Throughout the course of history, people have been fascinated with the idea of space exploration. Exploring the unexplored is a fascinating feat; however, it can become very costly to research, design, and create equipment used by NASA. This is why the program is reliant on money from outside sources such as the government. The government should spend money on the space program because it contributes to many scientific advancements and explorations that could lead to incredible discoveries. The Space program contributes to many scientific advancements both medically and technologically. Many medical breakthroughs have been due, in part, to NASA’s research. For example, due to the program’s focus on robotics, NASA is an important force in developing artificial limbs, which have changed the lives of amputees and those confined to wheelchairs. Additionally, NASA’s technology is responsible for plenty of computer programs that people use on a daily basis. NASA has been responsible for these and many other breakthroughs in technology, and if the government funds the program the future possibilities are endless. …show more content…
If the government continues to financially support the space program, a trip to Mars could potentially be in the not too distant future. When it comes to deep space exploration, the possibilities are endless, and many more discoveries could be made that could help make everyday life easier for a multitude of people. Some claim that space exploration should not be more important than people on earth. The claim is that there are more pressing matters that may need financial aid from the government. However, this is a claim that is made by people without proper knowledge of how many incredible things have been discovered and created by NASA’s technologies and the space
Although it is true that there is no concrete outcome “for using taxpayer money” to fund space programs, it does not mean in any way that the money is not being used to help our society grow (Source H). The bulk of the money funded to space exploration goes towards the incomes of thousands of skilled employees who create such successful space missions. It can be assumed that less than one percent is being used from the federal dollar on manned space programs, as space exploration falls under the “All others” category which spends six percent of every federal tax dollar (Source C). Space exploration programs have the potential to discover new technologies and expand on what we have here on Earth, but in order to succeed, there needs to be slight altercations with how each federal tax dollar is spent. National defense gets nineteen percent of each federal tax dollar – a proportion that is too extraordinary considering the United States has access to a nuclear arsenal which is far less expensive and just as effective as maintaining conventional forces (Source C). The United States is pretty much the military for half the world, so instead of collecting all the money from our tax payers here in America, we should collect from other counties that we protect as
While many people support funding NASA and agree with the organization’s goals, there a good number of people who do not. A common reason for this is that they believe that the space program should focus on discovering things that can benefit us immediately, not in the future. This is a valid argument because there
“One small step for man, one giant step for mankind” - Neil Armstrong. Humans have been fascinated by stars and planets from the beginning of time.The human race has made some amazing discoveries; from drawings on cave walls, to putting somebody in space. Discoveries in space include finding new planets, technology, and theories. In recent years, there have been less discoveries due to a cut in NASA’s budget. This is because instead of the money going to NASA, the money goes to other organizations. The U.S should increase NASA’s budget because it helps find planets that could support life, creates more everyday objects, and gives ideas of how the earth might end.
America’s funding for NASA during the space race in 1966 was 4.41% of the federal budget yet in modern times this expenditure has fallen to only 0.5% of the federal budget. One might ask why, but the greater question is why isn’t anything being done about this dearth of funding for NASA. America should once again fund the exploration of space with a renewed ferocity because of the various educational, economical, and technological benefits of having well-funded space agencies.
How would you like to explore a never-ending frontier filled with endless potential and possible benefits for humankind? When put this way, space exploration sounds like an enticing adventure. However, is it all that it’s chalked up to be? We’re here to answer that question. There’s a specific issue that we need to consider when referring to space exploration; should we continue to fund NASA? We acknowledge that some people may already have strong opinions on this, and we ask you to keep an open mind and try to avoid bias. After all, we’re discussing our future.
Do you ever wonder where our knowledge about space comes from? Or where some of our necessities comes from? Space programs, like the National Aeronautics and Space Association, or commonly known as NASA, help us learn about space. Also, they aid us in creating innovative inventions with materials derived from space. To be able to continue growth, space programs must be funded by our government. With research, it can be said that space programs being funded by the government is important because we can advance in science, maintain jobs and infer about the future.
