A catchy NASA acronym could lead to restrooms on Mars
When NASA director Dr. Charles F. Bolden Jr. said that this year’s mission selection process was the most difficult session in more than two decades, it got me thinking:
I wonder how Barbara Eden is doing?
After a quick Google search found her alive and well, a second thought crossed my mind:
What is the criteria for giving a space mission the green light nowadays, especially in this era of cutbacks? And, perhaps more importantly, how do they manage to come up with such cool acronyms for each one?
After calling the NASA hotline and engaging its new automated information system known as Orbital News History and Official Lunar Development (ONHOLD), I eventually spoke with an actual Programs Education and Research Specialist Operator for Newspapers (PERSON).
It was during this conversation that I discovered the frightening truth. For many years NASA utilized a two-step process in determining its mission programs. This process involved having someone from the automobile industry submit the name of a new sport utility vehicle — Voyager, Odyssey, Explorer, Pathfinder, Contour — then force NASA scientists and astrophysicists to design a mission to go along with it.
I’m happy to say that this is no longer a practice at NASA.
For the most part, anyway.
You see, even though space missions are no longer being dictated by car manufacturers (and why the budget has been reduced to whatever NASA employees can scrape from their car ashtrays), catchy acronyms are still a must.
Here are just a few examples of how having the right name can mean the difference between getting a green light or red light for your mission project:
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy:
(SOFIA)
Green light.
Mars Universal Cybernetic and Ultraviolet System:
(MUCUS)
Red light.
Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer:
(FAST)
Green light.
Reflective Electron Cylindrical Transmitter and Universe Monitor:
(RECTUM).
Red light.
Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous:
(NEAR)
Green light.
Unlimited-Rocket-Fueled Initiative Response Experimental Drone:
(U-R-FIRED).
Red light.
Mosty by a lack of volunteers.
The truth is, while some programs have quickly moved to the launch pad, mission proposals that are just as important to mankind have been scrapped simply because they translated into acronyms like CUT-BACKS, SPUTNIK and VOMIT.
Which isn’t to say that missions scheduled for the near future aren’t beneficial. In March, Nasa will send an astronaut to the International Space Station for a year in order to study the long-term effects of zero gravity on the human body. The mission, Long-term Interstellar Motion Project (LIMP) even made the cover of TIME magazine.
Also later this year, the FAME mission (Full-sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer), which was scrapped in 2009 when a remake of the 1980 movie of the same name imploded at the box office, will begin a five-year trek to map out and measure the distances between 40 million stars.
Both of these missions are critical steps in the evolution of civilian space travel…
“Are we almost there yet?”
“No. We’ve got six light years to go.”
“But I have to use the potty.”
“We just stopped for gas at the Milky Way! Why didn’t you go then?”
“I forgot.”
“Can you hold it?”
“For how long?”
“Just to Uranus.”
Remember: In space, no one can hear you scream.
————————–
MORE PLACES TO FIND LONG AWKWARD PAUSE:
Facebook: Long Awkward Pause
Twitter: @LongAwkPause
Tumblr: Long Awkward Pause Mag
LAP TV: YouTube
Would you like to see a topic discussed on LAP? Click HERE.
That’s very interestng Ned. I have to say, though, NASA’s dependence on commercial endeavors to determine mission viability is very unlike our somewhat limited but robust space program here in Canada. We tend to lean more towards national support for missions such as the following , which were both very successful:
Multi Altitude Polar Latitude Extragalactic Satellite for Yellow Red Ultraviolet Pulsars =
MAPLE SYRUP
and, of course:
Bolide Extinction and Ablation Visual Examination Research =
BEAVER
I’m not sayng they’re better , but we like them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL! I’d like to think Canada and the U.S. could work together on the LAB mission (Launch A Bieber) as a way to improve the planet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent project Ned.You can count on our support.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You skipped the Parallax Experiments Not Involving Satellites venture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please Brainrants, you KNOW that project is one of a matched pair, so be sure you include it next time please:
Vacuum Analysis of Gamma Induced Neutron Anistropy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
NASA has decided to put both the PENIS and VAGINA missions on hold until they can assure a series of smooth re-entries with the Lunar Utility Bodice Explorer.
