Can Branson's flight push children to STEM?

[Cyrano]

For those who don't know, STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

We can agree or disagree on what Branson accomplished today. However, I assume that millions of children were watching. And it will hopefully make a difference in their attitudes toward their education.

In July of 1969, two human beings landed and walked on the moon. The whole world was watching. Can anyone imagine that this didn't inspire countless children to want to "fly in space?" And that aspiration required them to turn their educational interests toward the STEM courses.

Hopefully, what Branson did today will have some of the same effect.

And let's not forget Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. Musk showed us that booster rockets didn't have to be discarded. He has successfully landed booster rockets, (used to launch his supply ships to the international space station), back on Earth. And next week, Bezos is planning to ride his own company's rocket into orbit around the Earth.

Many think this is billionaires playing games. Perhaps, to some degree. But they are also helping to push the envelope of what humanity is capable of. And if it takes billionaires to bring into being the future of humanity, as imagined by H.G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, Gene Roddenberry, and so many others, so be it. And if the actions of these billionaires brings about a greater awareness of the importance of education, great.

[MerryHolidays]

1. To me, space exploration, at most, should be a public-private partnership

That's exactly what the Apollo project was with the US government's NASA teaming up with private companies like Boeing, Rockwell, North American Aviation etc to achieve monumental success. I hope we can go back to those days, but I doubt it.

We've already polluted this earth, and now we are polluting space. I have no idea if that will bring consequences, but falling debris has to be one of them. In addition, the debris up there poses risk to the ISS, other space stations, satellites etc. That's what I know about, but I am sure there are other problems with polluting space.

I am sorry, but Elon Musk's launching a Tesla into space was the height of insanity. In addition, the line of satellites that recently formed a distinct light pattern in the sky were a bunch of satellites from Musk's internet company. How much space junk these private companies are contributing to space pollution is anyone's guess.

I really wish international space treaties regulated space so governments around the world could play a part in regulation. Maybe they already do, so I apologize in advance for my ignorance.

I like Branson because he is a life-long adventurer. To that extent, this fits in with many of his exploits. I can't say the same for the other two.

[WarGamer]

2. We need to change our culture.

Make heroes out of scientists, teachers and doctors...

Imagine if less people gave a shit about LeBron James and cared more about gene editing and the implications for human health.

[Devil Child]

3. Nailed it WarGamer!

I remember my parents excitedly watching shuttle launches and praising science achievments in our house. Must have worked as a sibling became a scientist!

BTW any good war-game recs?

[WarGamer]

4. Old-Skool... anything Avalon Hill pre-90's

[Devil Child]

6. Respect!

I haven't busted them out in a very long while but I have ASL and SL on the bookshelf. Currently enjoying Demjansk Shield and Andean Abyss.

[WarGamer]

8. Good taste in games!!! Enjoy!

I love love love Eastern Front games...

[gainesvillenole]

5. It was a ridiculous show.....

I’m sorry, but when individuals are obscenely wealthy enough to START THEIR OWN SPACE PROGRAM they need to have their taxes increased…💁🏻‍♂️

[Devil Child]

7. I bet people felt similarly when the Wright Bros did their thing n/t

[Hoyt]

9. +1.

[Effete Snob]

11. What did Branson invent?

The Wright brothers didn’t just write checks to the people who did the actual work.

[Effete Snob]

10. How absurd. Is Branson an engineer or scientist?

The lesson for kids is - you want to be the one with the MONEY.

That’s like thinking Trump inspires kids to be architects.

[Klaralven]

14. Unlike Trump, Branson has been a successful entrepreneur

He started a mail order record sales business in his early twenties, parlayed that into a chain of record stores, then the Virgin Records music label, Virgin Airlines, Virgin Rail, etc.

[Effete Snob]

15. They both live more comfortably

Than the typical engineer or scientist.

[scrabblequeen40]

12. Depends what you want to teach children

Branson teaches kids to become rich and reckless with money.

[Cyrano]

13. Hopefully, kids were watching the flight

and had no concept of who or what Branson is.

I tend to be a pessimist about today's politics, however, I'm an optimist about how children perceive "great things." If I'm right, children watching today's activities perceived it as a great (scientific) moment.