Generating Public Support for the Space Program

[ldyaidan]

Not sure where to start with this, but I think we need to work to publicize the space program, and generate more public attention. There are a lot of private space advocacy groups, but those of us who are passionate about the program are going to find those groups. Most other people don't really think about it. My thoughts are to bring space into the public spotlight. I thought I'd start by contacting the Mars Society, The Planetary Society, and the National Space Society, to try to get a joint "ad campaign" going. These groups have chapters nationwide, and I'm thinking that if each chapter were to participate, we can get a nationwide ripple going. Chapters can even have friendly competitions with each other with their efforts. I'm thinking garage sales, bake sales, carnivals and so on as fundraisers, to support posters, billboards, maybe even TV ads to encourage the masses to support the space program. I don't care if people support NASA, Space X, Tspace, or JoeBob's spaceport, as long as people are thinking space. I also recommend a unified theme, or set of slogans, so people are seeing the same message. Of course, these efforts would not be limited to the above groups, I'm just figuring they have the largest base of people to start with. Any ideas or suggestions? <br /><br />As we progress, we can even use funds earned to buy TV/radio time for 30-60 second commercials, done by those people that the public already connects with space. IE: Tom Hanks, William Shatner, Patrick Stewart....Even though some of these people are science fiction actors, they will bring the attention needed to the program. We may even be able to do "infomercial" type programs, that highlight the efforts and progress of the various space agencies and programs.<br /><br />I would like feedback from SDC members, before diving into this effort. <br /><br />Rae

 

[spacester]

Nice post. Those ideas are good ones and there are plenty more good ideas out there. The key is somehow getting individuals to commit to a cause, even if only in a small way.<br /><br />I am very interested in seeing who steps up to the plate here. It's going to take more than the two of us. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacefire]

I'm planning to help in a small way. On my website (under construction) I will post an ad or a link to space.com, no charges. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[ldyaidan]

That's awesome! If we're able to make this happen, we'll probably have to come up with a centralized place for funds to go, for the larger campaigns...Could we get you to add a link there also, when the time comes? Spacester, what about reviving ACCESS for this purpose? A little change from it's original mission, but, if everything is already in place....<br /><br />Again, this is still in the idea phase. I want to make sure what sort of support we'll have from here, before moving forward. I'll draft letters to each of the agencies I mentioned above, and let you all preview it first...Anyone else I should send to?<br /><br />Rae<br /><br /><br />Rae

 

[baktothemoon]

I would recommend sending letters to some of the people who are funding the private sector's push for space. People like the heads of Virgin Galactic, Bigelow Aerospace, Scaled Composites. Get the backers of these programs in on this because their success depends on public interest in the space program. They would also have the resources to fund quite a few commercials. Along with the science fiction actors like William Shatner, it might be a good idea to write to people that have been in the public eye since the beginning of the space program, people like John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. Sure, they were with NASA but their accomplishments gave people the dream that they could one day go to space and if they would support some of the agencies you mentioned and maybe do a few commercials then it might make the fire of the dream they gave people hotter then ever. Lastly, if this thing gets off the ground then I would suggest being wise in when you time the commercials and other press. I would do it around the time when NASA does something big that gets a great deal of public attention, like the Discovery launch in May. After all, look at how much press the rovers and the last launch got. If you strike when the fire's hot then the impact would be much greater.<br /><br /><br /> "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." John F. Kennedy

 

[ldyaidan]

Those are all great ideas! I had planned to include stuff for the schools as well. Contests, posters, bookmarks, bookcovers and so on. I also like the idea about contacting the private companies to get their support. That would be a win-win situation, since they can get more exposure, as well as bringing attention to space. <br /><br />Rae

 

[baktothemoon]

There might also be another way you could create a little more buzz about it. If there are chapters nationwide then you could have some of them call their local news station and see if they would like to do a small report on what exactly their chapter is and what it does. Many stations have a section where they report on local groups and clubs so they might be interested in reporting on some of the local chapters. If many chapters do this then there would be a nationwide ripple effect. Also, if the stations put links for the story on their website then more people would be likely to stumble across the story and might get interested. This could complement the other ideas.<br /><br />"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." John F. Kennedy

