What is the most important task of the new NASA administrator...? Muslim outreach?

[weskurtz81]

I thought this was pretty interesting, and not really in the scope of what NASA does, so thought I would get the opinions of the forum goers!

Engagequadlasr, even though you are still mad at me and ignoring every post I make, if you wouldn't mind giving me your opinion on this, I would appreciate it.

So, NASA has a new administrator, appointed by President Obama, and on his trip to Cairo, he said the following:

When I became the NASA administrator -- or before I became the NASA administrator -- he charged me with three things. One was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering,

Do you think what he has been tasked with really falls within the scope of what NASA does?

Here is a link to an article on the subject, and it does mention in the last paragraph that:

And what's more, NASA's mission routinely has been characterized as ranging far beyond just launching rockets into space. Throughout its history, the agency's existence has been justified in terms of feel-good values that have little to do with its scientific mission. The last president certainly bought into this notion. "We choose to explore space because doing so improves our lives and lifts the national spirit," President Bush said in announcing his vision for space exploration in 2004.

[Tutankhamun]

I think NASA should just focus on space and go to Mars. Or finally tell the truth but we all know that wont happen.

[weskurtz81]

I think NASA should just focus on space and go to Mars. Or finally tell the truth but we all know that wont happen.

LOL, speaking of the moon landing? Really don't think it happened or making a joke?

[Tutankhamun]

LOL, speaking of the moon landing? Really don't think it happened or making a joke?

I believe the moon landing happened, the interesting thing is what happened when they got there. This if it did or did not happen is a plan to distract people from the real truth.

[weskurtz81]

I believe the moon landing happened, the interesting thing is what happened when they got there. This if it did or did not happen is a plan to distract people from the real truth.

Talking about the shadow conspiracy etc? If not, what is it?

[Tutankhamun]

Talking about the shadow conspiracy etc? If not, what is it?

I believe we we're told to get of the moon when we got there. And I do also believe there is a shadow space agency that might have built bases on the "dark" side of the moon.

Don't want to derail your thread here so let me know if I am.

[Funeralfog]

i dont think Muhammad wants them to go to space. just sayin' but what a stupid goal of NASA

[Lefein]

I think the marines should have to give everyone flowers on their birthday and the Navy should save sealions from sharks.

[spyrde]

[keefy]

Should just focus the resources on everyone intsead of singling out Muslims.

[squirrelbo1]

well, to specifically highlight one specific group, seems a bit pointless, but nasa do have to get people interested in it, becuase otherwise there will be nobody to do the jobs in the future.

[Firefox]

Right okay let's not meet with other nations, religions or races for the betterment of Science and discovery.

[weskurtz81]

Right okay let's not meet with other nations, religions or races for the betterment of Science and discovery.

That's not what I read in that quote from the new NASA admin. He said he was tasked with "reach[ing] out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering".

That's what gets me, make them feel good about historic contributions? How about reaching out to foreign nations to to advance space travel etc? This isn't about 'making people feel good', it's about advancing technology and our species. That's where I hang up with those comments.

If a nation has NOTHING to contribute, well, then we shouldn't waste our time IMO. Should NASA reach out to Haiti if it were a "Muslim" nation? What does which religion you follow have to do with ANYTHING? Why not reach out to countries across the world that have something to contribute? How about that for starters?

[gillmanjr]

It actually does somewhat fall into the scope of NASA and I believe that Obama might be on to something with this. The exploration of space isn't REALLY going to start happening until all technologically advanced nations start to work together toward a common goal. Muslims do, in fact, tend to make excellent engineers and I happen to work with one (I'm an engineer - Aerospace).

The cost of space exploration is simply too great to be done alone. Everyone says "Lets just go to Mars, we have the technology" and it's true. What we don't have is the budget. People tend to grossly underestimate the cost of a manned trip to Mars - make no mistake - the cost would exceed a trillion dollars. Besides, that isn't the next logical step - the next step is setting up a base of operations on the Moon. The moon is EXTREMELY close to earth in comparison to everything else and it's small size and lack of atmosphere make it a perfect point from which to start branching out into the rest of solar system. Launching manned flights from the moon would cut costs dramatically.

So yeah I think Obama's goal here is to get the Muslim world in line with the U.S. and try to get them on board so we can start exploring - it's going to be a very slow process. And the reason why he is singling out Muslims is because there is a very large disconnect between the U.S. and the Muslim world right now (obviously). Most of the other technologically advanced societies are already allied with the U.S. and have either already worked jointly with us or would be willing to.

[Firefox]

That's not what I read in that quote from the new NASA admin. He said he was tasked with "reach[ing] out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering".

That's what gets me, make them feel good about historic contributions? How about reaching out to foreign nations to to advance space travel etc? This isn't about 'making people feel good', it's about advancing technology and our species. That's where I hang up with those comments.

