N.D. Tyson

The Case for Space and the astronaut sessions are a perfect example of the bridge between intellectual thought and intellectual conversation. Tyson, in The Case For Space, makes a remark on the United states' position on space then and now, He gives an ultimatum that is understandable by anyone's level of space knowledge. "If the United States commits to the goal of reaching mars, it will most certainly do so in reaction to the progress of other nations" (Tyson 1). Tyson gradually alters his wordings of certain aspects of the texts to fit the intended audience, space enthusiasts and it becomes quite clear by the end of the article that even if you are not into space he irons out points and parts of history that are more applicable to an audience that does not necessarily care about space. In one particular part Tyson explains the advances in medicine because of the technology in the Hubble space telescope "Countless women are alive today because of efforts to fix a design flaw in the Hubble space telescope"(Tyson 5). Tyson does not only adjust for audience, he also shifts around his ideas to (for what it seems to me) introduce the history and passion for space and astronomy. The video serves to reinforce the importance of space by questioning and interviewing an astronaut who has literally "walked the walk". The Interview, The Astronaut sessions, was very humorous but eye opening, Tyson bent the questions to have the astronaut, Mike Messimino, describe the emotional aspects of space. Tyson than finishes the interview by reverting back to the political pull of the discussion which is funding space travel to further our country (or at least that is the medium between the article and the video). Tyson has a unique skill of the balance between facts, emotions and opinions and it is evident in the video and the article that he opens with an emotional kicker (the U.S power or a president's position on space). He than lowers the bar with a comparison and light humor "he might as well have said "Let's go to the moon, what a marvelous place to explore'"(Tyson 1). Tyson finishes with a "fact sandwich"  by nestling his opinion in between two or more facts. He strays away from this tactic in the Astronaut sessions by opening with humor and than the emotional attachment and finally the facts and opinions. Tyson uses the same outline (in terms of style) but he flips it around from the article to the video and it really makes the reader/watcher think in depth about his personal opinions on space. The flow of both the interview and article seems structured to allow the reader/viewer to gain an appreciation or an interest and than develop it solely in the ideas of Neil Degrasse Tyson.