In July of 1958, President Eisenhower passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as a response to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik nine months earlier. That administration, now known worldwide as NASA, has become an icon of space exploration and mankind's accomplishments. Who would have thought that fifty years later, NASA's future would be so uncertain? Congress has recently proposed a bill that would significantly cut funding from the NASA's Constellation program. These budget cuts are unnecessary and are counterproductive to the original idea of the space program.
Congress authorized the Constellation program in 2005, assigning it multiple goals, such as completing the International Space Station, developing a replacement vehicle for the space shuttle, as well as promoting international and commercial participation in space exploration for a return to the Moon no later than 2020 (Connolly 2). Despite Congress's good intentions in 2005, the future of the Constellation program is hanging by a thread. President Obama stated in his 2011 budget proposal that "[the nation's] fiscal situation remains unacceptable", and in his plan, the Constellation program has been cut from NASA's budget entirely, regarded as an unnecessary expense. This plan would allow more money to be used for other things, but it also has several undesirable consequences. Without the Constellation program, some 7,000 jobs at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral would be lost. Also, the $9.1 billion that NASA has already invested in the program would be wasted.
Despite how extreme Congress's plan appears to be, it does not really change NASA overall direction. Humans have not traveled...
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In 2013 spending on NASA will be at the lowest point in the last four years because the United States government is in extreme debt. Many feel that this will lead to a halt on all space exploration and technological advancements in the world of Astronomy. In my opinion I feel that this lack of funding for NASA will thoroughly hinder progress for future generations as well as our own.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was booming in the late 1960 's because the U.S. invested over 4.5 percent of the Federal Budget (Bolden). Unfortunately, in the recent years the Government has slashed funding for many of NASA’s projects in an attempt to cut back on the deficit and boost the economy. Despite the plummet in NASA 's budget, the program has proved that it 's prominence in the U.S., space programs like NASA continue to face difficulty in increasing its funds. Although, NASA leads Evidently, the government doesn 't think NASA is worth more than 0.47 percent of the federal budget. NASA is being underfunded and its funding should be substantially increased to make ends meet. This trend needs
The National Academies Press (2012) NASA’s Strategic Direction and Need for a National Consensus retrieved from http//www.npa.edu/openbook.php?record_id=18248&
When talking about the current space program, Neil Degrasse Tyson once said, “I got angry with America, because advancing is not just something you do incrementally. You need innovation as well, so that your advances are revolutionary, not merely evolutionary” (Tyson 3). America used to have the top space program in the world. Being first to the moon excited the country and gave everyone a sense of pride and fulfillment. Lately, though, we have been falling behind in space exploration. A successful space program is needed in America, and here’s why: we are losing our grip on the title as the world superpower and a new age of economics and politics is coming faster than we are prepared for. To be prepared for this new age we need the funds,
Space exploration is not worth the cost because, according to an article written by Brian Kennedy, “even though Americans are proud of NASA’s achievements and that they value the program, Americans are reluctant to pay more for space exploration.” (paragraph 10) According to Kennedy, he says that “Americans say that the US government spends too little on education (70%) and healthcare (57%)” (paragraph
"The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right!, said Larry Niven” (Engdahl). Progress made over the many years at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has `been impeded because of cuts in funding and the government not seeing any potential with the space program. The current space program needs to be taken from government control to a privately built and funded space industry, so mankind does not turn out like the dinosaurs. With the great reduction n the government money backing the space industry the United States must change to having private companies create jobs, create financing and create a new space industry. “The Commercial Orbital Transport Services program, or COTS, as the the Federal government’s best kept secret,” (Autry). COTS is the first private program that sells private orbital rides to passengers. This is the first step in creating an entire industry to privately held companies controlling the travel to space.
Of those promises 16 of 19 of them were either compromised of fulfilled. In the next couple of paragraphs are of the 19 promises he stated while running for presidency which affects the National Space Policy. The first promise was the promise to seek code of conduct for space-faring nations, which was to restore U.S. leadership on space issues by seeking code of conduct for space-faring nations, which means a ban on weapons to interfere with satellites and banning anti-satellite weapons (Promises About Space, 2017). His next promise was to “re-establish the National Aeronautics and Space Council,” which this space council was to oversee and coordinate civilian, military, commercial and national security space activities, but this promise was broken by president Obama. Next, was to “Add another Space Shuttle Flight,” which was to add at least one flight to fly a valuable mission and keep the workforce engaged, which he kept his promise. Next, was to speed up development of the next-generation space vehicle, which he wanted to be able to carry American’s to space but blamed the Bush administration for leaving NASA with limited
Imagine: a catastrophic event similar to the extinction of the dinosaurs has happened. With humanity wiped out, one person says, “We could have prevented this.” In 2017, NASA received $19.3 billion in funds from the US government to operate. Even though that seems expensive, NASA only uses about 0.5% of the Federal Budget. Space exploration should continue because of the advances it has given to society and the future. It has advanced technology, it provides future generations with necessary knowledge, it can help us with foreign relations, the crewed missions are more scientifically beneficial, and it increases availability for jobs.
