Craig Fink wrote:
stmx3 wrote:


Craig Fink wrote:

Hallerb wrote:



Barbara Morgan on NBC tonight. She still want's to go, even after an
accident and a disaster. The big difference between then and now, she
knows what buttons to push now, instead of what buttons not to push.


Bad idea if theres another accident. NASA is flying a research vehicle
not a operational vehicle.



Worst idea, what if there is another accident and she hasn't flown yet.
It would really reflect badly on our society. As the song goes, "the land
of the free and the home of the brave."


But *why*? Why do you think she should fly?


I'd really like to see what her lessons are like, what kind of
demonstrations she has and what the interaction with students on the ground
is like. It has great potential, and it'll be interesting to see how it
turns out.


Is it because NASA has
dangled a potential flight in front of her for so long?


No, more because of her quite persistence all these years.


To close the
circle left open from the loss of Christa McAuliffe?


Very much so, I've alway felt she should have flown on STS-26, or at least
been offer a position on the crew.


To show that
teachers belong in space?


That too, and really anyone else who want to have the experience.


To open doors?


Yes...


All of the above?


I agree with you, that it should be treated as a research vehicle, but
Barbara Morgan knows this and is still willing to fly on it. If she is
brave enough to fly, she should be free to do so.

Barabra Morgan in 2004!!!!

Craig Fink



It was your posts about Barbara Morgan that led me to start the
"Relevance of the Educator Astronaut" thread. Unfortunately, it
degenerated (and I'm partially to blame) into something else.

I don't like the "classroom in space" image you portray, although I know
she'll have her plate full with other things. And I would like to think
that sending a teacher to space would open doors for other professions.

I've listed pros and cons elsewhere and had relatively few comments.
Personally, I'm still on the fence, but I do have one foot on the
opposing side from you (expensive, needlessly risky, questionable
benefit, etc.)

But, I appreciate your enthusiasm, your campaign manager style, and all
those exclamation marks!(!!)