Accountability
"Moon Cam" letter...a different perspective...
Mon Oct 18 11:22:43 1999


Visualize...Define...Implement...Hold Accountable!

Commercial profit is extremely important, value vs. cost can open the doors, versatile task opportunities will draw attention, public relations opportunities might even open a few checkbooks...(and the letter should cover all these hotspots, but nothing has more of a time proven *track record* than good old hand shaking, back slapping, baby kissing, POLITICS!

"Big Picture" instincts would suggest that when the final letter is approved and ready for submission, that one find the nearest *space/technology friendly* politician, especially one who is running for re-election, and plant a seed!

I have worked within the political system successfully a number of times. It is interesting how cooperative bureaucrats can be when one utilizes the system rather than bucking it! I for one might just include a copy of such a letter with my next political donation(s)! The State of Florida has many space/technology friendly politicians...and they don't seem shy when asking for multiple donations! I would assume that Texas, California, Alabama, Tennessee, Maryland, and others might have similar opportunities available...Oh, and don't underestimate the power of email! Many not only have their own web sites, but if you know them well enough have personal email...talk about captive audience!

Less of an investment in my opinion with perhaps quicker results! Nothing better! Who knows, maybe JW Bush would like nothing better than to "one up" Al Gore! Sounds silly. but amazing things have occurred as a result of something as simple as political gain!

The question becomes...is the end result more important than the path of acquisition? GOM...as long as you get your Moon Cam, does it matter for example, how it is accomplished or who might get credit for it?

If your answer is no...I might be willing to roll up my sleeves and shovel some political poop...so to speak...

Accountability�

GOM
Hello Acct . . . It's actually not "my" MoonCam.
Tue Oct 19 04:01:05 1999


Grendel apparently was the first to mention it, according to Wun. I haven't gone back through every post. Tilos has had a long, long fascination with the moon, I think especially the back side. I think Jason and Eddie both contributed and I'm sure many others as well. And of course we can't forget Hazy Editor. Just look at our new Mission Control!!!

My main function is to bitch and moan about NASA. Seems to me if they can't do Mars, maybe they could get something to fly around the moon. A little harsh, I suppose.

I guess you may be right about politicians. After all, it was President Kennedy that set out the man on moon goal in the first place. As I recall, he said we would do it within the decade. That was a pretty revolutionary statement to make at that time. Don't remember exactly what year he said that.

I am very happy to see all the interest in the MoonCam idea and all the variety of responses it is generating. Even a website is up about it now! I think Eddie is correct about getting some organization into this parade. If we all go off in different directions, the impact will be diluted imo.

As the MoonCam project expands, I have quickly realized that this is way over my limited capabilities. I don't have the brainpower, the technical schooling, or the time to do this properly.

My objective in asking Jason for a letter was just going to be on a personal level. I was attempting to be a positive impact on NASA, instead of attacking people that claim a miles/kilometers mixup for the latest Mars fiasco.

I hope that this is one of those unstoppable great ideas! I would just like to be able to see the pix live, without anyone interfering with them or "interpreting" them for us!

For pix from the back side of the moon, obviously there needs to be some memory storage capability. We should be able to fly the LEO closer to the moon than IKONOS can get to earth due to lower gravity, and with no moon atmosphere the clarity should be startling.

Please pardon me if I jump around a bit. I'm just thinking out loud as I react to your post. I'm not sure that MoonCam would give Bush any more clout than he already has (in my opinion read that $$$$$$). He may already be unstoppable, unless he shoots himself in the foot. I wouldn't think that we are close to ready to give any politician this idea yet, but maybe I'm being too cautious.

Thanks for your input. No matter the outcome, it's going to be an interesting ride.

Da Grump

MoonShadow
The mission of getting a MoonCam
Mon Oct 18 12:03:41 1999


is bigger than any of us. No doubt, we are not the first to share this idea and then banter it around....

I seriously doubt Grendel will worry about being one of the first to discuss portable launch craft out on the high seas here. Grumpy Old Man may have a fond memory about asking if such a platform could launch a satellite into a lunar orbit. Grendel took that thought further by suggesting a "Mooncam" might send back interesting images our way....

Great ideas are often shared - and acquired by others. One of my favorite lines is, "All my best ideas are borrowed, stolen, or loaned to me by others," and I mean it! No doubt, some publicity hound of a politician, scientist, or even a web master will take this idea, and claim it as his or her own. But what does that matter - if the job gets done?

tilos
The Truth is a lot of major contributors to expanding the
Mon Oct 18 13:15:27 1999


human potential are not given the credit they deserve. The truly great ones probably didn't care. The fact that it was done is what is important and the only person that really needs to be satisfied with the fruits of our labors in areas we have a true passion for is ourselves.

I am sure that our need for recognition and reward so doing things that we should want to do because of a "passion to learn and progress" would be seen as a sign of immaturity by more advanced cultures.

�Gatekeeper....
Lets consider ourselves stockholders in a corporation....
Mon Oct 18 15:39:59 1999


And NASA is our investment, we should have THAT sort of power and vote on direction. So what if we did act like a board of directors of MoonCam.org and actively have our links of research, each of us taking an aspect of SAT technologies as our study.... write essay's depicting our input and desires.

A very respectable "Mission Statement" and guidelines of responsibilities like letter writing to the politicians and scientists, ie. publishing our results to inquiry.

Organization....

Gates of Babylon....