Relevancy of the Educator Astronaut to the Space Program

As I understand it, the Educator Astronaut is
-1- A mission specialist with specific skills in K-12 education
-2- Required to fulfill same duties as traditional MS
(e.g. EVA, remote manipulator arm operator, payload specialist, ISS
construction, etc.)

The purpose of the Educator Astronaut is to "help lead the Agency in the
development of new ways to connect space exploration with the classroom,
and to inspire the next generation of explorers." According to
http://edspace.nasa.gov/faq/faq.html , they will "experience something
unique that they can use to engage students and to inspire them to
consider a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

Currently, 3-6 educator astronaut candidates will be selected to be
among the next Astronaut Candidate group.

Indeed, NASA lists Educational Excellence as one of its contributions to
National Priorities within its Strategic Roadmap. In this
self-proclaimed role, some specific actions NASA is taking (under
various categories) include
-Produce teaching tools (cat: Educational Technology)
-Coordinate and articulate student programs (cat: Student Support)
-Provide professional development in standards-led education (cat:
Support of Systemic Improvement)

See "The Role of Education in NASA's Strategic Plan" at
http://education.nasa.gov/implan/role.html for additional information.

I see pros and cons to this program.

PROS:
-NASA offers a unique perspective to inspire children because it gives a
glimpse of the future that can be attained via math, science and
engineering.
-NASA astronauts are positive role models and outstanding spokespersons
for the sciences.
-As Barbara Morgan said in a 2000 interview with NEA, NASA is showing
that teachers are as important as geologists, engineers, physicians and
scientists to the space program.

CONS:
-NASA's foray into the education arena may be viewed as a Public
Relations campaign to inspire support for NASA more than for education.
-There are other agencies tasked with promoting K-12 education (e.g.
NSF) in math and science. NASA should concentrate its resources on its
primary missions.
-NASA can do more to inspire children and adults with successful
missions and driving towards a National goal (e.g. Hubble Space
Telescope, Mars Pathfinder).
-Why teachers and not politicians, journalists or artists?

Additional PROS/CONS and your comments welcome.

Thanks for reading.

stmx3 wrote:

As I understand it, the Educator Astronaut is
-1- A mission specialist with specific skills in K-12 education
-2- Required to fulfill same duties as traditional MS
(e.g. EVA, remote manipulator arm operator, payload specialist, ISS
construction, etc.)

The purpose of the Educator Astronaut is to "help lead the Agency in the
development of new ways to connect space exploration with the classroom,
and to inspire the next generation of explorers." According to
http://edspace.nasa.gov/faq/faq.html , they will "experience something
unique that they can use to engage students and to inspire them to
consider a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

Currently, 3-6 educator astronaut candidates will be selected to be
among the next Astronaut Candidate group.

Indeed, NASA lists Educational Excellence as one of its contributions to
National Priorities within its Strategic Roadmap. In this
self-proclaimed role, some specific actions NASA is taking (under
various categories) include
-Produce teaching tools (cat: Educational Technology)
-Coordinate and articulate student programs (cat: Student Support)
-Provide professional development in standards-led education (cat:
Support of Systemic Improvement)

See "The Role of Education in NASA's Strategic Plan" at
http://education.nasa.gov/implan/role.html for additional information.

I see pros and cons to this program.

PROS:
-NASA offers a unique perspective to inspire children because it gives a
glimpse of the future that can be attained via math, science and
engineering.
-NASA astronauts are positive role models and outstanding spokespersons
for the sciences.
-As Barbara Morgan said in a 2000 interview with NEA, NASA is showing
that teachers are as important as geologists, engineers, physicians and
scientists to the space program.
-Space provide a unique environment to conduct various demonstrations
(especially Newtonian physics) that can't be done on earth.

CONS:
-NASA's foray into the education arena may be viewed as a Public
Relations campaign to inspire support for NASA more than for education.
-There are other agencies tasked with promoting K-12 education (e.g.
NSF) in math and science. NASA should concentrate its resources on its
primary missions.
-NASA can do more to inspire children and adults with successful
missions and driving towards a National goal (e.g. Hubble Space
Telescope, Mars Pathfinder).
-Why teachers and not politicians, journalists or artists?


Sure, the on-orbit experiance should be made available for everyone to
enjoy. Not just hand picked government agents to fly on government run
monopolies. Thats why we should return to Capitalism wrt to space travel so
that the journalists, artists or just plain tourist can enjoy the
experiance.

Craig Fink

Craig Fink wrote:
[snip]
PROS:
-NASA offers a unique perspective to inspire children because it gives a
glimpse of the future that can be attained via math, science and
engineering.
-NASA astronauts are positive role models and outstanding spokespersons
for the sciences.
-As Barbara Morgan said in a 2000 interview with NEA, NASA is showing
that teachers are as important as geologists, engineers, physicians and
scientists to the space program.

-Space provide a unique environment to conduct various demonstrations
(especially Newtonian physics) that can't be done on earth.


Duh! The most obvious one. Thanks.

[snip all after]

I for one would like to thank NASA for its commitment to education. I was
lucky to be part of a 60 strong party of teachers from England who visited
Kennedy Space Centre in May of this year. We were allowed access to the
whole range of NASA educational resources as well as mind blowing visits to
the main sites at KSC and CCAFB. It has inspired my teaching and through
that hundreds of English school children.