 

[ehs40]

NASA needs a recruitment ad like the navy and army do but have the commercial take place in the near future with the CEV and make it a little more dramatic then the real thing would be. just an idea im sure someone can come up with a better theme for the commercial

 

[spacester]

Great ideas, folks! Of course, the main thing is for people to commit to spending a little time or money helping out on the website and following through on the best ideas.<br /><br />I've got the web hosting covered for the first year as long as the bandwidth doesn't get too crazy. Just come up with some web address ideas and I'll guide you through buying your domain and I'll take it from there. A very good friend owns the servers and the hosting company; he's very good at security and it ought to be trouble free. You'll have a control panel with access to all kinds of scripts for building a web site. Rae, you will not believe how easy it is to manage your own web site these days! But of course, you'll prolly want to be working on other stuff than playing webmaster and will likely want a volunteer for daily chores.<br /><br />As to the money, it looks to me like you have little choice but to ask for initial donations that may or may not be tax deductable. It takes little time to set up a foundation (for example), but it takes a while to get the IRS to send you a piece of paper that allows you to change the statement at the bottom of your web pages from:<br /><br />We are operating as a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization<br />to<br />We are a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization, click here for our bona fides<br /><br />If you operate on the up and up and you get approval by the end of the year, my understanding is that the earliest donations will qualify as tax deductable. But the initial donors will be taking a leap of faith. For ACCESS (which I dropped due to the inability to spend the time on it required) I didn't want to even deal with donations until getting the bona fides. <br /><br />You'll need to make a decision about all that, but it seems to me like you are going to need some money to do some of these things. Treasurers and bookkeepers and transparency and audits and all that stuff.<br /><br />I've changed my sig line . . . I stole it from 'vanilla' at nasaspaceflight.co <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nolirogari]

Be of good cheer all- this is already happening all around us. As one who lived through Apollo and watched it shot down by the vote grubs with the help of the media and pop culture, I have been recently pleased to see how the seeds of the next generation of space buffs are growing. Even as you read this, the crew of the ISS is working with classrooms of school kids. This week in fact, a school in Ohio will be talking live to the ISS crew- the teacher who got it all together actually got one of my Dr. Zooch Space Shuttle flying model kits and before the school talks with the crew, the kids will launch the model from the ball field so it feels like the whole school is flying up to the ISS.<br /><br />What's this an example of? Well, we see a lot of dribble on this forum as to what the ISS and the Shuttle is "worth." You can not place a price in inspiration. Forget the dollars and cents- THIS is what they are worth! Over the last two decades that the shuttle has flown the youth of America watched- they in turn grew up and some became teachers inspired by the shuttle. Now those teachers are using the ISS to inspire countless young hearts to look toward spaceflight- not in a suggestion, but as a part of their schoolwork. Rather than having the pop-culture beat them down, as it did in the 70s, today these teachers are making a culture of their own by showing kids that spaceflight IS cool and being smart is cool too and it IS "worth it."<br /><br />I recently came back into the world of model rocketry with my small rocket company. I'd been away beating my head against the brick wall of professional aviation for 19 years- and it was like steppong out of a time warp into a new and different world. What is saw sort of stunned me. Going to rocket launches I did not find just a bunch of old rocket geeks trapped in a bubble- what I saw were families working together and having fun with rocketry. What I saw were teams of boys and girls from local schools using computers and high-tec

 

[scottcarlin]

I'm in! I'm in the US Air Force, stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH so I might be able to help in ways others can't. The Air Force museum is right down the street from where I work which has a huge space flight section. Whatever I can do I'll do it. I'm open to any ideas you guys have. <br /><br />I think I'll start with talking to every space related club/society in town and then see what I can do with the local schools. I think we should focus on the elementary schools and middle schools. High school kids are pretty much already set in their ways and so we won't have much of an impact with them. I'm not saying we should exclude them but I think we should concentrate on the younger kids. Who in the school districts should we contact? i.e. Individual principals, county superintendents, state officials, etc.... <br /><br />Field trips are good. Aerospace museums, in high school we took one to the local amusement park and did physics experiments on each ride, it was really fun!<br /><br />Space Day is in a few months let's spread the word!

