🚀 go-pugleaf

As mentioned in previous news group submissions, I am trying to get the
Canadian Space Agency to use more of the social science arguments for
manned space exploration and development when they market the program.  As
suggested by a number of anthropologists, one good way to do this would be
to show people that only through strongly supporting manned space flight
today can we hope to have the kind of generally positive future portrayed
in such television science fiction series as Star Trek.  Along this line,
I asked Dr. Marc Garneau (the first Canadian in space) the following
question on television a few weeks ago.  His answer was quite gracious and
showed a long term vision rarely presented these days.  Here, for your
info, is the question I asked Dr. Garneau followed by his answer (I have
left in some of the humour for your interest and entertainment.  Please
excuse the poor grammar, etc. - it was after all an oral conversation that
we were having):

(The following exchange appeared on the CBC Newsworld television show
"Petrie in Prime" which aired between 9:00 and 10:00 pm EDT,
June 13, 1995)

Tom Harris:  "Congratulations on being chosen to fly again (note to news
group: Garneau has been chosen to fly on the shuttle in mid 1996, making
him the first Canadian to fly in space twice).  
There's no question that the kind of work you're doing is part of the
sort of thing we should be doing in Canada in the high technology field to
have a prosperous future.  I wanted to say two things.  First, it's great
to have an Industry Minister that is so supportive of manned space flight
because, as I'm sure you know, it's very important to our future (Garneau
nods).  But I had a question for you concerning the marketing of the
manned space program.  A number of anthropologists that I've been speaking
to have been saying that the various space agencies are really missing a
bet by not using more popular culture to help market the program.  A good
example of that, although there are many, the example that they use is
Star Trek.  It is after all the most popular program in television history
and of course there are some good reasons for that.  I was told recently
by an anthropologist here in Canada that the space agencies should be
using that as a vehicle to help market the program, basically telling
people that if you want a future for your children and great
grandchildren, or whatever, that even approaches this kind of very popular
television show, that you have to support manned space flight right now. 
This fellow was even saying that perhaps NASA and the CSA should be
actually helping, you know, acting as sponsors for Star Trek and other
forms of this kind of popular culture.  I was wondering -- why do you
think they don't already do that?"

Dr. Garneau:  "Well, you bring up a good point.  I think there is an
element of marketing in here, not commercial marketing in the normal sense
of the term but trying to make Canadians or Americans aware of the fact
that we have a program and that there is a certain amount of vision and a
long term approach to this whole thing.  I think that you raise a good
point in saying that maybe we don't do a good job from that point of view.
 I certainly, when I go out and have the opportunity to talk to Canadians,
try to bring up that kind of thing.  But I think we probably have a few
things to learn from the marketing point of view because I think that
people understand that, rather than looking at specific short term
objectives with each flight, that there is actually a master plan in
moving out, not only into low Earth orbit to become comfortable in our own
backyard, but eventually to move out into our solar system.  And we will
go to the Moon and we will go to Mars early in the next century.  But
eventually trying to develop the technology so that we can leave our solar
system and go visit neighbouring stars and go to other parts of our
galaxy.  And perhaps that does tend to get forgotten and certainly a
program like Star Trek brings that across very well.  And perhaps we
should be honest and also point out that the days of warp speed are still
some time away and we have quite a bit of work to do before we are able to
achieve warp speed (smile)."

Kathlene Petty (CBC commentator): "Well, now I have to ask you -- are you
a Star Trek fan?"

Dr. Garneau:  "Yes, I am.  In fact, I've been interviewed quite often
about Star Trek -- I like to watch the program.  Probably, to be honest
with you, The Next Generation is the one that I enjoy the most -- the one
that just finished recently.  I think they've got some great ideas and I
think the whole program is mind expanding; it's a lot of fun too, to
watch, and I think they do their homework as far as looking at ... I don't
think any of the technology and the ideas that they bring up are so far
fetched as to be ridiculous -- I think it all has the ring of plausibility."

Ms. Petty:  "OK, fair enough (laugh)... and wouldn't you like one of those
"holodecks"?"   bla, bla, bla (silly stuff).

Dr. Garneau: (obviously joking to humour the commentator and to be
friendly)  "Well, I agree -- everybody should have their own holodeck"
(smile).




Note to Readers of this news group:  I received a short e-mail from Mr.
Mac Evans (CSA President) last week thanking me for supporting the space
program and also expressing his appreciation for my keeping him up to date
on my Internet submissions.  While he is apparently reading my submissions
and says that he generally agrees with their contents, he also said that
he didn't have the time to comment in detail on the accuracy of what I have
posted.  Consequently, Mr. Evans said, I should not assume that a lack of
comment from his office implies that he agrees with everything I have
reported on the Internet.  

On Saturday night I sent copies of all of the Internet submissions to the
other participant in our June 9 meeting, Ms. Diana Durnford, John Manley's
Special Assistant-Policy -- perhaps she'll give a more detailed response.  

Meanwhile, Mr. Evans says that he'll remind the head of the CSA's Public
Relations, M. Louis Fortier, to get in touch with me soon.  As usual, I'll
let the news groups know what happens next.

Ad Astra,

Tom Harris