I wish the Educator Astronauts every success and hope that if they ever
travel to England that I will get a chance to meet them and introduce them
to some of my pupils.

Rod Stevenson
Norwich
England

Someone has to say it: there is no such word as "Relevancy." The word is
"Relevance."

(Climbs off grammatical soapbox)



Matt Bille
)
OPINIONS IN ALL POSTS ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR

In article ,
stmx3 wrote:
The purpose of the Educator Astronaut is to "help lead the Agency in the
development of new ways to connect space exploration with the classroom,
and to inspire the next generation of explorers."

To be nasty and cynical, the purpose of the Educator Astronaut was to give
NASA a way to co-opt Barbara Morgan into the astronaut corps, thus
shutting her up. She'll pretty definitely get to fly. The chances that
*another* EA will get to fly are no better than 50-50, and it will go
downhill fast after that.

Currently, 3-6 educator astronaut candidates will be selected to be
among the next Astronaut Candidate group.

Realistically, NASA is already oversupplied with astronauts.

-Why teachers and not politicians, journalists or artists?

Because the demise of the original Citizens In Space program, after
Challenger, left a determined and vocal teacher hanging in there, politely
and persistently harassing NASA about a flight opportunity, and it did not
leave any already-selected representatives of those other occupations in
similar positions.

Politicians, yes, undoubtedly, when a half-baked excuse can be found, as
one was for Senator Glenn. The others, no chance.
--
MOST launched 1015 EDT 30 June, separated 1046, | Henry Spencer
first ground-station pass 1651, all nominal! |

MattWriter wrote:
Someone has to say it: there is no such word as "Relevancy." The word is
"Relevance."

(Climbs off grammatical soapbox)



Matt Bille
)
OPINIONS IN ALL POSTS ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR

Thanks...I learn something new everyday.

Henry Spencer wrote:

[snip all before]


To be nasty and cynical, the purpose of the Educator Astronaut was to give
NASA a way to co-opt Barbara Morgan into the astronaut corps, thus
shutting her up. She'll pretty definitely get to fly. The chances that
*another* EA will get to fly are no better than 50-50, and it will go
downhill fast after that.

Thanks for the up front caveat on your post. I do not know what they
had to 'shut her up' about. I take your comment either

1) she would incessantly complain to the media, or
2) she would divulge something nasty that would threaten to bring down NASA.

I don't think NASA would have created an entire section in their
strategic roadmap for #1; #2 smacks of a half-baked conspiracy and not
at all realistic, IMO.

The EA (Educator Astronaut) website says that Ms. Morgan will definitely
fly. I can't imagine other EA's not flying if NASA is specifically
recruiting them.


[snip]


Politicians, yes, undoubtedly, when a half-baked excuse can be found, as
one was for Senator Glenn. The others, no chance.

I do not think your average Joe Politician will fly again because of the
controversy it would generate. John Glenn, however, wasn't your average
politician.

On Tue, 30 Sep 2003 13:05:24 GMT, in a place far, far away, stmx3
made the phosphor on my monitor
glow in such a way as to indicate that:

The EA (Educator Astronaut) website says that Ms. Morgan will definitely
fly. I can't imagine other EA's not flying if NASA is specifically
recruiting them.

You don't have much of an imagination, then. NASA has recruited many
astronauts who may never fly. NASA has too many astronauts, and too
little ambition to actually fly them.

--
simberg.interglobal.org * 310 372-7963 (CA) 307 739-1296 (Jackson Hole)
interglobal space lines * 307 733-1715 (Fax) http://www.interglobal.org

"Extraordinary launch vehicles require extraordinary markets..."
Swap the first . and @ and throw out the ".trash" to email me.
Here's my email address for autospammers:

In article ,
stmx3 wrote:
To be nasty and cynical, the purpose of the Educator Astronaut was to give
NASA a way to co-opt Barbara Morgan into the astronaut corps, thus
shutting her up...

Thanks for the up front caveat on your post. I do not know what they
had to 'shut her up' about. I take your comment either
1) she would incessantly complain to the media, or
2) she would divulge something nasty that would threaten to bring down NASA.

Neither, exactly. She just kept politely pointing out that she was still
around and still ready and willing to fly, whenever NASA was brave enough
to assign her a seat. And every now and then she got some press coverage
for it. She was becoming an embarrassment to NASA.

I don't think NASA would have created an entire section in their
strategic roadmap for #1...

Creating things on paper is really pretty easy, and they can be uncreated
just as easily after their public-relations usefulness has passed.

The EA (Educator Astronaut) website says that Ms. Morgan will definitely
fly. I can't imagine other EA's not flying if NASA is specifically
recruiting them.

As Rand has noted, NASA has more astronauts than it needs already. Any
decision to recruit more is as much public relations as a real requirement.

Politicians, yes, undoubtedly, when a half-baked excuse can be found, as
one was for Senator Glenn. The others, no chance.

I do not think your average Joe Politician will fly again because of the
controversy it would generate.

Like I said, it requires some sort of plausible excuse. One will be found
if there is sufficient incentive.

John Glenn, however, wasn't your average politician.

Correct; he was a politician that the President owed a big favor to.
--
MOST launched 1015 EDT 30 June, separated 1046, | Henry Spencer
first ground-station pass 1651, all nominal! |