 

[askold]

I have an idea - let's hit golf balls off the side of the ISS.<br /><br />Yep, that's why we built the station ...

 

[nolirogari]

shuttle_guy, PM me if you need a kit donated is you folks get anything going.

 

[ehs40]

the CEV needs a name so why not let the public have a say in what it might be? that could spark some intrest

 

[baktothemoon]

"High school kids are pretty much already set in their ways and so we won't have much of an impact with them."<br />Maybe, but if you can leave an impression then it is more likely to stay if there are programs and clubs that high schoolers can get involved in. High schoolers still pick up many things and try many different things. There are many people in high school who have at least a partial interest in space but do not really show it because there are no opportunites for them to express it. These people usually dabble in model rocketry or just poke around on the internet trying to find new things out about space. I would have a Space Club for high schoolers that would allow some of these people to express their interest. It would be similar to a science club but more focused. You could have such events as building a rover to do a specific set of tasks autonomously or controled after having egressed a preset capsule. Or you could do a rocketry competition that would challenge students to build a rocket to fly the highest and have a capsule land undamaged within a specific area. An event where students could have to build a robotic arm that could assemble a number of objects could be popular. Or for the people who are more skilled at math you could have an event where students would have to calculate a simple trajectory from one object to another in space within a certain test period with certain resources at hand. For students better at memory and history you could have a quizbowl type event on different subjects and events related to space exploration. There could also be some research and test projects. Finally for other students you could have a debate like event where they would do research and debate topics such as, "Should manned exploration be used over robotic exploration?" All of these events would be designed to spark students' interest in space in general, and would give them a better idea of what the space program is and they could decide whether they

 

[tjames]

When considering ways of getting the public interested in space again the first issue that has to be addressed is the current administration. The president has to be a friend to the program. I don't see any friends in the government presently it seems they're more than willing to venture out on a limb when its no longer their watch but to do something while they're still in office just doesn't happen.<br /><br />A truespacefaring nation would never put all of its eggs in one basket. The government wants to make all of its ventures so costly and long term that cancellation is the only option.

 

[ldyaidan]

Wow! Lots of great ideas. What I'm looking at now is to contact the various space companies ( I include NASA in this list) to see about getting some kick in on the funding. A different letter to various space advocacy groups, to get their participation in fundraisers, and advertising locally, and to the local school systems to get the kids interested using contests, posters, bumperstickers, and so on. (Part of the funds collected will go into this, the balance into the "ad campaign") In addition to robotics and rocketry, I'm thinking poetry, fiction, and art competitions as well (posters made by kids to support the program is also free advertising). I think the advertising efforts need to cover a broad spectrum, so the average Joe can see how space benefits them personally, either with job opportunities, education, travel, exploration... Those who support a lunar colony, might want to sponsor ads for that, showing people working and playing on the moon. Mars advocates might do something similar. We can also highlight the resources available, how the science we learn can be used to make their life on earth better, and so on..<br /><br />The letters are still in a very very rough draft form. I'll be happy to post them once they are more together, and ask for suggestions before sending. Also, anyone who would like to start a local group for this purpose is welcome to participate. We will definitely need people to handle the local "push", and not all of the big groups have chapters in every town. <br /><br /><br />As for the administration issue, I couldn't agree more. That's part of the reason behind the idea. If we can get the general populace behind the effort, then regardless of the administration, they will have to bow to public support. In addition, when we elect our leaders, we'll have a better chance of getting those people who support the cause into the positions of power. <br /><br />Rae

 

[danwoodard]

I was involved in an active L-5 Society chapter for many years. I did all the things you're talking about, even presenting posters signed by the astronauts to local congressmen. It's great to hear this enthusiasm again. <br /><br />But public interest goes only so far. If people aren't personally involved, they eventually get tired of hearing about it, particularly when tax dollars are involved. The people around today are not genetically different from those of the 70's. Note the lack of any presidential enthusiasm on space since the "Vision" was announced.<br /><br />It might help if NASA was more involved in developing new technology, both in aviation and in resuable launch vehicles. In these areas engineering ingenuity can play a large part; the now-cancelled technology demonstrator program brought out totally new ideas every few years, something difficult in manned spaceflight. And in aviation ordinary people's lives can actually be affected. While landing on the moon is spectacular, only a handful of people will get the chance to actually do it. If private industry can make "space tourism" practical, NASA should help by funding some of their R+D.

