We can all agree that having a job in space would be pretty cool. That’s why it was no surprise that NASA received countless applications when they advertised for a planetary protection officer, which beats your usual 9-5 job.
One of those applications came from nine-year-old Jack Davis, who explained to the space agency why he wanted to be a ‘Guardian of the Galaxy’ – because let’s be honest, who doesn’t?
“I have seen almost all the space and alien movies I can see,” Jack explained in his letter. “I’m great at video games. I am young, so I can learn to think like an alien.”
Jack’s letter went viral after a family friend posted it on Reddit, and NASA even responded.
Jack Davis, 9, applied for the planetary protection officer position at NASA

NASA were so impressed with little Jack’s enthusiasm that they replied.
When 4th grader and self-proclaimed “Guardian of the Galaxy”, Jack, wrote to us about applying for a job, we replied https://t.co/932pj3Q50B pic.twitter.com/RhcGdnzGAw
— NASA (@NASA) August 4, 2017
And this was their response:

Jim Green, NASA’s director of planetary science, told Jack: “It’s about protecting Earth from tiny microbes when we bring back samples from the Moon, asteroids and Mars. It’s also about protecting other planets and moons from our germs as we responsibly explore the Solar System.”

Anyone else pretty bummed the role doesn’t involve fighting aliens?
NASA encouraged Jack to work hard in school to one day become a real Guardian of the Galaxy – he’s the hero everybody needs.