Got Space?
“The Committee directs NASA to engage in a national awareness campaign.”
Editor’s note: It is not that I don’t think NASA should do more to present its value to the taxpayers (they should), but I find it rather curious that Congress is directing NASA to market itself to the American public – and that Congress is doing so after years of chastising NASA for trying to market itself to Congress – directly or indirectly. This is really confusing given that Congress is supposed to represent the public in the first place.
“NASA’s mission to research, investigate, and explore the limits of aeronautics and the outer reaches of space, is unique among Federal agencies. While NASA is a civilian agency, its pursuits and capabilities have a direct impact on the strategic and economic health of the nation. Too often, those who benefit most from NASA, the American people, are not aware of those successes, benefits and opportunities. The Committee directs NASA to engage in a national awareness campaign. The purpose of such a campaign is to provide NASA with a venue in various media (print, radio, television, Internet, etc.) to articulate missions, recent accomplishments and recruitment efforts to young Americans. This will also provide a mechanism by which to excite and encourage our young people to enter the fields of science, math, and engineering and in doing so help maintain America’s leadership in these fields.”