Zoe agrees: Oh please, no! Not more rotten
Hollywood crap. Ugh. NASA is one of the few refreshing holdouts to hype. Darn
you.
John writes: Fascinating article. I think
you may miss the larger picture. In order to be effective, NASA needs to let
Boeing go out and develop its own spaceplane for commercial use. Take all of
the money poured into the government agency to micromanage and regulate American
space, and just let them go at it. Boeing could develop its own vehicles much
more cheaply than it could under a NASA contract, and so could Lockheed-Martin.
I honestly believe that NASA is no longer the answer to getting into space nor
in getting people excited about space travel. It is the problem.
Others readers felt our managing editor was politically partisan in the selection
of failed heroes:
George wrote to say: Exactly what deadly
sin did William Bennett break? I don't remember gambling being one of them.
I guess you don't let the truth get in the way of your politics.
ADC responds: Pride and greed were the
first two that came to mind when I read about Mr. Bennett's gambling. Since
he's got a bit of a weight problem, I'd throw in gluttony for good measure.
(But hey, who doesn't have a few extra pounds around the middle, right?) No,
Bill Bennett made the list because he wrote "The Book of Virtue". Its first
chapter, Self-Discipline, contains the following: "There is much unhappiness
and personal distress in the world because of the failures to control tempers,
appetites, passions and impulses." Bill Bennett was not chosen because he was
a conservative, but because he was a hypocrite.
Still, some readers agreed that NASA's image is stuck in the past and needs
to grab the future with both hands:
Melynda writes: I just read your piece,
and I'm shouting "Bravo!" This was a well thought-out piece, and it's something
that's needed to be said for a long time. Here's hoping that someone at NASA
-- someone who matters and can do something about it -- will read and consider
your words. It's what NASA needs so desperately, because without public enthusiasm,
funding will continue to be inadequate.
Tim writes: I enjoyed your commentary about
more and better publicity for the astronaut corps. You might want to know that
the September issue of Playboy shows a photo of (astronauts) Rick Linnehan
and Leroy Chaio enjoying a party at Hugh Hefner's mansion. These are extraordinary
people and I agree that they should be considered "stars."
ADC responds: Playboy? Now that's
an issue I would read. ;-)
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