinds of aspirations when he was younger.
One book in school, "How Did We Find Out About Black Holes?" by Issac Asimov, changed everything for him.
"Every day in class, I read that book," Orr said.
Being so intrigued by the book, Orr said he snuck it into his backpack and took it home to read.
"I really did intend to only take it home for the weekend," Orr said. "But I would read it and read it and learn more and more about space and what was inside of the sun and all kinds of things. Eventually, I realized what I had done was wrong."
At the end of the school year, he said he returned the book to his teacher in tears, explaining that he had just liked it so much that he wanted to take it home.
Instead of being angry that he had taken the book, Orr said, his teacher had written "To Russell Orr" on the back page.
"I still have that book," Orr said. "I read it every once in a while."
Orr said he is indebted to his parents and the teachers who showed him how fascinating science could be.
"I sure hope I am even close to that good in getting people interested in science," Orr said. "I love to teach anybody who comes in and wants to listen."
For Orr, being a Solar System Ambassador changes things for him because of the special resources available to him through the SSA program.
"I'm very lucky and blessed to do what I do," Orr said. "Doing a thing you love is so very rare, and I'm so grateful that I do."
To learn more about becoming a Solar System Ambassador for NASA, visit their website, www.nasa.gov.
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