LikeLike
Bwahahaha! I laughed out loud at that that one Ned.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, that goes with the PENIS venture for certain… you know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only because I heard it’s one of NASA’s smaller programs.
LikeLike
You’re a bit behind in the latest news Ned. This venture has been given new life and extended by the addition of a new module to Parallax Experiments Not Involving Satellites by the Enigma Nuanced Lateral Analytic Research of Growth Enhancing Radiation. We are hoping for a far better project performance with this new extention.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this may be premature…
LikeLike
Yes, there are a number of nay-sayers. However it is our intention to push forward until the new project is competely integrated with the Vacuum Analysis of Gamma Induced Neutron Anistropy project. There really is no telling the end result until both projects have reported.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It will definitly be a climactic moment.
LikeLike
Indeed. Much like the historic re-integration of the Lunar Module and the Command Module, the outcome will only be climactic if it is successful for both.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard the size of a program doesn’t really matter… it’s the funding behind it that counts.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah, that’s usually what they say *cough cough*
LikeLike
This just in: Congress decided to pump funding into the Parallax Experiments Not Involving Satellites. With this helping hand, the project was launched without involving the Vacuum Analysis of Gamma Induced Neutron Anistropy project, whose engineers said they were used to being left behind anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly, I think there was some palm greasing involved.
LikeLike
I would happily volunteer some hours for that LAB project!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! I have a feeling there will be no shortage of volunteers for this project.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How could you have overlooked the Office of Geographic and Atmospheric Strategic Management?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They have multiple offices, right?
LikeLike
I love a man who knows how to use his big words.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve been told I have a rather large vocabulary…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Last month hubby and I were at Kennedy Space center in Cape Canaveral, FL. We saw the actual space shuttle since it is now on display after having been retired. I was humbled and overwhelmed a bit… it made me cry.
The space program fascinates me! I think it is the coolest thing ever and would have loved to be a part of all that stuff growing up, but I’m not smart enough. I’m intelligent, but you have to be uber genius level and really good at math. I can’t balance my checkbook without a calculator. LOL!
Loved your post! It is quite humorous to think about those guys sitting around coming up with some of those acronyms. (real and not) HEY… maybe I COULD do it! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I went to the space center in Houston many years ago and, like you, was humbled by the accomplishments and sacrifices made by our space program andn its astronauts. I poke a little fun here, but I think what they do is absolutely incredible.
And yeah, I stink at math so I knew at an early age I better set my sites on something more down to earth, like trying to make people laugh 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Which you are very, very good at!!!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh great.. why do I have random quotes from Spaceballs running through my head now? WE’RE ALL A@@HOLES!
LikeLike
You can’t blame that on me, Steve.
LikeLike
This time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve no idea how much I needed to laugh today, buddy.
Thanks for trying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Thanks for trying…”
Suddenly I’m reminded of my first sexual experience…
LikeLike
I knew you’d run with that. Thanks, buddy!
Seriously, its been a super strange day, filled with idiotic local reporters, female bloggers who appear to be off their nutter and an overwhelming sense of failure, both personally and professionally.
Thanks for being one the lights in my life.
(Boy, that was a little too sensitive and Bette Midlerish for my tastes, but what the hell?)
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I could, I would hug you right now. With our pants on, just so we’re clear.
LikeLike
Oh, we’re clear… as mud.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ah, the old chicken and the egg method/paradox.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why did the space mission cross the road?
LikeLike
to get to the outer limits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HAHAHAH! 😉
LikeLike
I’ve got nothing! I’m laughing so hard at all of this (post & comments) there is no way I add anything that would be worthy. I bet Chris Hadfield could, though. He has a good sense of humour and probably has a box full of these.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey thanks! Oh, and I’ll give Chris our address so he can send us that box!
LikeLike