How would you react if astronauts became inspiring to young people again?

[KnightInShiningArmorDis92]

Back in in 2014 thanks to “Mass Effect” and “Neil Degrasse Tyson” I became interested in space and science. I also enjoyed movies like “Guardians of the Galaxy”, “Big Hero 6”, and “Interstellar”.

Then in 2016 my family took a trip to Disney World and I become more interested in getting a high paying job to give me vacations to Disney World every year. I was excited into getting into the frat college party culture. I wanted to own a mansion like those wealthy people who live right next to “Disney World”.

Then COVID hits and during the quarantine I run out of things to watch on TV. I check out this show on Apple TV out of boredom and curiosity. It was called “For All Mankind” and it reignites my interest in space and science. After finishing the first season I binge watch movies like “Apollo 13”, “First Man”, “Hidden Figures”, "The Martian", “Interstellar”, “Gravity”, and even a Russian movie called “Salyut 7” and an anime called “Planetes”.

The show is so crazy even the blonde all American astronaut wife becomes a heroic astronaut herself.

I now think being an astronaut would be the coolest thing ever.

Just in time for the return of human spaceflight to us soil.

How would you react if astronauts became cool again and a lot of “frat bros” and even some “sorority girls” were inspired to get into science and engineering because of astronauts?

 

[mrodgers]

I find this a strange question. Not sure why one would think I or others would react in any way.

 

[unrequited23]

Growing up I wanted to be an astronaut with all of my heart...until I watched Challenger explode live on TV during indoor recess in first grade.

 

[Erica Ladd]

When hasn’t it been cool to be an astronaut?

 

[sam_gordon]

How would you react if astronauts became cool again and a lot of “frat bros” and even some “sorority girls” were inspired to get into science and engineering because of astronauts?

It would suck! People shouldn't look up to them.

Just kidding.

I agree w/PP. Why does it matter how I would "react"? I mean, what do you think? Now, if you had asked "Should people be inspired/encouraged by astronauts?" or "How do we get more people into the astronaut program?" or similar, I could understand the question. But how I would "react" if a job "became cool"? Sorry, just don't get it.

 

[White Cat]

I wouldn’t feel any different than I do now.

 

[Karin1984]

Isn't becoming an astronaut a lot of hard work? I do not really associate frat bros and sorority girls with working hard. Regardless of what they want to become.

 

[ronandannette]

I find this a strange question. Not sure why one would think I or others would react in any way.

Totally. Whatever inspires anyone in a positive direction is just fine with me but I personally have more respect for the unsung heroes working to solve real-people problems here on earth. I truly couldn’t care less about space exploration.

 

[easyas123]

I find this a strange question. Not sure why one would think I or others would react in any way.

agreed

Again? I think that would imply that astronauts aren't currently inspiring young people currently. I'm sure there are plenty who are, were & will be inspired.

 

[AppleDumpling]

When hasn’t it been cool to be an astronaut?

Exactly. To me, they’ve never been uncool, always admired and respected as courageous pioneers. I grew up in the 1960’s and 70’s when it was a huge deal, so maybe have a different perspective than someone younger. I can remember watching Neil Armstrong walking on the moon on live TV; it was so exciting.

Also, FYI, frat bro usually does not have a positive connotation. IME, men in fraternities do not like the term “frat”.

 

[RangerPooh]

I'd rather have youth be more inspired and determined to be an astronaut than social media star.

 

[HiStitch626]

Whatever inspires anyone in a positive direction is just fine with me but I personally have more respect for the unsung heroes working to solve real-people problems here on earth. I truly couldn’t care less about space exploration.

The efforts of astronauts, NASA, and other space agencies have led to many achievements that do help solve real people problems on earth. This includes everything from medical procedures and devices, transportation safety materials, improved agriculture techniques, exercise equipment, cleaning tools and even baby formula. Astronauts may be the face of NASA, although the vast majority of people cannot identify any current astronauts, but there are many "unsung heroes" at NASA working to solve problems on Earth.

 

[Karin1984]

I think 'youth' nowadays is more concerned with the planet than previous generations. Concerned about sustainable food, fashion etc. they probably think as well: let's fix our own planet first before we go explore others.
A 'charity starts at home'-vibe, or 'we have enough problems here'.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I find this a strange question. Not sure why one would think I or others would react in any way.

This poster seems to think that engineering as a whole had lost it's attraction for everyone. Check out posting history. For example:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/why-has-society-devalued-engineering.3847891/

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, since you're not my child and I've got no part of paying for your education, how I react doesn't matter at all. I agree with others here that it's an odd question -- what kind of an adult cares at all if a job is "cool"? A shallow one, of course. What matters is that you can support yourself and feel some sense of personal accomplishment, and hopefully, remain a fundamentally good person along the way.

If you read The Right Stuff and The Astronaut Wives' Club, you can learn quite a bit about the outside-of-work life of the early US astronauts, the men who starred in the original Space Race, and who, yes, were bonafide celebrities. Brave? Absolutely. Persistent? You bet. Smart? Without a doubt, at least where physics was concerned. Morally upright people? With the glaring exception of John Glenn, not so much. They were typical military pilots of their era, brash and ambitious men who served their country, but in return, expected pretty much a full hall pass on bad behavior outside of work (and every one of them gave Glenn hell for being such a straight arrow.) They worked hard, but they also regularly cheated on their wives, drove like bats out of hell, & many of them drank like there was no tomorrow. Most of them were very hard to be married to, which isn't something one should really aspire to be.

 

[_19disnA]

This poster seems to think that engineering as a whole had lost it's attraction for everyone.

I agree and was reading that other thread recently. The OP is making assumptions/generalizations I don't agree with. Not quite sure what their point is.

 

[tvguy]

When hasn’t it been cool to be an astronaut?

The fact that there is a waiting list to get in all the Space Camps during summer kind of supports that. Astronauts are still way cool.

 

[BrianL]

Growing up I wanted to be an astronaut with all of my heart...until I watched Challenger explode live on TV during indoor recess in first grade.

Yeah, me too. I was a bit older, but I had dreamed of being an astronaut, but that changed my mind. For a while I wanted to then design spaceships, but I found I was more interested in X-Wing Fighters and Enterprises than actual spacecraft.

 

[starry_solo]

I find this a strange question. Not sure why one would think I or others would react in any way.

The OP has a lot of strange questions...check out the other threads he (or she) has started.

But back to the OP, you must be hanging around a ton of deadbeats not to be inspired by astronauts, engineering, and sci-fi.

 

[Dan Murphy]