Are we alone in this universe or are there other life forms out there? Both situations are equally terrifying. If we are unable to extend our reach into the solar system, or possibly beyond, then is humanity destined for extinction? After about half a century of space travel, NASA now has an extremely advance space program with many capabilities. However, without sufficient funding, we may not be able to make the discoveries that are inevitably out there. The universe is considered the next great frontier and it could hold answers to questions we haven’t even asked yet. The complex history of space exploration, and our continuous debate on funding for NASA leads to further curiosity on what our future discoveries could consist of. NASA’s …show more content…
We can all agree that if you want to succeed in a math class, you also need to invest time and effort if you want to be successful. Therefore, funding for space exploration is crucial for future discoveries. Soon some organizations could commercialize space travel through selling tickets to wealthy individuals. Space tourism will play an important role in the commercial space industry. Imagine having to pay a tutor to help you with your upcoming quiz, it is going to cost money, but it will be worth it. As technology evolves and curiosity rises, NASA will need an increased budget. A reporter for CBS, William Harwood claimed earlier this year in March that the Trump administration is proposing $19.1 billion for NASA in its fiscal 2018 budget blueprint. Even though 19 billion dollars seems like a lot, it is still a .8 percent decrease from 2017. The 2018 budget blueprint for NASA increases cooperation with industry through the use of public private partnerships. Government funding can go a long way to uncover possible Earth shattering discoveries. Funding for NASA ends up doing great things for mankind. According to the National Archives, America’s first space station, Skylab, would not have been built in 1973 without proper funding. Just like you wouldn’t be able to get a good grade on a tough test without some outside help. Now, with these new advancements, it is possible that new industries can be created leading to new jobs and opportunities for generations to
NASA Funding The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was booming in the late 1960s 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.
Bill Nye, the “Science Guy,” asserts, “NASA is an engine of innovation and inspiration as well as the world's premier space exploration agency, and we are well served by politicians working to keep it that way, instead of turning it into a mere jobs program, or worse, cutting its budget.” The United States of America’s government is currently in an economic debt encompassing billions of US dollars. Unfortunately, the government has attempted to balance finances by cutting the funding for most programs, including NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA, in over half a century, has brought the most economic, technological, and social benefits than any other program held here in the USA, as well as any other extraterrestrial program in the world. The last thing this nation needs is the cutting of NASA finances. NASA should be receiving more funding because the Earth will not last forever and humans will need a place to live, there’s a curiosity within humans about the vast universe they live in, there is evidence to suggest life on other planets, the USA’s superpower status will be improved, and the economical income NASA brings is more efficient than any other governmental or educational program.
The word race is defined at its core as a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course. Well, interestingly enough, a race of a different kind occurred between two countries from the years 1957 to 1969. The competition was unclear, and the opponents were on two entirely different continents, not something as simplistic as two horses. The United States and the United Soviet States of Russia both set out as arch rivals in the “Space Race,” a quest for dominance beyond the known Planet Earth. Ironically enough, just as communism was spreading to all parts of the world, the United States always sought to squash this form of government, despite somewhat dire consequences. Now, with
According to Space.com the Federal Government approved a budget of $16.6 billion for NASA in 2014. Approximately 1/3 of that will be spent on space exploration.
“NASA’s budget continues to be reduced from almost $18.5 billion in 2011 to $17.8 billion in 2012” (McBrien). With NASA expecting more budget cuts in the future, something
NASA is constantly over budget and behind schedule. So how badly is NASA being run? A U.S. Government report states that more than 50% of NASA’s programs over-budget and past-deadline; and some of the others having no deadline at all. The Government Accountability Office looked at 18 separate NASA programs, finding that 5 are running without any deadline at all! In total, there are only 3 that have made their deadline, all of which are over budget. The Mars Science Laboratory is running 25 months behind schedule and 26% over original cost estimates, and the Glory climate satellite is an incredible 53% over budget! (nasa). This constant over-budgeting by NASA results in higher taxes on the American people.
...; quest for new frontiers continues today as earthlings burst terrestrial bonds and begin the endless voyage beyond planet and galaxy into the illimitable dark.
It’s readily apparent that, if given more financial support, NASA would ultimately stimulate the desperately needed economic growth in the nation. Furthermore, from all the research I’ve done I can come to the honest conclusion that NASA’s finances, along with being increased, should be doubled. That would be 0.96% of every penny of every dollar (not even a whole penny). This totals out to approximately $35 billion dollars. Again, history shows that “the nations who embrace the investments in science and technology are those that lead the world”. However, if $35 billion dollars still sounds too costly for you then I have but one final question. How much would you pay for the universe?
Source E argues "we are only earthly creatures with the capacity to extend our influence be on the four corners of the globe." I believe that is that this is not the case at all. Humans have accomplished many tasks which at one point were deemed impossible, yet we continue to advance socially, technologically, and genetically. For example, many perceived air travel as an impossible task, Lord Kelvin once stated “heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible,” only to be disproved by the Wright brothers eight years later. Today, planes are a multi billion dollar industry, flying across the globe while rocketships and satellites delve into the galaxies. Space exploration provides us with another opportunity to evolve as a species, learning more not only about ourselves, but the world we live in
Colonizing Mars, it seems like a distant achievement. Some say impossible, some say it will happen soon. Since Elon Musk has entered this field of exploration colonization of Mars has seemed even more plausible. Still, problems have surfaced to make this much more difficult than it has to be. This makes some believe this to be impossible or unlikely for the time. Despite what side you are on we can both agree that we want to advance in space exploration.
...fe, with the inventions they have produced and by learning what they have done I think the budget should be increased. I am a firm believer in that science holds the answers to our problems in the world. If NASA and other scientific organization continue their research I think issues and problems in the world will fix themselves. For example, if NASA or another organization finds a way to effectively convert salt contaminated water to fresh drinkable water, our problem regarding water shortage will subside. Maybe NASA found a way to have cars or some other found of transportation run on soil, sand, or grass (very unlikely but it is possible). NASA would need workers to build these devices, which would create many low education jobs across the country. Continued funding for NASA and other scientific organizations will fix the social injustice problems of the world.
Not only that, but our population has been growing at an extremely alarming rate. At our current rate, our species may not be able to survive for much longer. This is where space exploration comes in. With the recent discovery of water on Mars, and the finding of Kepler-78b, it is possible that mankind can prolong our existence. The possibility of interstellar travel seems to be an option, or even a necessity, if we wish to continue living.
Most people think that the costly downside to funding space exploration is a reason to avoid spending money on sciences and instead spend it on problems here on earth, but such funding for space exploration actually promotes economical as well as scientific benefits. Space exploration is an important expenditure for the high cost because of the potential for numerous benefits such as the possibility to find useful resources to cultivate, space exploration and satellites produce many thousands of jobs in our economy, and it creates and discovers newer and better technologies through research and development.
In short, the quickest, most efficient way to explore space would be to manufacture and launch space robots into orbit. The create so many opportunities for scientific discoveries, creations of careers, and a few steps closer to finding out how the universe and everything in it came to be. So are we really just a group of children and the cosmos are a rough neighborhood? The only way to find out is through discovery, and I know I'm going to brave that rough neighborhood.
Space has always been a pivotal and utmost important subject for many years. In the past, scientists have made monumental advances in this field such as sending people into orbit and landing a man on the moon. Of course, this has only barely been explored and we still have a lot more to see of the ever-vast outer space. One of the most significant topics of all of science has only been touched and there’s still more to come.