Danville native now at NASA inspires kids

By Sarah Arkin

Published: July 1, 2008

About 100 children who thought they were just getting a basic lesson about space exploration received a lot more when a Danville native and NASA employee gave a presentation Monday at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research.

“It’s important to have dreams,” Dexter Blackstock told them, “but you have to work to fulfill those dreams. Nobody’s going to give you anything; you aren’t owed anything.”

He encouraged the youngsters to think about what they like, what careers they might want to have and how to spend their time to achieve their goals.

“Sports are great,” Blackstock said, “but books should be more important.”

Originally from the now-demolished Liberty View Projects, Blackstock said he made his way through a number of Danville schools before attending Old Dominion University and getting his bachelor’s degree in engineering.

After talking about career-planning strategies, Blackstock turned his attention to his own career as a NASA engineer and some of the work NASA does. Video clips about bathroom procedures in space garnered a number of giggles, squeals and “eeewwws” from the students.

Spacecrafts launching from Kennedy Space Center and footage of rockets flying through space spurned enthusiastic oohs and aahs.

Community outreach is a part of NASA’s mission “to encourage the next generation of explorers,” Blackstock said.

He said he was thrilled to be talking in his hometown.

“It’s outstanding,” Blackstock said. “It’s a pleasure. I’ve given these presentations before, but it’s always nice to come home.”

Contact Sarah Arkin at or (434) 791-7983.