Do you remember when you were a kid and there was that one rich kid who lived on your street? I remember him. He was kind of a turd, but I would go over his house anyway. Why would I waste my precious time hanging out with a turd? Because he had all of the best toys. I suppose that makes me a turd as well.

He would sit in his room and tell me he was bored. Bored?! How could he be bored?! Stacked in his closet were all the best games: Ants in the Pants, Mr. Mouth, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Don’t Tip the Waiter. “Let’s play a game,” I’d suggest. “Nah, they’re all boring,” he’d retort.

Then, I’d go down the list. “Let’s play Operation.” “No.” “Let’s play Trouble.” “No.” “Let’s play Sorry.” “No.” This would go on the better part of the afternoon. Finally, I’d get frustrated and ride my Schwinn home.

Are you picking up what I’m putting down? I think that we in America have become like that rich kid. We have gotten really apathetic about the space program. You doubt me? Name our space shuttle. Can you name an astronaut that has been part of a mission in the last ten years?

The space program is a victim of its own success. I remember drinking Tang when I was a kid. Why? Because that’s the drink the astronauts took to the moon. What do the astronauts drink in the International Space Station? I don’t know. I couldn’t tell you.

Keep in mind; it’s not for lack of nerdiness in America. Look at the recent release of the iPad by Apple. People are still discussing it. All it is a really big iTouch. My suggestion is that NASA needs to hire Apple’s PR team. There are droves of uninformed nerds in America that are dying to get excited about something. Pay the right team and connect with them, NASA.