NASA's new mission

[voyager9]

If this isn't Bull Scat.. I don't know what is. Didn't NASA's mission used to be something grander??

Obama’s new mission for NASA: Reach out to Muslim world

In a far-reaching restatement of goals for the nation’s space agency, NASA administrator Charles Bolden says President Obama has ordered him to pursue three new objectives: to “re-inspire children” to study science and math, to “expand our international relationships,” and to “reach out to the Muslim world.” Of those three goals, Bolden said in a recent interview with al-Jazeera, the mission to reach out to Muslims is “perhaps foremost,” because it will help Islamic nations “feel good” about their scientific accomplishments.

[TNFF319]

What a waste of funding.

[SPFDRum]

Insert string of profanity here:_________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ____________!

What a joke.

[ScareCrow57]

What a piece of Bovine Scat. Further proof the man is not qualified for the office. One and done

January 2013 will be the end of an ERROR.....

[Chenzo]

We are so ****ed as a country. The end of BHO term will NOT come quick enough.

[voyager9]

The only "reaching out" NASA should do to the Middle East is by dropping high explosives from orbit.

NASA does not have a foriegn policy mandate. It is not a political tool. It is not their charter. They should be aiming much higher then that. This can't be the same group that landed on the freak'n moon.

[VincentEng2]

As a firefighter who protects many Many MANY Nasa entities in my fire district, I hope to god that I still have a job in a year!!!!

[BSFD9302]

Let's see NASA....National Aeronautic Space Administration. I am trying to unscramble the word jumble there to find the words Foreign Diplomat to the Middle East, I just can't seem to do it.

As for encouraging children to study math and science, I am pretty sure firing off the biggest rockets ever made and shooting off into space would encourage those who are interested to study math and science.

Way to boost the economy by laying off thousands, Mr Dumb A55 in DC.

[MarcusKspn]

To take these one at a time:

“re-inspire children” to study science and math: Nothing wrong with that. I do think that has been a mandate of NASA for quite a while. From space-camps to competitions for kids, they have long encouraged the study of science and math. I know it is easy to say "build big ***** rockets and kids will want to become rocket scientists", but look at the reality. Rocket launches are not even shown on TV anymore. The NBA/NFL/NHL/PGA get more time on the news than the International Space Station. Kids want to become the next "insert random flavor of the month sports celebrity" instead of the next NASA scientist.

“expand our international relationships,”: Again, personally I don't see anything wrong with this either. Why is everybody acting like NASA will take over the Department of State? Are you guys ignoring the fact that currently we are working on the INTERNATIONAL Space Station? We are working with the Russians, with the ESA, and other areas of the world. Many countries working together on scientific problems will give us better results than working on things alone. We are probably not talking about a NASA mandate to solve the middle east crisis here. My guess would be that this is a mandate to improve the "international relationships" between NASA and other space agencies, and to tackle problems together. Feel free to tell Russia to go to hell and find another way for our guys and the supplies they need to make it to the space station.

“reach out to the Muslim world.”: WTF? Even with my rose colored glasses I can't figure out a way to make this sound reasonable.

[BSFD9302]

To take these one at a time:

“re-inspire children” to study science and math: Nothing wrong with that. I do think that has been a mandate of NASA for quite a while. From space-camps to competitions for kids, they have long encouraged the study of science and math. I know it is easy to say "build big ***** rockets and kids will want to become rocket scientists", but look at the reality. Rocket launches are not even shown on TV anymore. The NBA/NFL/NHL/PGA get more time on the news than the International Space Station. Kids want to become the next "insert random flavor of the month sports celebrity" instead of the next NASA scientist.

“expand our international relationships,”: Again, personally I don't see anything wrong with this either. Why is everybody acting like NASA will take over the Department of State? Are you guys ignoring the fact that currently we are working on the INTERNATIONAL Space Station? We are working with the Russians, with the ESA, and other areas of the world. Many countries working together on scientific problems will give us better results than working on things alone. We are probably not talking about a NASA mandate to solve the middle east crisis here. My guess would be that this is a mandate to improve the "international relationships" between NASA and other space agencies, and to tackle problems together. Feel free to tell Russia to go to hell and find another way for our guys and the supplies they need to make it to the space station.

“reach out to the Muslim world.”: WTF? Even with my rose colored glasses I can't figure out a way to make this sound reasonable.

You are absolutely correct. I generalized way too much. With your comments about sports and TV it made me think back to my younger days. I remember watching the space shuttle with amazement and I still do whenever I can catch something on the Space Channel, when I am allowed to use the remote. It once was on all of the channels.

The last past of your post, I agree 100%.

[ChiefKN]

This has to be a joke...

