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

sound bites

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

Cheap minerals, zero gravity manufacturing, and solar powered smelters... Space, taking manufacturing out of your backyard.

Let's face it, why do all the dirty work on the planet?
(picture of factories)
Let's move them out of the yard so we can plant more trees...

No one expected Velcro, teflon, Microwave ovens, etc, etc to come from the space program, but now they are a part of your life. What could be next?

and in the "works for geeky old me, but probably not for the masses"

Space, because being at the bottom of a gravity well is bad tactics!

Re: sound bites

[trdsf.livejournal.com]

In the interests of scientific accuracy: the microwave oven and Teflon both well predate the space program. The microwave a byproduct of radar research; Teflon was an accidental discovery (the best ones always are, aren't they?) in 1938, commercialized in 1946. Heck, even Tang isn't a benefit of the space program--it's been around since the late '50s. It got the space thing going when NASA sent it up with the Gemini astronauts.

Our side's already right, no need to gild the lily! :)