NASA and the muslim world

RACER X · 07-07-2010, 01:34 PM

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010...tions-muslims/

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a recent interview that his "foremost" mission as the head of America's space exploration agency is to improve relations with the Muslim world.

Though international diplomacy would seem well outside NASA's orbit, Bolden said in an interview with Al Jazeera that strengthening those ties was among the top tasks President Obama assigned him. He said better interaction with the Muslim world would ultimately advance space travel.

"When I became the NASA administrator -- or before I became the NASA administrator -- he charged me with three things. One was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering," Bolden said in the interview.

The NASA administrator was in the Middle East last month marking the one-year anniversary since Obama delivered an address to Muslim nations in Cairo. Bolden spoke in June at the American University in Cairo -- in his interview with Al Jazeera, he described space travel as an international collaboration of which Muslim nations must be a part.

"It is a matter of trying to reach out and get the best of all worlds, if you will, and there is much to be gained by drawing in the contributions that are possible from the Muslim (nations)," he said. He held up the International Space Station as a model, praising the contributions there from the Russians and the Chinese.

However, Bolden denied the suggestion that he was on a diplomatic mission -- in a distinctly non-diplomatic role.

"Not at all. It's not a diplomatic anything," he said.

He said the United States is not going to travel beyond low-Earth orbit on its own and that no country is going to make it to Mars without international help.

Bolden has faced criticism this year for overseeing the cancellation of the agency's Constellation program, which was building new rockets and spaceships capable of returning astronauts to the moon. Stressing the importance of international cooperation in future missions, Bolden told Al Jazeera that the moon, Mars and asteroids are still planned destinations for NASA.

shmike · 07-07-2010, 01:35 PM

WTF

Trip · 07-07-2010, 01:40 PM

This guy has to go.

shmike · 07-07-2010, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

This guy has to go.

Bolden or Obama?

Trip · 07-07-2010, 01:52 PM

Both, Bolden is who I was referring to.

Mikey · 07-07-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmike

Bolden or Obama?

Yes.

Papa_Complex · 07-07-2010, 01:57 PM

Does this mean that the NASA budget has been cut so much, that they'll only be using conventional aircraft for the foreseeable future?

Particle Man · 07-07-2010, 01:58 PM

um, relevance to NASA's charter purpose?

Homeslice · 07-07-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

Both, Bolden is who I was referring to.

Bolden is only doing what Obama told him to do. I can guarantee you he would never have dreamed up this Muslim thing otherwise.

smileyman · 07-07-2010, 02:13 PM

Why are we discussing 'The Muslim World'? Shouldnt an international effort for space exploration refer to them as 'The Arab World'?

Yes I know they are predominantly of the Muslim faith but this is a fail on the seperation of govt/religion maybe?

What would Obama like to see? Exploding space boots? Hijacked space stations?

07-07-2010, 01:34 PM	#1
RACER X AMA Supersport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Richmond, Tx Moto: '10 Tuono Factory Posts: 4,569	NASA and the muslim world http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010...tions-muslims/ NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a recent interview that his "foremost" mission as the head of America's space exploration agency is to improve relations with the Muslim world. Though international diplomacy would seem well outside NASA's orbit, Bolden said in an interview with Al Jazeera that strengthening those ties was among the top tasks President Obama assigned him. He said better interaction with the Muslim world would ultimately advance space travel. "When I became the NASA administrator -- or before I became the NASA administrator -- he charged me with three things. One was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering," Bolden said in the interview. The NASA administrator was in the Middle East last month marking the one-year anniversary since Obama delivered an address to Muslim nations in Cairo. Bolden spoke in June at the American University in Cairo -- in his interview with Al Jazeera, he described space travel as an international collaboration of which Muslim nations must be a part. "It is a matter of trying to reach out and get the best of all worlds, if you will, and there is much to be gained by drawing in the contributions that are possible from the Muslim (nations)," he said. He held up the International Space Station as a model, praising the contributions there from the Russians and the Chinese. However, Bolden denied the suggestion that he was on a diplomatic mission -- in a distinctly non-diplomatic role. "Not at all. It's not a diplomatic anything," he said. He said the United States is not going to travel beyond low-Earth orbit on its own and that no country is going to make it to Mars without international help. Bolden has faced criticism this year for overseeing the cancellation of the agency's Constellation program, which was building new rockets and spaceships capable of returning astronauts to the moon. Stressing the importance of international cooperation in future missions, Bolden told Al Jazeera that the moon, Mars and asteroids are still planned destinations for NASA. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ 2014 GROM! 181cc of FURY 2010 Aprilia Tuono Factory - SOLD 2009 SFV Gladius - SOLD 2008 Hayabusa - SOLD.

07-07-2010, 01:35 PM	#2
shmike Follower Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,549	WTF __________________ Racing For Smiles

07-07-2010, 01:57 PM	#7
Papa_Complex Nomadic Tribesman Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brampton, Canada Moto: '09 ER-6n Posts: 11,150	Does this mean that the NASA budget has been cut so much, that they'll only be using conventional aircraft for the foreseeable future? __________________ "Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge, "Dorkness Rising" http://www.morallyambiguous.net/

07-07-2010, 01:58 PM	#8
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	um, relevance to NASA's charter purpose? __________________ I'm not "fat." I'm "Enlarged to show texture." Handle every stressful situation like a DOG: If you can't eat it or hump it, pi$$ on it & walk away.

07-07-2010, 02:13 PM	#10
smileyman White Trash Hero Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NW Arkansas Moto: Buell 1125R Porco Rosso Edition Posts: 4,895	Why are we discussing 'The Muslim World'? Shouldnt an international effort for space exploration refer to them as 'The Arab World'? Yes I know they are predominantly of the Muslim faith but this is a fail on the seperation of govt/religion maybe? What would Obama like to see? Exploding space boots? Hijacked space stations? __________________ Arkriders.com To be the best you must first be willing to risk the worst!

07-07-2010, 01:40 PM	#3
Trip Hold mah beer! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 80 Miles South of Moto Heaven Moto: 08 R1200GS Posts: 23,268	This guy has to go.

07-07-2010, 01:52 PM	#5
Trip Hold mah beer! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 80 Miles South of Moto Heaven Moto: 08 R1200GS Posts: 23,268	Both, Bolden is who I was referring to.