NASA Mission

It only took a week, and even then the refutation was tepid, but the executive branch of the federal government through White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs has finally acknowledged it is not a task of NASA "to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering." That is one of three things NASA administrator Charles Bolden stated he was charged to do by President Obama. The other two were to: 1) help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math; and 2) expand our international relationships. Conspicuously missing is anything directly related to aeronautics or space. Thankfully NASA's official mission statement remains straightforward and succinct: To improve life here, to extend life to there, and to find life beyond.

References:

"When I became the NASA Administrator — before I became the NASA Administrator — [Obama] charged me with three things: One was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering."

NASA administrator Charles Bolden

York, Byron. "Obama’s New Mission for NASA: Reach out to Muslim World." Beltway Confidential. Washington Examiner, 05 July 2010. Web. 13 July 2010.

Gibbs, at his daily news briefing, was asked why Bolden had made the comment.

"It's an excellent question, and I don't think -- that was not his task, and that's not the task of NASA," Gibbs said

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs

Reuters. "White House Corrects NASA Chief on Muslim Comment | Reuters." Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com. Reuters, 12 July 2010. Web. 13 July 2010.

NASA Mission Statement

· To improve life here,

· To extend life to there,

· To find life beyond.

NASA Vision

To understand and protect our home planet, To explore the Universe and search for life, and To inspire the next generation of explorers... as only NASA can.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. ".: NASA Mission Statement Nasa Information-Nasa Informations-Nasa Info-Nasa Images-Space Shuttle Space Station-Nasa Tv -Nasa News-Space Station Informations." . Nasa Information-Nasa Informations-Nasa Info-Nasa Images-Space Shuttle Space Station-Nasa Tv -Nasa News-Space Station Informations. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Web. 13 July 2010.