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Obama school speech video: a nod to science & math, but not to space
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Obama cheers on students
President Obama gave a nod to sciencer and math in his controversial back-to-school speech today, but didn't mention the space industry as a possible career choice.
Obama said:
Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class....
You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment.
Early in his career, Obama had vowed to slash NASA'S budget to funnel more money to education. After some counseling from Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), who flew in space and has Kennedy Space Center in his home district, Obama changed his focus and began harking back to being inspired as he watched space launches as a child.
But as NASA struggles with a smaller-than-needed budget, and a lack of a clear presidential mandate, some in the aerospace community wonder if Obama plans to park America's space program in the break-down lane. Government employees often say that if someone wants to sideline a major project, a committee is convened.
The Augustine committee has released its findings--more on that later--and the short form is that Obama, who left NASA without a new director for months, simply hasn't made any clear policy directives about space. Instead, turf wars have developed over the best new rocket program, and controversy rages over what NASA's goals should be.
Contrast that to President John F. Kennedy's clear directive to go to the moon in a decade. Obama's support for NASA and space remains, other than some occasional public relations type comments, remain a mystery.
The shuttle program is winding down, and winding it back up for an extension may not be easily possible. A new launch pad has been constructed at Kennedy Space Center for a rocket that may or may not be allowed to fly.
In Obama speech today, would a mention of the motivation students receive from astronauts who talk to them from space, and from NASA's long-standing education programs, have been a positive indicator? Yes.
But in ignoring one of the greatest science and math motivators in our nation, Obama may have, through omission, been telegraphing a worrisome stance: space is not on his big picture radar.
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