 

[baktothemoon]

"The letters are still in a very very rough draft form."<br />What kind of timeframe are we looking at for this and all the other programs? <br /><br />There should probably be some sort of national meeting or get together for some of these ideas and for people to spend a few days learning about space. For students maybe for Career day at some of these schools we could invite retired NASA engineers, pilots, and some of the people who worked on projects like the rovers. There have to be a lot of these people considering how long NASA has been around. And if they could do a speech to some high school and gradeschoolers and a lecture at a couple of colleges then people would be made more aware of the space program. Also, how about a traveling science museum exhibit about space? There are many traveling exhibits that museums have, but none of them are related to space. If they could have maybe a mockup of the CEV or apollo, a walk through space station module, or maybe a harness that would simulate lunar gravity and some tools that astronauts use it would show people what space is like. That would be a long term thing of course so we should probably focus more on the ad campaign for now.<br /><br />"so the average Joe can see how space benefits them personally"<br /><br />This is especially important, many people see space as something that sort of transends their everyday life. Let's demistify space for people, show them more about it. Some people are aware of our space program but it is below their radar. LETS RAISE IT UP! We have to stay committed to educating people about space, otherwise the public will lose interest like it always has. We all have seen the public lose interest in every program from Apollo to STS. Most of the time it has been over shadowed by things like war. Let's keep it in view for the long run, maybe have a program on PBS, Discovery, and History channel devoted solely to space once we have enough funding.<br /><br />"If we can get the general populace

 

[ldyaidan]

http://space.com/adastra/adastra_nasa_settlement_060306.html<br /><br />I've sent this out to my coworkers, and to my kids' schools to send to the kids. I encourage you to do the same. It'll only take a few minutes, and may very well help inspire those young minds.<br /><br />Rae

 

[mlorrey]

Okay, here is what will really motivate people, money:<br />a) zero capital gains tax for investments in reusable space launchers, launcher technologies, space tourism/ settlement and space resources exploitation, for ten years from the time the investor makes the investment.<br />b) zero income tax for ten years after earning a university degree in aerospace related fields, if the person works in the field of their degree.<br />c) above mentioned college grads get ten years zero interest on college loans after graduation, as if they were in the military for that time.

 

[gsuschrist]

?<br /><br />Why not no captal gains tax if you invest in health or the environmnet? How about no interest on loans for folks who become teachers or nurses?<br /><br />Remember. For every dollar of tax not paid by one individual, some other individual has to pay two.<br /><br />"Gee whiz, I'm a waitres trying to rise 3 kids and I'm happy to pay more in taxes so an aeronautics engineer can pay less tax as an incentive to build a rocket." <br /><br />Your intention is noble but you need a reality check.

 

[mlorrey]

What are you doing here?

 

[baktothemoon]

"For every dollar of tax not paid by one individual, some other individual has to pay two"<br /><br />Or, rather than keep modifying taxes and shuffling around who has to pay them, maybe we could eliminate all of the pork from the budget bill and then we could give people studing to become aerospace engineers tax breaks without having to raise taxes for other people.<br /><br />"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" John F. Kennedy

 

[gsuschrist]

Why would the taxpayer want to give a tax break to an aeronautics engineer? Not everyone puts the need for space exploration as a priority over health, education, the environmnet, fuel efficiency, security, etc.<br /><br /> If government spending is 'foolish' at times don't expect the mother who wants better prenatal care not to tell her congressman that some of that foolishness (at least in her mind) is money spent on NASA. <br /><br /> <br /><br />