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NASA to Go Commercial?

jeffy124 writes: "CNN has an article about NASA possibly selling space. The idea comes from Russia, where they have have sent into space Pizza Hut pizza, talking picture frames, and magazines. The proposal includes ties with the entertainment industry, tourism, NASA merchandise, and hiring a nongovernment organization to manage the US areas of the International Space Station." If anyone has a link to this NASA draft document the article talks about, please post it below.

6 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Why's it sad? by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 4, Funny

    What possible benefit can we, the public whose tax dollars support NASA, see from space exploration? Obviously, someone has decided that the money would be better spent elsewhere, and the only people I see complaining are the occasional Slashdot user.

    Obviously, if we all wanted it, we'd be pissing away billions of dollars on space exploration, which so far has netted us a handful of rocks, Tang, and Astronaut Ice Cream.

    Sad? Hardly. Unless you can't live without Tang.

    - A.P.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  2. Ahhh, Russia by TheDarkRogue · · Score: 4, Funny

    hmm, If we keep taking ideas from russia soon we ill be able to buy a shuttle on ebay or for a bit less a trip into space, with training. Good old Russia.

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    (Score:0, Interesting)
  3. That's okay with me. by tcc · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's the most brilliant idea that I've read in weeks... sending the entertainment people in orbit!

    Send the people behind RIAA and MPAA into space, you'll get out full undivided support!

    Oh and don't send too much oxygen... you know, it costs 1000$/KG so, you can try to save on that issue... especially if you are commercial, you must turn into profits... just a suggestion :)

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    --- Metamoderating abusive downgraders since my 300th post.
  4. Better Idea by SMN · · Score: 5, Funny
    Yes, many technological devices and mediums rely on commercial advertising -- look at TV/Radio, Newspapers/Magazines, the Internet, etc. Yes, NASA could benefit greatly by doing the same.

    But if we're going to take a cue from history, let's point NASA toward the real profit from technology lies: Porn.

    No, really, think about it. Early photographs? Porn. Videos? Porn. DVDs? Why, Porn again! And don't even get me started on where all the "innovations" in Internet commerce and advertising have come from -- we may all hate the X10 ads, but they're using both innovation AND implied voyeurism to make a profit.

    Now, just imagine what NASA could do by selling Space Porn. I'm sure that millions of guys across America would be "curious" enough to pay a few bucks to see sex in space. And any modeling company would love it -- no mode need for Wonderbras for lift, since there's no gravity to make them fall. And they'd bring about a whole new wave of public interest in space travel and technology (surely this would be more effective in creating public interest than the proposed return-to-the-moon plans)!

    Let's face it -- a little Porn goes a long way toward the technological advancement of the human race. Abandon your silly preconceived morals and let the avarice take control.

    (Moderators: With any luck, this will be funny. But it might be a troll. I'm honestly not sure =)

    --
    -- Imagine how much more advanced our technology would be if we had eight fingers per hand.
  5. Re:if thats what it takes by grammar+nazi · · Score: 5, Funny
    I always thought that Nike should hire NASA to dye a large part of the moon's surface with a swoosh(tm). Since the same side of the moon always faces the earth, then the entire world would be able to see the Nike swoosh(tm). This marketing would reach out to the entire world in an effective way for Nike.

    Of course, most people would be against this, but Nike could find a way to label those people as communistic or something.

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    Keeping /. free of grammatical errors for ~5 years.
  6. How oddly appropriate... by corky6921 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...that I would happen to be surfing the humor sites today and find this picture of a space shuttle!