Link to article on CNN
And the bottom lines are the kick in the *%&^It made me furious. And after a recent run-in with young work colleagues from what I call the "I don't wanna do that, that SUCKS!!!" generation, I fear for the brains of our drug-addled, video-game and rap-'music', conspiracy theory, Sci-Fi brainwashed generation X and 'EMO' twits. They are so conditioned to believe that space travel has hyperdrives, phasers, wormholes, artificial gravity, M-Class planets and load explosions in the vacuum of space, that capsules and chemical rockets seem lame to them. They truly don't understand how difficult it is to get into space, even in the 21st Century.These current years are our chance (might be the last) to truly start transforming our race into a space-faring and pioneering species and all some of these, these... know-nothings could say would be; "Moon and Mars, don't wanna go, rocks and craters aint got no flow, bro..."
(sound of Matt vomiting, followed by crying)
Suzy - 28/12/2006 11:46 PMAlso, have astronauts and cosmonauts be a bit more accessible, utilizing the Internet! They could have their own websites and blogs. Perhaps a forum where they could answer questions from the public. As things are now, they are rather remote and inaccessible.
Gary - 29/12/2006 10:26 AMQuoteSuzy - 28/12/2006 11:46 PMAlso, have astronauts and cosmonauts be a bit more accessible, utilizing the Internet! They could have their own websites and blogs. Perhaps a forum where they could answer questions from the public. As things are now, they are rather remote and inaccessible.They already do that. Check out NASA's page, the neemo blogs and the 'ask the crew' sections.
MATTBLAK - 28/12/2006 7:32 PMComment I overheard a young person say whilst watching the Shuttle launch scene in the IMAX film 'Destiny In Space': "Cool man, nice graphics!"It makes me sad that these days, kids consider a scientifically educated person as someone who can make better graphics for shoot-em-up computer games. And no disrespect to people in the I.T. industry, a lot of whom are my friends, but do we really need another flood of Microsoft Certified Engineers, qualified in regurgitated orthodoxy when we need new physicists, astronomers and fresh rocket engineers?I know that computers are still where the money is, but really!! Sheesh.
MATTBLAK - 28/12/2006 5:32 PMComment I overheard a young person say whilst watching the Shuttle launch scene in the IMAX film 'Destiny In Space': "Cool man, nice graphics!"It makes me sad that these days, kids consider a scientifically educated person as someone who can make better graphics for shoot-em-up computer games. And no disrespect to people in the I.T. industry, a lot of whom are my friends, but do we really need another flood of Microsoft Certified Engineers, qualified in regurgitated orthodoxy when we need new physicists, astronomers and fresh rocket engineers?I know that computers are still where the money is, but really!! Sheesh.
kool-aid - 29/12/2006 11:54 AMHow about making it so high-achieving kids get to drive the Mars rovers? Why not?How interesting is the space program when you're always on the side-lines watching, never really getting to be in the middle? Kids play computer games because they INVOLVE them, just like team sports used to. Programs like Getaway Specials and CubeSats get to involve students, but Griffin's saying he can't spend money on Getaway Specials anymore because the Shaft is too darn important.
lmike - 29/12/2006 12:24 PMQuoteMATTBLAK - 28/12/2006 5:32 PMComment I overheard a young person say whilst watching the Shuttle launch scene in the IMAX film 'Destiny In Space': "Cool man, nice graphics!"It makes me sad that these days, kids consider a scientifically educated person as someone who can make better graphics for shoot-em-up computer games. And no disrespect to people in the I.T. industry, a lot of whom are my friends, but do we really need another flood of Microsoft Certified Engineers, qualified in regurgitated orthodoxy when we need new physicists, astronomers and fresh rocket engineers?I know that computers are still where the money is, but really!! Sheesh.I do get your meaning and agree to an extent, just want to point out that control theory/digital signal processing/numerics/modeling/and yes even 3d graphics as used in (simulators modeling results visualization)/telecommunication theory/human interface mechanisms design (the controls/integrated displays)/comm. theory/etc... I can go on. ( I realize that's not what you meant by 'computers', here though ) are a *very* important aspect of space flight. You do have a point that the vast majority goes into the 'easy money' branches of the IT (no blame though, it's just a living) There *is* a shortage of applicants in these aspects of computer work, though, and they are indeed valued highly, so perhaps it should be considered a part of 'rocket science'
kool-aid - 28/12/2006 4:18 PMUMMM, or how about this? Create a vision where the average young person actually thinks he might have a chance of going to the Moon or Mars! I mean, why should they care when only NASA astronauts have gone anywhere for forty years?What about the rest of us? Dude, where's my moon base? That's why people are more excited about Branson and Bigelow than NASA--those guys are actually talking about how to put regular (rich) people into space.