[boris]

"I ,myself, was inspired to study Aerospace Engineering due to the likes of Star Trek and 2001."

Heinlein got me.

While an undergraduate in engineering, I "burned out" and spent a week missing classes and reading SF. I picked up Heinlein's "juvenile" Space Cadet and it reinspired me. I credit him with helping me get back to study and my degree.

Later, at M.I.T., I briefly dated Margaret Minsky (Marvin's daughter). I told her my story above and she looked at me with pity. Waving her hand broadly to indicate the entire Institute campus, she said, "Two-thirds of us are here because of Heinlein!"

--Boris

[AndrewC]

By His Bootstraps

[PatrickHenry]

Two-thirds of us are here [MIT] because of Heinlein!

Back in the glory days of the space program, that was also true at Cape Canaveral.