We should keep on funding space research for exploration because there can be many new things that we can discover that can impact us all greatly. In “Why we Shouldn’t Go to Mars” by Gregg Easterbrook, “Remarks at the Dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center” by John F. Kennedy and Political Cartoon it is evident that we should continue investing and funding the space programs for more exploration to discover new things. There are many decisions and choices
David J. Eicher, editor of Astronomy magazine, said,”The next time you reach for your phone, thank NASA. If your doctor recommends an MRI, thank NASA...And think of NASA when a smoke detector blares to save your life”(Leone). NASA has helped to advance technology and educate the human race ever since it was founded. NASA was there to protect humans and warn them of an asteroid that could have wiped out the human race, and even, most of the things people use everyday are thanks to NASA. If the government funds NASA, then we will push human knowledge and strive to learn more about space and continue to push technology’s borders. The government should fund NASA to extend our knowledge on space, keep Earth out of danger, and to encourage the study
The concept of space exploration was first introduced to the American public in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy famously stood before congress and vowed that America would put a man on the moon “within the decade.” With hopes of defeating the Soviet Union in the “Space Race” and gaining a leg-up in the Cold War, NASA funding reached its all-time high in 1965-1966 when about four percent of the federal budget was devoted to exploring space. Since then however, funding dedicated to exploring space has nose-dived to about one-half of a percent of the federal budget (Tyson), with plans to cut that figure by an additional $260 million in 2017 (cite NASA funding cuts). Experts in the space-sciences field argue that increased funding in space exploration would re-ignite the American economy and return America to the scientific prominence it was once known for, while, on the other end of the spectrum, naysayers suggest that exploring space is an economic sink-hole that the United States can no longer afford to deposit to given its own earth-bound troubles.
With space technology advanced in recent years, going to space or even conducting experiments in space is no longer an impossible thing to think about. But in the past, the space exploration programs are most funded by national institutions and even directly by governments. Because the private companies do not want to take the risk to explore the unknown domain, which cannot provide any direct economic benefits. Therefore, governments had to come into play to fund promising future science and technology.
Many critics believe that NASA and space exploration should not be the main focus of the government. However, NASA is not just about flying rockets and putting men into space. There is science and engineering that is being developed to push humanity forward in life. This space program is essential to answering philosophical questions, creating new technology for practical everyday use, the international collaboration with other countries, and the long-term survival of the human
Humans have always been interested in space and the wonder in which it may hold. In the past, humans worshiped the stars as if they were gods while also studying their position to give them guidance for their lives. Their interested in space has fathered the desire to know more. Today, space has been seen by many as the new frontier or the home beyond earth. Society have even taken a step forward through the creation of stories in books and movies based of the idea of humans living in space and the present of alliances. Yet there is still controversy on the need to continue space exploration when our own planet has so many detrimental problems. There is an ongoing debate on whether not the money used for space travel could be better beneficially use for other causes. It is true that space exploration costs billions of dollars a year alone according to NASA current budget, which is constantly increasing. However, what many refuses to understand is that without space exploration many of the innovations that we have today would not have existed. While there have been, many failed attempts involving space exploration that has caused a tremendous amount of money to go down the drain. However, many people fail to realize the benefits of space exploration and the possible future it may
Looking down the road, space exploration and the benefits it yields - in medicine and information technology - should not be overlooked,” said former Congressmen Bob Barr in regards to the importance of NASA. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been a fantastic asset to the country since the Cold War, when it began to develop satellites for reconnaissance against the Soviets. In the many years after the Cold War, NASA’s science had helped mainly in the military, but now in other areas of life as well. The United States government should prioritize NASA because of technological advancements, economics benefits, enhancement of foreign relations, and human expansion.
Mankind has always been fascinated with exploring the unknown. From sailing to distant lands to someday setting foot on other planets, the spirit of exploration is the same. Bur now with the current economic situation and the high cost of sending people to space, NASA is being looked at as a way to free up some much needed funds. Although, there is many problems here on planet Earth that need addressing, the benefits of space exploration far out weight the disadvantages. Space exploration has given us more advanced technology, advances in the medical field, and a boost to the economy and these facts cannot be disputed.
In a time when there are significant government budget cuts and furloughs such that some government employees work days without pay, human space travel is a luxury that we barely afford. Even though NASA 's space travel budget may