NASA is weighing the idea selling naming rights to its rockets and spacecraft. The Washington Post reports it might even allow its astronauts to appear in commercials and on cereal boxes.
Dr. Ed Krupp, Director of Griffith Observatory says it could be a risky move for the government space agency.
“You know, even if that rocket blows up, you’re going to get publicity. I worry though, as a public enterprise, Griffith Observatory has to watch out for the same thing. If you permit advertising, you begin to have less control over what you can advertise. And there’s no telling what might end up on those rocket ships.”
Unlike the film “E.T.,” in which Reese’s Pieces candy became one of the most famous cases of product placement, NASA has assiduously avoided endorsing any particular product or company — even going so far as to call the M&Ms astronauts gobble in space “candy-coated chocolates” out of fear of appearing to favor one brand of candy.
Dr. Krupp was a guest on McIntyre in the Morning.
By Sandy Wells
KABC News
