NASA's slice of federal budget

[ckikilwai]

www.eurospacecenter.be<br />But it's a space museum and a place where you can do space camps, it isn't a research center or so.<br />

 

[sidyan]

[Edit] ckikilwai beat me to it. The site could do with a little reworking though.<br /><br />Here's to Dirk Frimout & Frank Dewinne!

 

[summoner]

Phil Plait, Seth Shotak both are astronomers who are very good at relating to the public. They'd be the first who come to my mind as good abassadors. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:271px;background-color:#FFF;border:1pxsolid#999"><tr><td colspan="2"><div style="height:35px"><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/htmlSticker1/language/www/US/MT/Three_Forks.gif" alt="" height="35" width="271" style="border:0px" /></div>

 

[kelvin_zero]

This is sort of butting in from a thread of mine that hasnt drawn much interest..<br /><br />..but I think an important way to gain public interest is more of these prizes such as the x-prize and the oxygen producing competition.. ESPECIALLY the ISRU ones. Also it should encorage public contributions.<br /><br />There should be a huge range of prizes going right down to the kindergarten level. The main draw isnt the public's interest in space, but parents wanting to encourage an interest in science for their kids, and university students wanting to choose thesis topics that dont feel quite so meaningless to the greater scheme of things... plus grab at some prize money of course.<br /><br />At some point when enough of these goals are met we'll have the techology to say: 'btw, if we can ship X tons of equipment to the moon, we can build cities there, and keep building them, with no more physical investment'

 

[qso1]

Kelvin_Zero:<br />..but I think an important way to gain public interest is more of these prizes such as the x-prize and the oxygen producing competition.. ESPECIALLY the ISRU ones. Also it should encorage public contributions.<br /><br />Me:<br />X-prize and other competitions are basically private sector space activities which have already worked pretty well considering the X-prize was established in 1996 and claimed in 2004. Same timeline (8 years) as the prize awarded to the first person to cross the Atlantic solo.<br /><br />NASA needs a similar program or spokesperson to get folks interested in what they are doing. One of the things that came out of the VSE was NASA looking into sending humans on an asteroid mission. That would surely capture public imagination. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

spacester:<br />You mentioned photogenic? Um yeah, see, there's this old joke in the entertainment business: "he's got a face for radio"<br /><br />Me:<br />That makes two of us and I'm not even sure I have a radio friendly face.<br /><br />spacester:<br />Plus I seem to have lost the ability to self-censor my sarcasm and still make my point, at least here.<br /><br />Me:<br />That could sometimes be effectively used to promote spaceflight. I have some sarcasm in my written stuff.<br /><br />spacester:<br />Maybe you're the guy for the job!<br /><br />Me:<br />Will see, I've been working on illustrated or graphic novels about the real space program in the future, what its been up against. I don't think I have what it takes to be a spokesperson, but if I could get the message out through my writing...that would work for me. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[rocketman5000]

My 2 cents,<br /><br />Before you have a spokes person you need to have a developed platform and agenda similiar to a canidate running for office, because really that is in essence what you are attempting. You want to win over elected officials and their electorate. <br /><br />

 

[qso1]

Exactly. Were a little ways from having a spokesperson. We first have to determine who that person could be. And if we are looking to draw upon someone from the SDC boards. We have to determine who has the time, how will they become known as the spokesperson.<br /><br />A lot of groundwork to be laid. I have some ideas for a platform. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

A step by step process may look something like this:<br /><br />1.<br />Determine the platform as you have suggested.<br /><br />2.<br />Begin the search for the person who best articulates the platform, has the time to devote to it, etc.<br /><br />3.<br />If more than one candidate emerges, hold a vote for a primary spokesperson and their backup.<br /><br />Just a few step ideas. This will change and evolve if and when we decide to implement it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[spacester]

EXCELLENT!<br /><br />IMO the primary requirement for this platform is to somehow achieve a unified voice while still taking a strong stand in support of space development.<br /><br />A tall order, and perhaps over-reaching. <br /><br />Does anybody see another way to describe the top-level nature/requirement/objective of this platform? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[qso1]

The very next thing that is needed is to start a thread dealing with this. That way, this thread can get back on topic. Since this is an initiative begun by spacester, I think he/she should have the honor of starting the new thread. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[j05h]

