What should NASA be doing to both capture the public's attention and actually do practical work that benefits humanity?

A joint endeavour with ESA, the Russians and the Chinese to build an orbital shipyard, and build a ship in orbit for a manned mission to mars.

I think NASA is the greatest! I’m a technology freak but also a little selfish.
I am an American and help pay for NASA with my taxes. I would like to see NASA’s output advance America. Develop products that are made in the US and put Americans to work. Show how they were developed by NASA. Medical imaging, sensors, security system, materials, etc. I’d even go as far as prohibiting the hiring non us citizens who finish their two year assignment and return to their home countries taking all kinds of technology on thumb drives that fit in their pockets. I can’t believe we cannot find capable American students to coop at NASA.
I think the GPS is awesome. But why are 80% of all GPS units made in China? We paid for the lauches and the technology, but another country is getting the employment and profit.
NASA can help small American businesses make our country better and they can be self funded just by fixing this one issue.
(Sorry all you non-Americans.) But, until you start chipping in for the cost of the $10–20 Billion it cost to launch the satellites and the untold billions to develop and maintain them I think you should be paying NASA a users fee every time you turn on your GPS. If I ran the world, I would scramble the signal over other countries and sell subscriptions. the technology is there – think HBO or the Playboy channel. (That we do well.)

A manned mission to Mars is great but it would take a long time and with our ADD like attentions spans, would be quickly forgotten – unless there was a problem and then Hollywood can make a pay-per-view movie about it.

NASA can really make an impact by showing the public in real terms what it has and continues to contribute. If Americans are paying for it, then Americans should be the primary beneficiaries.

two words: “Space Tourism”

Sadly, NASA isn’t really in a position to sell its product as it is just another chunk of the state and one that frequently sees its missions canceled and its budgets cut.

Flogging space missions has traditionally been the job of the President.

As for doing practical work for humanity or any subset thereof, it is their impractical work that gives us so many useful byproducts. I suspect it would be a monstrous waste of resources to pull NASA’s heads out of the clouds.

I’d like to see it taken in steps with a concrete long-term (50–100+ years) plan. I want to see 1–2 long life satellites in orbit around each planet and some of the more interesting moons. Give me a trio of deep space probes designed to go as far as possible as fast as possible. Develop exploration projects centered around each planet. As a core mission update the launch facilities > two reusable lift vehicle types one for cargo one for people > multipurpose robotics capable of being landed and flown on other planets > improved space suits > self sustaining, upgradable, orbital habitats > lunar habitat and science station > orbital ship yard.

Each of those steps has thousands of components that go into it many of which can be dual purpose/multi purpose. Some of that has already been started others won’t be feasible for decades. If you want to get kids interested, educate them, develop planetary and solar system exploration curriculums. Show them where they’re going and commit to helping them get there. Stream live feeds from earth orbit looking out, from the moon, from other planets looking in. Put some pride and opportunity back in the science of space exploration in all phases. Take risks. Get in the news with advancements and discoveries and stay there buy continuing to fund new and innovative projects all focused on long term goals. Don’t just tell people you’re doing it (or worse, that you’ve done it and no one noticed), tell them why and why it matters.

But, unfortunately, all that takes a lot more than a commitment from NASA.

Ocean exploration.

Space is old news and MANNED space exploration is (currently) a waste of time and money

Why does it have to be “practical work”? What’s the problem with pure science for just discovery and knowledge?

I would like them to do manned exploration of the caves and holes under the surface of the Moon and Mars. That would be amazing. Live internet feed too.

Manned mission to Mars. That’d do it.

I’ll second ocean exploration. Over 70% of the earth is covered in water, of this 97% is in the oceans and yet we barely know a thing about them. Oceans are the largest habitat on earth where almost 50% of known species live. Oceans play a large role in moderating the earths climate and atmosphere. Why spend billions trying to learn about rocks in space that we won’t touch in our lifetime when we don’t even know how our own planet works? I think space exploration can be worthwhile, but lets focus a little closer to home.

NASA has always (sometimes indirectly) done practical work that benefits humanity. Just imagine a world without hurricane evacuations and tornado warnings. Satellites save human lives. Without NASA there would be no GPS either.

Exploring space and other planets is also part of fundamental research. Understanding Mars means getting a better understanding of the geology of Earth.

Exploring space also inspires young people. The moon landings increased enrollment in science and engineering subjects. Today people want to become lawyers or investment bankers. And we got way too many of these already. We need more scientists and engineers to help Earth accommodate 9 billion people in 2050.

“Without NASA there would be no GPS either.”
GPS is a Military thing. They would have still got up there. The private sector just got a piece of the action.

“We need more scientists and engineers to help Earth accommodate 9 billion people in 2050.”
Amen brother. But not by pissing it away on a space stations.

@ChazMaz You’re right about GPS being a military thing but NASA is a leading edge of military technology and the military supplies most of NASA’s astronauts while military contractors supply most of NASA’s hardware.

Yes, GPS is a military thing. NASA was founded in 1958. Without NASA the military would never have been able to develop the technology for low-orbit satellites required to make GPS work.

don’t forget von Braun

So you are saying that the military could not have developed their own space program without NASA? Without Military funding/involvement, NASA would not have existed.

The Redstone missile, introduced in 1953, was the first to put an American into Space. Before that historical moment it was used for live nuclear missile tests.

@ChazMaz What I’m saying is that they are difficult to separate. The military more-or-less has a space program if we include missile and satellite launches (and possibly high-flying aircraft).

Surely if there wasn’t NASA the military would have made the advances, after all, the creation of NASA was a reaction to the launch of Sputnik which was considered a military threat.

My answer above was removed, so I’ll try again. I think NASA should partner up with the Mormons and their space program.

@Factotum – Right on. :-)

@ChazMaz – The major boost came from the Apollo program, didn’t it?