December 24, 2024

To our valued NES customers and associates,

When the holiday season is upon us, we often wish each other health, happiness and good fortune.
There are external factors that can impact one’s ability to experience those good wishes, but the bulk of the responsibility rests on our own shoulders. It is most important for us to recognize and accept that the awesome gift of life comes with the continuous responsibility of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It’s a duty that cannot be overshadowed by the demands of school, work, family or personal passions. To be balanced in all our endeavors requires a healthy body. All other challenges are made easier when we are committed to maintaining an active lifestyle. The sooner this is realized the stronger we become in all aspects of life. But it’s never too late to refocus one’s responsibility to fitness. We can still enjoy the cheer of the holiday season, but moderation and exercise make us feel better about who we are and what we can do. I often say, it’s just as easy to say what you can do to be active as it is to say what you can’t do. The difference when acting on the first is the difference in your overall health, happiness and good fortune.

I recently read an article by NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin about Bill Anders, who died this year at age 90 while piloting his airplane. Anders was a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and part of NASA’s third astronaut class. Aldrin described Andrews as, “naturally intrepid, a pioneer and part of Apollo 8’s historic crew.” The back story is that the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions were tightly scheduled in a race to the Moon with the Soviet Union. Apollo 8 wasn’t intended to go to the Moon, being only the second crewed launch. It followed the death of three astronauts on the ground in Apollo 1, five uncrewed launches and Apollo 7, which tested the command module systems.

Apollo 8 was planned for near Earth orbit testing of the lunar module, but the module wasn’t ready. Waiting for its completion might allow the Soviets to circumnavigate the Moon before us and claim victory. NASA rolled the dice with Apollo 8 launching on the massive Saturn V, which had never launched humans and shot for the moon, becoming the first manned mission to leave Earth’s orbit, circumnavigate the moon and return. Space flight was and still is risky business but Bill Anders along with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell accepted all the risk. The mission occurred over Christmas in 1968, and the crew read from Genesis, led by Bill Ander with, “In the beginning …”

Apollo 11 is remembered as pioneering mankind’s first lunar landing, but Apollo 11 crewman Mike Collins said that Apollo 8 was more significant than Apollo 11 if for nothing else than the sheer daring of the mission. Anders’ iconic photograph of “Earthrise” was the first human journey so far from home. Anders called Earth from the distance of the Moon a “very delicate, colorful orb, which to me looked like a Christmas tree ornament.”
His description is truthful and fitting for the season.
The acceptance of risk and responsibility to achieve greatness is inspirationally portrayed through the accomplishment of the Apollo missions and men like Bill Anders. In Aldrin’s own words, “Bill was a leader, believer and doer of the first order,”
He is an inspiration to all of us as we embark on a new year and push our personal limits to do more than is asked of us and expect less than what is offered in our pursuit of happiness.

This month we discuss the process and skills necessary to be successful at reverse engineering bearings. It’s very wholistic. Whether you are a professional athlete or a professional in bearing reverse engineering you need to be very good in all areas of the game to be successful. NES is the leader in reverse engineering bearings for the aerospace industry. It isn’t by chance. We put a lot of effort into each project to ensure the success of the approval process and the new bearing in the application.
Let’s roll into 2025 with inspiration!

Best regards,
Chris Napoleon
President and Chief Engineer
Napoleon Engineering Services