Carl Sagan once said “every planetary civilization will be endangered by impacts from space, every surviving civilization is obliged to become spacefaring--not because of exploratory or romantic zeal, but for the most practical reason imaginable: staying alive... If our long-term survival is at stake, we have a basic responsibility to our species to venture to other worlds.” The National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA, is executing Sagan’s words every day. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created NASA in 1958 with the purpose of peaceful rather than military space exploration and research to contribute to society. Just 11 years after the creation, NASA put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon, the first humans to accomplish this feat. NASA’s research and innovation looked promising but it came at a cost. Money, resources, and spacecraft accidents most famously Apollo 13 all hindered NASA’s research. In the 21st century the debate between funding for NASA is at its peak since the birth of the organization in 1958 especially when there are numerous problems throughout the world. Is the money spent on space exploration worth the advantages and advances it contributes to society?
Eichler, Alex. "The Pros and Cons of Privatized Space Exploration." Web. 28 Sept. 2015. .
It is within man’s blood and nature to explore, and space is our next New World. Man’s first achievement in space travel was the launch of the Sputnik on October 4, 1957. For the next decades, space travel was roaring like a rocket, fueled by man’s desire to explore, man’s desire for knowledge, and man’s desire to beat his enemies. However, these impulses have died out as the well of government funding has been diverted to wars and debts, and the interest of the American people has been diverted to wars and debts. Amidst all these issues it is debated as to whether or not space travel is worth the money and the attention of scientists, particularly since humanity faces so many issues on earth currently. However, because of the past inventions, current services, and future benefits, space travel is indeed worth the money and attention of governments and people. It is within our hands to control man’s advancement, and space travel is the next venue to do so.
From 2012 the budget was sitting dry at $17.8 billion dollars, as of October 2017 the budget will be announced at $19.5 billion dollars. Its definitely not the $109 billion dollars we wish to see for NASA but any addition is a great one. “The extra money means NASA has a better chance of pulling off its primary missions on schedule”(Verge 2016). The new budget also lead to a big jump for astronauts, considering how much money goes to Russian Soyuz rockets to send them into space. Roughly $80 million dollars per seat, but new budget means US rockets once again, “NASA scores a big win for its commercial crew program” (Verge 2016). Increasing budgets has also lead to great celebration due to the planned launch dates for rockets. On occasion rocket launches would move forward and eventually fall off the calendar due to constant delay, eventually leading a rocket to never make the build. NASA administrator Charles Bolden has argued frequently, “The first launches would ultimately slip into 2018 without enough money”(Verge 2016). Good news is NASA’s other major projects get big boosts as well. The Space Launch System (SLS) the expandable rocket NASA is constructing to take astronauts into interstellar space and on to Mars, it will be receiving “$2 billion, which is $300 million more than the program received for 2015”(Verge 2015). As NASA described this all “Its mostly good news all around”, Another great leap is the legislation set aside $175 million for a mission beyond Mars. Jupiters icy moon Europa would be the next stop in the solar system, “leading candidate for finding extraterrestrial life”(Verge 2016). The best part about this all, the bill directs NASA to do this all no later than
The 1960's brought new advancements for all of Earth. Machines and men were sent into space, and this sparked a new government agency, called NASA. Space was a new frontier, and virtually everyone was interested in exploring it. Over the years, the interest in space exploration has weakened, and NASA was almost terminated from existence, although there have been many advancements in it over that time. Space exploration should continue because it could help solve many problems on Earth, such as overpopulation and lack of resources. Exploration of the final frontier must continue in order for human life to continue.
To prepare for the conversation, research was conducted to make sure there was enough information about the future of space flight; and that people of different ages and educational and professional backgrounds could engage in the topic. Two weeks before the conversation, twelve possible participants were emailed and asked to participate in the conversation. One and a half weeks before the conversation, an agenda, research resources, and the promise of food and drinks were emailed to the accepting participants.