America, the first country to put a man and a flag on a celestial body, once captivated the world with its commitment to a single vision: the exploration and understanding of the world around us. One recent assessment, however, says American 15-year-olds now rank 21st in science and 25th in math when compared to their peers around their world. With so much happening on the ground, how can we turn our focus to the stars ... and, is it even worth it?
To discuss those ideas, and the president's commitment to the space program, we speak to Charles Bolden, the new NASA administrator.
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The show is a co-production of WNYC Radio and Public Radio International, in collaboration with The BBC World Service, New York Times Radio and WGBH Boston.
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Comments [3]
The nations that lead on the frontiers determine the course of human history.
America: Ad Astra! (to the stars)
I hope the answer is not to spend more on education. Since that has NEVER inspired anyone. The success of planting the flag on the moon was the inspiration for several generations of American engineers and scientists. That is how inspiration works. If you forgot how we got there, read President Kennedy's Moon Speech given at Rice University. That formula still works. Its not cute or gimmicky, its actually so simple its often dismissed.
Yep, the more wars the USan empire wages, the more stupid its sheeple become which is okay, that's how our fearless leaders, corporate states and corporate masters like it.
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