Starship Asterisk*

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 wrote: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 wrote:

Chris Peterson wrote:
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?

stephen63 wrote: 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?

stephen63 wrote:But, what do you say to the pie-in-the-sky, "we need to colonize beyond the solar system to save our species" camp?

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

Rob

Nitpicker wrote:
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.

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

Beyond wrote:So, Shakespeare is New World

Beyond wrote:

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

So, Shakespeare is New World

• King Richard II Act 4, Scene 1

• 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

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