I think having a public "space" representative from SDC makes sense, but you have to make that person fit into the current flow of space advocacy. Someone who doesn't mind Federal politics, someone willing to work with the Planetary Society, Mars Society, MarsDrive and all the other pre-existing groups. <br /><br />Platforms are easy. Finding someone who is both congenial and irascible enough to get attention is the tough part. Wit is the single greatest trait of this person. <br /><br />I like the idea of an Uplink vote as well, if we find the right person.<br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[spacester]

Thanks for that, qso1. But I would very much prefer that you start it. I am much more interested in it actually happening than getting any personal credit or honor from it. I judge that it has a better chance of success if it's your thread. <br /><br />Plus, I think we are totally on topic with this discussion on this thread. That was kind of my original point: if this is a collection of space advocates, the topic 'NASA's slice of federal budget' should automatically be about increasing it.<br /><br />BTW, I'm a 'He'. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacester]

Hmm . . I should add something, and it supports the creation of a new thread. <br /><br />Support for space development means support for more than just NASA. I'll just leave it at that for now, if I get started on the subject it'll be a long post, and off topic.<br /><br />So I'm saying IMO we've been on topic so far, but I agree that moving forward on the idea would not be on topic. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacester]

<font color="yellow">Platforms are easy. </font><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> I'm glad you think so, and look forward to your first draft of our platform. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">If you look closely at the pie chart, you can see the tiny sliver that is our space program.</font>/i><br /><br />I think I am going to make a business card with a pie chart like this on it so I can hand it out anytime someone talks about the federal budget.</i>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Well, make them available to SDC members....I'll buy 100!! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[j05h]

<i>> I'm glad you think so, and look forward to your first draft of our platform. </i><br /><br />Absolutely. Once you start the new thread, of course. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />NASA is both unpopular and wildly popular because they are one of the govt's most visible agencies. It's not the actual budget figures, but the impression of what they do. It strikes at the heart of people's political beliefs and gives an interesting barometer of someone. Support or dislike of NASA gives an idea of someone's scientific, industrial, environmental and other views. It has very little to do with the very small slice of the budget they receive. <br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[qso1]

J05H:<br />I think having a public "space" representative from SDC makes sense, but you have to make that person fit into the current flow of space advocacy...<br /><br />Me:<br />I agree. The vote would be the start of finding the witty, Sagan like populist I think NASA or lets say, human spaceflight needs. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

spacester:<br />Thanks for that, qso1. But I would very much prefer that you start it.<br /><br />Me:<br />I appreciate that and I think you should have what you may see as your role if interested and of course, you should be credited as well for starting this very important discussion and I'll see to it credit is given if we can actually get this going.<br /><br />As long as you think were on topic, thats cool with me. We may have to spin off to another thread once we define it more later.<br /><br />spacester:<br />BTW, I'm a 'He'.<br /><br />Me:<br />Lol, I hear ya. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

JO5H:<br />It has very little to do with the very small slice of the budget they receive.<br /><br />Me:<br />I agree with most of what you said except this statement. Generally when folks criticize NASA, its precisely because of what you said about NASA being so visible. However, if critics new how much their budget is compared to other agencies, they might actually think twice about criticizing NASA.<br /><br />I have long maintained the following argument:<br /><br />Critic statement:<br />We should take the NASA human spaceflight budget and spend it for the needy or whatever right here on Earth.<br /><br />NASA has answered with:<br />We already spend the money here on earth by employing etc etc.<br /><br />What NASA should say:<br />We tried the critics plan albiet inadvertantly back in 1973-74 when we had our budget blasted in half post Apollo and have been at that approximate level since. Therefore, the problems critics claimed would be solved, should have been but there is no evidence of this.<br /><br />That is to say, NASA had a budget of between 2 to 4% GDP during the 1960s. After Apollo ended, that budget was reduced to 1% or less GDP. Currently about .6% GDP. So why hasn't the money saved by the 1973-74 budget hack job solved the problems critics point out needed solving.<br /><br />Then we have to recognize that what the critics ask for...feeding the hungry, ending homelessness, etc...are in fact noble arguments worthy of pursuit. However, the critics who argue for these points often include folks who distrust government. So what makes them think government will take the NASA cuts and put them where they should go?<br /><br />Which brings up the question...just where did the saved money go? To which I reply...the S&L scandal...the medicaid misappropriations of funds that was reported in the Orlando Sentinel in the late 1990s. They stated that they could not account for $20 plus billion dollars (Larger than NASAs entire annual budget) but was doing better as the more re <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

RadarRedux:<br />I think I am going to make a business card with a pie chart like this on it so I can hand it out anytime someone talks about the federal budget.<br /><br />Me:<br />This is definetily a good idea! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>