OpenNASA, My ideas
Thu, February 11, 2010 Filed in: NASA
OpenNASA is a website where the agency is soliciting ideas on how to work better with others. Part of the White House Open Government Initiative, the public is asked to submit ideas. Then, using the Digg.com format of voting, others can agree or disagree. My gut tells me NASA doesn’t have enough staff to even read all that they will get and I’m not sure of the benefit of the voting. But just for fun, I posted an idea and I am reposting it here:
NASA needs to do a much better job at telling people what they get out of NASA. I follow NASA extensively and I can't explain to people what we are getting out of the ISS. Saying "science" is not enough. "Inspiring the young" is not enough. ISS has been up for 10 years. What have we gotten out of it?
NASA PR events (press conferences). Lighten up! Geeze! It's ok to be excited. It's ok to laugh. It's ok to be happy! Compare the Spirit/Opportunity press conferences to a shuttle press conference. The shuttle events, I feel like I am bothering these people. Their vibe is they don't want to talk to me. I am taking them away from their precious science/engineering and I am too stupid to understand them anyway. The Rover people invited me to the party! Do you remember the line of Hi5's being given out at the post-landing conference?
What is the first "A" in NASA mean? There have been great contributions to aviation. Why is that such a secret?
Each Center needs to explain to their local area what THAT Center is doing for them. Many many more open houses. NASA Centers should not be like going to a Navy base where you need a friend and a pass to get through the door.
Outreach budgeting needs to be a higher priority. Outreach skills need to move beyond the Press Release and the Facebook post that is nothing more then a short press release. NASA "has" Twitter and FB, but doesn't "use" it well.
NASA TV needs to be watchable, with a regular schedule so people know when what interests them is on. It needs to be less manned-spaceflight focused. NASA TV is a major waste of resources.
NASA is perceived as a luxury, and people will not support that for long. Apollo survived because we had an "enemy" to beat. As we go international, what purpose is NASA for the average American?
This is what you need to sell......
NASA PR events (press conferences). Lighten up! Geeze! It's ok to be excited. It's ok to laugh. It's ok to be happy! Compare the Spirit/Opportunity press conferences to a shuttle press conference. The shuttle events, I feel like I am bothering these people. Their vibe is they don't want to talk to me. I am taking them away from their precious science/engineering and I am too stupid to understand them anyway. The Rover people invited me to the party! Do you remember the line of Hi5's being given out at the post-landing conference?
What is the first "A" in NASA mean? There have been great contributions to aviation. Why is that such a secret?
Each Center needs to explain to their local area what THAT Center is doing for them. Many many more open houses. NASA Centers should not be like going to a Navy base where you need a friend and a pass to get through the door.
Outreach budgeting needs to be a higher priority. Outreach skills need to move beyond the Press Release and the Facebook post that is nothing more then a short press release. NASA "has" Twitter and FB, but doesn't "use" it well.
NASA TV needs to be watchable, with a regular schedule so people know when what interests them is on. It needs to be less manned-spaceflight focused. NASA TV is a major waste of resources.
NASA is perceived as a luxury, and people will not support that for long. Apollo survived because we had an "enemy" to beat. As we go international, what purpose is NASA for the average American?
This is what you need to sell......