VOOZH about

URL: https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/outreach.4146358/

⇱ outreach | WordReference Forums

Menu
Install the app
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

outreach

tony zhang

Senior Member
Chinese
Hi there! I don't fully understand the word "outreach" in the following sentence:

"The Axiom Mission 4 crew will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and travel to the International Space Station. Once docked, the private astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities. "
--From NASA

Would you please explain or paraphrase it for me?
Thank you!
It refers to the act of reaching out (to the general public).

NASA defines it as:
Public Outreach – A term used to identify activities and projects whose intent is to raise
awareness of, or interest in, NASA, its goals, missions and/or programs, and to develop an
appreciation for and exposure to science, technology, research and exploration. [...]
<source>
Reaching out to the public when you're orbiting in a space station sounds a bit comical, but I agree with Manfy.
outreach = publicity. Outreach does not have the negative nuances of publicity, which often is associated with self-publicity.
It’s important to understand the basic use of the word outreach, to mean taking information and/or services to their intended recipients, rather than waiting for those people to come to you. Details of NASA’s outreach activities can be found here: .
Astronauts spend time while in space doing TV interviews and recording educational videos. Search your favorite video site for ""What is it like in zero gravity" posted by CBS 8 San Diego for an example.
A synonym in the context might be "public interaction". Doing that is neither science nor commercial activity that earns money directly (the other two activities of the mission that are mentioned).
In business jargon you'd probably label that as 'PR & Marketing'.
But it would have been a very bad choice of words to say "...conducting a mission comprised of science, publicity (or PR), and commercial activities."
Since NASA is a government agency, it is primarily funded by taxpayers' money, and absolutely no taxpayer wants to hear that their tax dollars are being spent for a publicity stunt or a PR stunt.
The generally vague word 'outreach' is a very eloquent way around that negative connotation of the word 'publicity' and 'PR'.
Back
Top Bottom