selling nasa: skylab student experiment project (1971-1974)
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Selling NASA: Skylab Student Experiment Project (1971-1974). Y. H. Phoebe Tang M. Phil Candidate, Department of History The University of Hong Kong. Email: [email protected]. Picture taken at Steven F. Udvar -Hazy Center. Poster from NASA Headquarters Historical Reference Collection. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Selling NASA: Skylab Student Experiment Project
(1971-1974)
Y. H. Phoebe Tang M. Phil Candidate, Department of History
The University of Hong Kong
Email: [email protected]
Picture taken at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Poster from NASA Headquarters Historical Reference Collection
- Over 87,000 students received project kits
- 301 out of 3409 proposals selected
- 25 national winners
The Competition
I. Background of Skylab Student Experiment Project
II. NASA answering to public concerns and boosting public interest
III. Evaluating the Skylab Student Experiment Project
I. Background of the Skylab Student Experiment Project
Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan 1973
NASA appropriationsYear Percentage of national
budget1966 4.41%1967 3.35%1968 2.65%1969 2.46%1970 1.92%1971 1.61%1972 1.48%1973 1.35%
1968 - Over 60 percent students viewed space program as correlated with US’ military race against Soviet Union
- Space program to keep US as number one superpower - Appropriations to be spent on social problems
Late 1960s and early 1970s - Enrollment in science classes dropped
Students’ views towards space and science
II. NASA answering to public concerns and boosting public interest
“...an unparalleled opportunity for direct public involvement in the values and benefits of the space program...”
- Dale D. Myers, Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, 1971
Students’ Involvement
- NASA advisor or a Principal Investigator
- 5-day Preliminary Design Review
- 2-day Critical Design Review
Booklet from NASA Headquarters Historical Reference Collection
III. Evaluating the Skylab Student Experiment Project
“...renew interest in NASA and its activities...” - Lee Summerlin, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Science Education
“...an enriching and lasting experience...”“...a feeling for the meaning of being a scientist.”
- Jeanne Leventhal, student investigator
Houston Chronicle, 21 July 1972
http://history.nasa.gov/EP-177/ch5-3.html
Washington Star-News, 27 July 1973
1974 Polls
- Decreased spending in space
- Space exploration not in spending priorities
- Job training and pollution control
Conclusion
http://www.youtube.com/user/spacelab
Y. H. Phoebe Tang M. Phil Candidate, Department of History
The University of Hong Kong
Selling NASA: Skylab Student Experiment Project
(1971-1974)
Email: [email protected]