Six-year-old starts petition to increase NASA funding

[owlice]

Petition

News story

A 6-year-old who dreams of being an astronaut for NASA has taken matters into his own hands by starting an online petition to try and save NASA.

Connor Johnson has wanted to be an astronaut since he was three. When he learned that congress was threatening his future prospects to be a scientist or astronaut with NASA by cutting NASA's funding, he decided to do something about it.

"My whole idea was writing off to the President and then I decided to give my whole piggy bank to NASA. I have about $10.41," Johnson said.

However, after talking to his family members about the issue, Johnson decided he needed to find a more effective way to reach NASA.

His family helped him start a petition. Although he did have some guidance, Johnson constructed the petition ideas on his own.

[Chris Peterson]

See also Bill Nye's open letter to Barack Obama asking for 1.5 billion dollars for planetary science.

This one's particularly refreshing because it's specifically directed towards funding the Planetary Science Division, by far the most scientifically productive part of NASA, and a part that is being increasingly gutted in the crazy drive to throw money at things like sending people back to the Moon, to asteroids, to Mars.

[stephen63]

See also Bill Nye's open letter to Barack Obama asking for 1.5 billion dollars for planetary science.

This one's particularly refreshing because it's specifically directed towards funding the Planetary Science Division, by far the most scientifically productive part of NASA, and a part that is being increasingly gutted in the crazy drive to throw money at things like sending people back to the Moon, to asteroids, to Mars.

Well put. But, what do you say to the pie-in-the-sky, "we need to colonize beyond the solar system to save our species" camp?

[neufer]

See also Bill Nye's open letter to Barack Obama asking for 1.5 billion dollars for planetary science.

This one's particularly refreshing because it's specifically directed towards funding the Planetary Science Division, by far the most scientifically productive part of NASA, and a part that is being increasingly gutted in the crazy drive to throw money at things like sending people back to the Moon, to asteroids, to Mars.

Well put. But, what do you say to the pie-in-the-sky, "we need to colonize beyond the solar system to save our species" camp?

We need to colonize Beyond beyond the solar system to save our species

[Chris Peterson]

Well put. But, what do you say to the pie-in-the-sky, "we need to colonize beyond the solar system to save our species" camp?

I'd say that if we can't make a go of it on Earth, the planet we evolved on, it's pretty crazy to think any place else in our system is going to make a difference. And by the time we have the technical ability to leave the Solar System, we'll have developed very different social and economic systems than we have now, and the idea of manned exploration will likely be seen in a very different light.

[Nitpicker]

But, what do you say to the pie-in-the-sky, "we need to colonize beyond the solar system to save our species" camp?

Give them a small budget. They deserve a place on the first spaceship they can build.

[rstevenson]

Naturally, because you disagree with their point of view, there's no need to accord them any respect at all.

Rob

[geckzilla]

I think they can take a joke. Note the winky wink emoticon.

[Nitpicker]

Naturally, because you disagree with their point of view, there's no need to accord them any respect at all.

Rob

Nothing so black and white. There is a spectrum across which differences in point of view exist, and a corresponding spectrum of respect for those differences. I would be happy to discuss the fundamental difficulties of extrasolar colonization, which would need to be resolved well before any serious money was spent.

[neufer]

I would be happy to discuss the fundamental difficulties of extrasolar colonization,
which would need to be resolved well before any serious money was spent.

Probably the main reason for extrasolar colonization would be to have a distant forsaken place to ship off one's convict population.

[Nitpicker]

That's unlike you, to exude such Old World charm, neufer.

[Beyond]

That's unlike you, to exude such Old World charm, neufer.

So, Shakespeare is New World

[Nitpicker]

So, Shakespeare is New World

Yep, I saw the movie.

[Beyond]

Ah, i didn't. But then, i miss a lot of things. Especially astronomical.

[neufer]

That's unlike you, to exude such Old World charm, neufer.

So, Shakespeare is New World

[b][color=#0000FF][i]Old World [/i]charm[/color][/b]

---

• King Richard II Act 4, Scene 1

LORD FITZWATER: As I intend to thrive in this new world,

• Aumerle is guilty of my true appeal:
  Besides, I heard the banish'd Norfolk say
  That thou, Aumerle, didst send two of thy men
  To execute the noble duke at Calais.

• The Tempest Act 5, Scene 1

MIRANDA: O, wonder!

• How many goodly creatures are there here!
  How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
  That has such people in't!

[THX1138]

@ Chris Peterson / very . Good darn point Mr.