Marking the agency’s second major project to involve non-astronauts in spaceflight, NASA aimed to send a civilian journalist into orbit. Follow along in this episode of Carolina Journal as Tom Fowler hosts Jack Bass, a member of NASA’s Journalist-In Space project.
The program includes a series of interviews conducted at the Kennedy Space center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral. These interviews included discussions from journalists across the United States that revealed the varying levels of public trust and interest in civilian space travel. Furthermore, these interviews highlight the excitement and skepticism from journalists surrounding the role of media in space.
Bass continues with NASA’s ideal candidate profile and an in-depth description of the selection process. He outlined that the selected journalist would not just be a passenger but an active reporter and stressed that they needed to be the “eyes and ears” of the public. Tasked with translating the complexities of space travel, this role was one of utmost importance at the time.
To close, Executive Director of the State Development Board, Mac Holladay, highlights the program alignment with his new goals for state economic growth.
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