[ScareCrow57]

To take these one at a time:

“re-inspire children” to study science and math: Nothing wrong with that. I do think that has been a mandate of NASA for quite a while. From space-camps to competitions for kids, they have long encouraged the study of science and math. I know it is easy to say "build big ***** rockets and kids will want to become rocket scientists", but look at the reality. Rocket launches are not even shown on TV anymore. The NBA/NFL/NHL/PGA get more time on the news than the International Space Station. Kids want to become the next "insert random flavor of the month sports celebrity" instead of the next NASA scientist.

“expand our international relationships,”: Again, personally I don't see anything wrong with this either. Why is everybody acting like NASA will take over the Department of State? Are you guys ignoring the fact that currently we are working on the INTERNATIONAL Space Station? We are working with the Russians, with the ESA, and other areas of the world. Many countries working together on scientific problems will give us better results than working on things alone. We are probably not talking about a NASA mandate to solve the middle east crisis here. My guess would be that this is a mandate to improve the "international relationships" between NASA and other space agencies, and to tackle problems together. Feel free to tell Russia to go to hell and find another way for our guys and the supplies they need to make it to the space station.

“reach out to the Muslim world.”: WTF? Even with my rose colored glasses I can't figure out a way to make this sound reasonable.

Perfect analysis. Most people have no problem with the first two statements. It is that third that boggles the mind. Although not a scientific poll, CNN.COM asked the question: Should NASA reach out to Muslims? 95% replied NO. Now not for nothing, is that being racist? Why not reach out to all peoples. And heck, what about that separation of church and state?

[voyager9]

To take these one at a time:

“re-inspire children” to study science and math: Nothing wrong with that. I do think that has been a mandate of NASA for quite a while.

“expand our international relationships,”: Again, personally I don't see anything wrong with this either.

“reach out to the Muslim world.”: WTF? Even with my rose colored glasses I can't figure out a way to make this sound reasonable.

I agree that taken separately I don't have a problem with the first two. It's the third one... I haven't been able to find anything that spins this in a way that makes any sense...

[voyager9]

Now not for nothing, is that being racist? Why not reach out to all peoples. And heck, what about that separation of church and state?

If anything, NASA should reach out to the Scientologists. They may have some "advanced teachings" to share.

[doughesson]

What y'all said plus: Does Barack Hussein Obama have the slightest clue what the mission statement is?If we met people of any sort from other planets I could understand a NASA outreach program,but for just one group on THIS planet?What is he thinking?There are more groups than just Muslims,aren't there?What would they contribute to the space program?

[Bones42]

Anyone know what kind of knowledge Muslims have in the way of aerial technology? or survivability in extreme conditions?

Maybe there is something we can learn from them? Maybe....?

[ChiefKN]

Anyone know what kind of knowledge Muslims have in the way of aerial technology? or survivability in extreme conditions?

Maybe there is something we can learn from them? Maybe....?

Let's check with the muslims in London.

[voyager9]

Anyone know what kind of knowledge Muslims have in the way of aerial technology? or survivability in extreme conditions?

Maybe there is something we can learn from them? Maybe....?

Many of the societies in that area, the Persians and Sumerians and others, have had periods of great scientific advancement. In most cases those periods were well before Islamic Fundamentalism took hold. Persians-yes. Arabs-Yes. Muslims-not so much.

Either way all of that would fall under task #2 (International cooperation). By spelling it out explicitly as a separate task it becomes a useless feel-good affirmative action program.

[MarcusKspn]

Anyone know what kind of knowledge Muslims have in the way of aerial technology? or survivability in extreme conditions?

Maybe there is something we can learn from them? Maybe....?

Well, if mars is anything like the mountains Osama is hiding in...

[Lifeguard911]

1. "Re-inspire children to study science and math." - Fantastic idea that is way overdue. My wife is a middle-school science teacher and would love to teach more about space to her kids.

2. “Expand our international relationships.” - Another good idea, but the current White House occupant seems bent on p*issing off all our long time allies like Britain while he expands our relationships with countries that really don't like us that much.

3. "To reach out to the Muslim world.” - This is the part that throws me. Obama is not saying let's reach out to the governments of the Middle East and elsewhere. Governments that have something to gain from partnering with the U.S. in space endeavours. Obama and Bolden say we should reach out to a particular religion, instead. If that is the new policy, are we going to reach to out to the Catholics, Mennonites, Jews, and the Buddhists, too? While NASA has always been an indirect diplomatic tool of the U.S., it is being sold down the river by the current administration. Ever since Obama has taken office, NASA has been told to solve global warming, fix the brakes on Toyota Prius's and clean up the Gulf Of Mexico, but had the one new manned space program since the Space Shuttle thirty years ago, cancelled. How does that inspire anyone?