Letting Go of a Dream: Dr. Kimberly Robinson on 31 Years at NASA

Letting go of a dream does not make you a failure. Dr. Kimberly Robinson, a 31-year NASA veteran, former astronaut trainer, and former CEO of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, talks about the astronaut who changed the course of her life at a high school awards ceremony, the eyesight rule that closed the door on her own astronaut dream, and why she stopped defining herself by one title. A NASA astronaut in a blue flight suit flew in on a T-38 to hand a Birmingham high school student an award, and that student decided on the spot what her life would be. She never caught the astronaut's name, and she spent years trying to find her so she could say thank you. She also talks about taking over the U.S. Space & Rocket Center when it could not promise to pay her salary, and what young people around the world are looking for when they picture a technical career: the next handhold, not the whole route up the mountain. ▶️ Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XFQgXbK226I CHAPTERS 00:00 The astronaut who flew in on a T-38 00:20 What if one moment you didn't choose set your course 01:28 Meet Dr. Kimberly Robinson 03:51 Faith and belief in yourself 04:38 Prayer, meditation, and choosing the day 05:07 The award that changed everything 06:31 "Women shouldn't be in this field" 07:35 The astronaut dream that didn't happen 09:05 "Women of True Grit" and the grain of sand 11:06 The eyesight rule 12:14 "Now you've waited too long" 13:04 A missed dream doesn't make you a failure 14:26 Finding another route to the same vision 15:27 Don't define yourself by one title 18:11 Turning around to help others 19:30 "We may not be able to pay your salary" 21:06 Tuskegee Airmen, Victor Glover, and the look in kids' eyes 22:16 You can't see yourself in a career until you see someone doing it 24:03 Training astronauts 24:56 Looking for the next handhold 26:08 Years spent trying to say thank you 28:07 The moon landing was a human achievement 30:01 Where to find Kimberly WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY A dream you never reach can still set the direction of your whole career. Most people don't need the whole route up the mountain, just the next handhold. Nobody pictures themselves in a career until they meet someone doing it. ABOUT DR. KIMBERLY ROBINSON Dr. Kimberly Robinson spent 31 years at NASA, starting at Marshall Space Flight Center as a propulsion engineer. She trained astronauts, helped develop the Space Launch System, and served as payload mission manager for Artemis I. She led the U.S. Space & Rocket Center as CEO from 2021 to 2025, and was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2025. Kimberly Robinson on LinkedIn STAY CONNECTED Every episode: drivenlivin.com/the-wellness-driven-life-show Newsletter: drivenlivin.substack.com/subscribe The Drive Collective: drivenlivin.com/community PRODUCTION CREDITS Hosted and executive produced by April Chavez. Video production by Manlee J. Chavez. Music by Steve Stuntz. Guest agreements and disclaimer: drivenlivin.com/guest-agreements