Where's the Industrial Research?

> How come NASA is sending up undergrad research projects and projects
> from a 6th grade class?
>
> Is there no better science that can be conducted?
NASA is a screwed up mess.

U.S. science, while in better shape, also needs fixing.

A little over a year ago (pre Columbia) I heard the head of NSF plead
for a reinvigorated space program to interest the youth of America in
science careers. Rita didn't seem to know that young people are now
regarding space as a dead end.

>
> Not to take away anything from science inclined undergrads, but I
> would expect more sophisticated scientific inquiries from the
> graduate divisions of Universities, the faculty and from scientists
> at commercial firms.

By the time you've gotten through the system, you're not interested in
space.

>
> Is there so much slack in the system that P.R. science flights have
> to be booked to fill the slots?

Yes.

I agree this this is sad.

Now perhaps people will understand a bit better why I've become so much
of a revolutionary.

All the best,

Chuck Divine