We Came In Peace For All Mankind

[filkertom]

Thirty-seven years ago today.

Okay, Congress has got its head up its ass and NASA is perpetually tongue-tied. How would you sell the need to greatly expand the space program to the public? You have three reasonably short sentences and no big words -- think "sound bite". Ready, set, go. (I have my own version, which I'll put here later so as not to Heisenberg the thing.)

Comments

[foenix.livejournal.com]

I really think Babylon 5 put it best. So my paraphrasing will butcher that great scene.

Eventually, some day, the sun is going to explode, and the world will be burnt to a crisp. If we've not found a way to leave this planet for others, then everything we've ever accomplished will be lost.

Sadly, I don't think that will be understood very well by the congress critters, but that's the best argument I've ever heard.

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

The quote you're looking for is this one:

"No. We have to stay here and there's a simple reason why. Ask ten different scientists about the environment, population control, genetics and you'll get ten different answers, but there's one thing every scientist on the planet agrees on. Whether it happens in a hundred years or a thousand years or a million years, eventually our Sun will grow cold and go out. When that happens, it won't just take us. It'll take Marilyn Monroe and Lao-Tzu, Einstein, Morobuto, Buddy Holly, Aristophanes .. and all of this .. all of this was for nothing unless we go to the stars." - Sinclair, Babylon 5: Infection

Still one of my all-time favorite quotes from that show.

Selling it to the public is a different matter though...