Google’s Schmidt to NASA: Be more ‘open’

by admin January 17, 2008 at 10:27 pm

WASHINGTON–Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt on Thursday suggested NASA could learn a few things from his company.

Speaking at a luncheon series to commemorate the agency’s 50th anniversary this year, Schmidt urged the space agency to take after what Google attempts to accomplish with its products: Build open, collaborative systems, not closed ones–a reference to NASA’s legacy of creating mission-specific vehicles. Create simple platforms upon which others can build. And while you’re at it, why not let spacecraft talk to each other?

“Isn’t it obvious that spacecraft should have Internet on them, too?” Schmidt asked an audience of about 100 NASA officials, contractors, and Capitol Hill staffers, with the U.S. Capitol building barely visible in the snowy scene through the floor-to-ceiling glass panes behind him.

Full story: news.com