If a nation has NOTHING to contribute, well, then we shouldn't waste our time IMO. Should NASA reach out to Haiti if it were a "Muslim" nation? What does which religion you follow have to do with ANYTHING? Why not reach out to countries across the world that have something to contribute? How about that for starters?

You are taking his quote quite literally. So you really expect them to just go and literally "make themselves feel good for their previous achievements"? As for working with other nations and educating children...NASA already work with many countries heavily in collaboration.

You sound like you're saying NASA never collaborates with other space programs and is suddenly focusing on mulsims only..

edit: And I am 100% positive that when he said muslim he obviously was just referring to the muslim nations in the middle east only (I am sure not every country like Indonesia, Malaysia or Turkey)

Main thing is: Unless you have a transcript of the entire interview and the context of the entire interview how can you judge what exactly he was referring to anyways? Its more along the lines of the importance of scientific education in the Middle East and drawing in from the contributions from all the nations including the Middle East. (if you watch the interview you see how important contributions are from other nations such as the one he describes from Japan)

Here is the entire interview..

[DreDayDetox]

yes, their historic contribution to math and science spawned suicide bombers and religious extremists hell-bent on making the Western World pay for their indecency of culture "death to America!" a famous line in the Muslim extremist community...

[King Sickness]

I believe we we're told to get of the moon when we got there. And I do also believe there is a shadow space agency that might have built bases on the "dark" side of the moon.

Don't want to derail your thread here so let me know if I am.

Sounds a lot like the movie Iron Sky. Who could have possibly colonized earth before we got there? If it was humans how could the technology have been that advance so long ago?

I start college this fall and will be studying AeroSpace Engineering. One day hopefully I'll be able to go into space, that's my ultimate dream. It's just sickening how our planet does not get along, we have so many conflicting religions, beliefs, and tons of conspiracies that will always keep nations apart. There's so many secrets about space missions that the governments and companies like NASA aren't telling us.

[Hitman_T92]

yes, their historic contribution to math and science spawned suicide bombers and religious extremists hell-bent on making the Western World pay for their indecency of culture "death to America!" a famous line in the Muslim extremist community...

math science medicine the idea of flying and alot more started from muslim scientists

[Hitman_T92]

[Tutankhamun]

Sounds a lot like the movie Iron Sky. Who could have possibly colonized earth before we got there? If it was humans how could the technology have been that advance so long ago?

Look at the Anunnaki theory. Do you know there is ancient texts that speak of a time when the moon wasn't in the sky? The texts describe that one night the moon was just there, out of the blue! This leads me to think that the moon is one big spaceship. Another interesting things is when they landed on the moon it rang like a bell for a long time (the exact time has eluded me I can look it up in one of my books if you want)

There's so many secrets about space missions that the governments and companies like NASA aren't telling us.

For sure, but if you want to work for NASA you better not speak of these things. It's not appreciated within NASA that you do.

[SpyroViper]

Imo, if religious persons choose not to believe overwhelming evidence that they are wrong, then nothing is going to sway them. If NASA want more people to take up science and math, then they need to make those subject INTERESTING! At school in science, all we did was put copper into a beaker and pour different chemicals into it and watch it fizz, I got to disect an Onion once.. ooo fun!

Don't even talk a bout Math, I failed lol. There's more to life than adding up the square root of 15 feet and * pie plus recurring.. urgh boriiiiing!

[DreDayDetox]

math science medicine the idea of flying and alot more started from muslim scientists

haha, I knew I'd offend someone here, though I don't see it that way at all since I only referred to "EXTREMIST" religious Muslims (NOT, law abiding, faithful, PEACEFUL Muslim people), but since you were offended, you are one then? I have no doubt that what they invented isn't true, but if you're going to stick with science, then why continue to have faith, wouldn't relying on science be against "Jah"? And this question is really for any religion. Don't get your panties in a bunch, cupcake.

[SpyroViper]

math science medicine the idea of flying and alot more started from muslim scientists

But the wright brothers put it into practice, they weren't muslim lol. Having an idea is nothing spectacular, making it happen is.

I have an idea of instantaneous travel to the andromeda galaxy, therefore, I'm now great!

[Arkano6]

I believe we we're told to get of the moon when we got there. And I do also believe there is a shadow space agency that might have built bases on the "dark" side of the moon.

Don't want to derail your thread here so let me know if I am.

Is there a name for this theory that I can read in detail else where, or is it just your belief?

I have an idea of instantaneous travel to the andromeda galaxy, therefore, I'm now great!

Is this before or after it collides with the Milky Way? .

[Tutankhamun]

Is there a name for this theory that I can read in detail else where, or is it just your belief?

Hmm not sure the theory has a name but it's not something I made up. I do think there's documentaries about it on YouTube, saw something about it on History a few years ago to. I'm sure you can find ton of info if you Google different moon theories.

EDIT: Here's some on it: http://www.ufocasebook.com/moon.html