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Looking Back at 50 Years of NASA, Discovery Channel
NASA Turns 50, Nature
Happy Birthday NASA
How many NASA workers are turning 50 today? Give me two weeks and I'll start my 2nd half. Oh, I remember well the day Kennedy authorized the creation of NASA from the old NAGA. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to me. Lets all go have a beer, shoot some pool then tomorrow shoot for the Moon...again!
Maybe both previous posters are having a "senior moment." NASA was formed from NACA, not NAGA.
But what would us inconsiderate GenY folks know about any of that "history" stuff...
"We've only just begun".
This Carpenters song was the final wakeup call of Apollo 17, but was meant to tell the world just that: we've only just begun to explore.
Bashing Gen Y is a huge waste of time and energy. These people could be making real money if they worked in other areas, yet they have chosen to be here and endure the slings and arrows.
Perhaps we're jealous of the things you will accomplish, and that our generation's legacy was of spending nearly 30 years in low Earth orbit.
We'll never admit it, though.
So, happy 50th, NASA, and remember, you've only just begun.
Re Space Cadet (Owl)'s comment: short-sighted, exclusionist attitudes like yours are the reason this birthday will probably be one of NASA's last.
Please note the lack of name-calling from this 'disrespectful' Gen-Yer.
Time to fire off my app to Virgin Galactic's Space Ambassador program!
Brian Orlotti
Not to mention that it was Eisenhower, not Kennedy, that signed the authorization for NASA, but who's counting!
That's one poke at Gen Y and four pokes back so far. Any chance of giving the first poster the benefit of the doubt that he was playfully teasing for for tying him to a stake and roasting him? He did say (well two out of three at least). Why assume here was teasing about the moon or Mars rather than the Gen Y bit? It's supposed to be a party, let's lighten up:)
Just to note: I am a Gen Yer. I just don't agree with their elitist ways.
Well I, too, am a GenYer. I am one working for NASA in a position where I am supposed to educate the public, GenY included. It's extremely difficult to reach people when you aren't using their preferred channels.
That's what irks me as a GenYer who has genuine interest in NASA. Others like me reach out to older generations - and apathetic young ones - to say that there are better ways to reach us (not better because we are "elitist," better because they are more relevant to our demographic than what is currently being used).
I've heard Center Directors express concern that NASA is "aging." You should all be concerned. We are always fighting for support and funding. Who do you think will be fighting for it in the future?
This is not to say that we are the most important public, that you should go above and beyond to try to reach us over others. I say it to suggest that spurning us when we try to help isn't going to do any good. If you really care about NASA as much as you want us to care about it... help us help you. Listen.
In response to the GenYer, if you read my first comment carefully, you would recognize that there is no way I could ever "remember well" the day NASA was created by an executive order. I wasn't born yet! It follows that that statement is just an attempt at humor. NAGA is NACA and it was obviously Eisenhower and not Kennedy in 1958 that signed the order. So I'm not going to score you on knowledge of history or sense of humor but would recommend shedding the GenY label. And at 50, NASA is not middle aged. Look forward, realize we have but a couple ion engines in operation, functioning with but a few newtons of force. Our robots still spend plenty of time waiting for next instructions. And at 50, I outperform at the desk and can outrun in the field maybe 4 of 5 colleagues that are half my age. I'm working with the young and older developers and engineers to improve their methods of developing the next gen of S/C and payloads.
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Happy Birthday! Now let's get back to the Moon, get to Mars, and get rid of Gen Y. (Well, two out of three at least).