[nabs-l] How is sending Louis Brallie coins into space relivant?

Fri May 15 04:54:48 UTC 2009

Aziza,

Robots can virtually "see" by sending light, movement, and whatever else.

Not knowing much about nasa's work, I would venture in saying that most of 
the really important work is at least directed by a human.

Blind people are also capable people. This opens up opportunities, including 
in science. And some scientists are astronauts, though a small minority.

Can a blind person do a space walk, and conduct repair into equipment she or 
he may not be familiar with? Probably not. But can a blind person take 
active part in space research, even in a shuttle mission? Very likely.

I would want to see an astronaut's job description, and a broad range of 
mission goals and objectives before I decided that I, or anyone on this list 
aught to be working out in space, just for the sake of it.

If we ever see a blind astronaut, she or he will need to be in that position 
because they are good at it, and passionate about it, not because our 
organization decides to put a blind person into space just to prove a point.

I am not saying that we shouldn't be searching for that skillful and 
inthuziastic blind person who is a good fit for NASA. Launching the coin 
into space symbolizes our will to reach for what is currently beyond our 
grasp. Literacy is a basic right, and for many, it is beyond there grasp.

Launching the coin into space was in some way a way to publicize the coin, 
and the programs it will support. It is also a statement about how far we 
are willing to go as blind people.

One thing that confused me is why we would release this thing into space, 
thus creating daybree, but from following braille literacy on twitter, I 
gathered that the coin was indeed launched into space inside the shuddle, 
and will be returning safely to earth.

Antonio Guimaraes

If an infinite number of rednecks riding in an infinite number of pickup 
trucks fire an infinite number of shotgun rounds at an infinite number of 
highway signs, they will eventually produce all the world's great literary 
works in Braille.

Shop online and support the NFB of RI at no additional cost to you.
http://www.givebackamerica.com/charity.php?b=169
Givebackamerica.org, America's Online Charity Shopping Mall
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Aziza C" <daydreamingncolor at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 1:25 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How is sending Louis Brallie coins into space 
relivant?

>I had never thought about blind people not being astronots... Now that
> I think about it though, considering they can send robots into space,
> why can't we go? I mean, the robot doesn't really see anything, it
> just senses things and stores information... My guess is that blind
> people could sense somethings missed, and with the technology NASA has
> it shouldn't be that dangerous, I mean... besides the normal dangers.
>
> Also, does anyone know if their are any blind people working for NASA
> at all? Anywhere?
>
> I agree with Jim, I don't see the point in sending our coins into
> space, although I do think it's kind of cool.
> Aziza
>
> On 5/13/09, T. Joseph Carter <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote:
>> That's fine, but I've wanted to be an astronaut since I was eight
>> years old, and cane users still need not apply.
>>
>> Joseph
>>
>> On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 12:00:31AM -0400, Kristina Constant wrote:
>>> Hi, My best guess is that through braille literacy children can aspire 
>>> to
>>> do whatever they want in life including working for nasa or doing other
>>> science or math careers.  Kristina Constant
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Reed" <jim275_2 at yahoo.com>
>>> To: "NABS mail list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 1:31 PM
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] How is sending Louis Brallie coins into space 
>>> relivant?
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello all,
>>>> I don't get why those coins were sent into space. Usually symbolic
>>>> gestures (such as shooting a coin into space) are somehow related to
>>>> the organization or its mission. I really dont see the connection
>>>> between Loius Braille, braille, the NFB, NASA, or space.
>>>>
>>>> Am I missing something?
>>>> Jim
>>>>
>>>> Homer Simpson's brain: "Use reverse psychology."
>>>> Homer: "Oh, that sounds too complicated."
>>>> Homer's brain: "Okay, don't use reverse psychology."
>>>> Homer: "Okay, I will!"
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kconstan%40student.umass.edu
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/carter.tjoseph%40gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/daydreamingncolor%40gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/iamantonio%40cox.net 