Our space program the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA is underfunded and should receive more funding from our government. Since NASA’s founding they have done many significant things in history, we have all heard of Neil Armstrong the man on the moon and Apollo 12 a group of 12 astronauts successful trip to the moon and back. It has not just been these feats of technology accomplished either, the satellites in orbit around the Earth are something that they put up there and these tools have been invaluable communication around the world and even intelligence gathering for our country to keep it safe. So you see all these things, research and development, deploying more people into space for maintenance on our satellites require money and our government’s funding “has gradually fallen to about half a percent in recent years” according to CFR (Council on Foreign Relations) Backgrounds, this means NASA only has enough for critical operations and little remaining for else (Steven Markovich, Space Exploration and U.S. Competitiveness). NASA needs more funding if they want to continue approaching new frontiers of science and keep up with the rest of the world in space exploration. The Obama Administration budget proposal “for NASA is $17.5 billion” which is “below the $17.7 billion appropriated for FY 2014” this may seem like a lot of money but it is only half a percent of the total budget (Markovich). NASA used to be able to contract for designs and
As President Eisenhower once stated, “Every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed” (qtd in DeGroot). According to Jerry DeGroot, a lecturer in the Department of Modern History at the University of St. Andrews and author of the widely acclaimed biography “Douglas Haig”, every year, the United States federal government funds the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with over $17 billion. When Keith Yost, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was asked about government funding on NASA, he replied, “NASA is not only spending money, but also the sweat of our laborers, the genius of our scientists, and the hopes of our children.” As a powerhouse in the work industry, NASA is taking away from the remainder of the country. Before venturing off into space, the US needs to realize the importance of tackling the issues that lie before the citizens here on Earth. As Richard Truly, a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, stated in agreement, “...I didn’t go to NASA for the United States to make international commitments that wouldn’t keep, to design space vehicles that will never be built (or will be then fail), or to make promises to the American people that will never be kept.” It would be in the best interest for the citizens of the United States federal government to cut NASA funding.
“The current spending is only 0.4% of the U.S. budget, in 2005 it was 0.7%. This is an important question, not just for me but for the entire concerned human race. Because the NASA program is a key to the defense of not only this country, but the planet and the humans that seclude in it. In addition, NASA has recently discovered signs of water on Mars, and I think this is a valid reason. Also, the NASA funding cuts take a toll by reducing its employment; in which it affects the economy significantly.
CJ Moizzi, argues that the biggest misconception Americans have is the amount of funding that NASA receives. Within his article he states various organizations that receives double or even up to six times the amount of funding such as the Department of Treasury. Moizzi says that the NASA budget currently has accounted for roughly .5% of the total U.S federal Budget. He argues some may be apprehensive about this, but he says that only $10 dollars of an average Americans income is given annually to the program. He even brings the question why even fund NASA? He makes a point by naming various technologies that have resulted from NASA experimentation for their space voyages. From insoles
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
The public’s lack of knowledge about NASA’s research explains why many people believe that the organization is receiving too much funding. According to NASA.gov, the organization has received 19.3 billion dollars for the 2016 fiscal year. This equates to about 0.486% of the government budget. While this may seem like a lot, the percentage has drastically decreased over the past few decades by almost 3.5%. NASA is receiving “more money each year, but at the same time a smaller percentage of the federal budget” (Steinburg 240). There are projects that NASA is currently working on that they cannot finish due to lack of funding. If NASA can find a way to receive more funding, then not only can the organization capitalize on these current projects, but it can also open up discussion for future ones as well. The possibilities of what humans can achieve is endless, the only restrictions are time and money, two of the most important factors in society. While time can’t be controlled, money can. Now it’s just a matter of getting more of it, which is going to be hard for NASA to do, especially when people feel as though they are receiving too much funding.
“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.
“Sputnik marked the beginning of the "space race," a period of nearly twenty years during which fierce US and Soviet competition spurred both countries to make rapid progress in aeronautic engineering,” (Lee). This period of time birthed a new program from the American government, called the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA. NASA has been building rockets, training astronauts, and studying space for the benefit of science, the government, and the people of America since 1958. Unfortunately, many people don't realize how important NASA is, and there have been efforts made to stop the government from funding NASA. This program is essential for increasing knowledge of outer space, protecting planet Earth, and creating
The purpose of NASA is to help discover new knowledge about outer space and new essentials that can help the human kind. NASA can also help people with things from everyday life to things that can help us live in unknown places. They plan to take the out space flights to a whole new level. The research done in NASA also helps our nation be one of the highest ranking science nations in the world. “NASA conducts its work in four principal organizations, called mission directorates: [Aeronautics, Human Exploration and Operations, Science, and Space Technology] (About NASA).Because of the economic problems of the United States, NASA has a budget of $17.7 billion to rely on for the next couple of years(Bolden). They also have to maintain the ISS for its
There are endless opportunities for jobs and for science altogether. If people stop funding NASA we won't be able to invent new things, have jobs for people who need them, and help the world grow.
National aeronautics and space administration, this is the complicated way of saying NASA. NASA was created by government officials in the year 1958, the main goal of this government establishment is to explore space and aeronautics. Although those are the main goals the main responsibility of NASA is to conduct research peacefully that will help mankind to excel in the future. Although Florida is known for tourist attractions such as Disney and its beaches there would be nothing exciting about them if it weren’t for the NASA spaceport near Cape Canaveral. This spaceport has had positive impacts on Florida and is still a popular tourist site today.
Imagine you are a father of four children. Your wife passes away from cancer and your family is in desperate need for food. Your family lives in a dilapidated apartment and you work your fingers to the bone to pay the taxes. You want the money that you paid the government to be used efficiently in a way that will affect you directly, such as healthcare, food, or education, not to reach the moon. Yet the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) used about $18 billion in 2014 for their budget. NASA was created by the United States for the research and development of spacecrafts. The United States and the Soviet Union engaged in the Space Race during the Cold War with the development of technology. Achieving human spaceflight enabled them to discover and explore outer space and the rest of the universe. NASA, however, has outlived its original purpose and has cost more than its worth by misusing its time and resources.
All in all, space programs like NASA need federal funding because it provides innovation, jobs and the ability to infer. Imagine a world without up to date space knowledge. If spending is cut, you won’t have to imagine - you will be living in that world! So, think about it; would you rather live in a world with little improvement, or a world where money is spent on space programs to benefit
Some may say that funding NASA is a waste of money. There are many problems that people experience that need more immediate attention. Some individuals in the United States experience homelessness, hunger, health issues, and a lack of insurance. It is pretty obvious that the
On January 28, 1986, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the space shuttle Challenger. The launch was held in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at the Kennedy Space Center. The Challenger shuttle carried seven crew members, including pilots, aerospace engineers and a citizen. Unfortunately, after it launched, the space shuttle broke apart and hit the ocean. The failure of the mission traumatized the whole nation. In fact, millions of people watched the shocking tragedy on television. This incident saddened the nation, and President Ronald Reagan appointed some persons from different areas, such as engineers, pilots, politicians and astronauts, to find the cause of this disaster. Although the investigation revealed that the main reason for the disaster was because of technical issues. In actuality, the disaster was caused by the decision to launch, which was driven by political pressures. The focus on political interest over hard science was the reason for the Challenger disaster.
In the past 50 years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has sent out many planned space exploration missions which have lead to numerous advantages in society and culture. NASA’s technologies benefit American lives with the innumerable important breakthroughs by creating new markets that have spurred the economy and changed countless lives in many ways. NASA is a federal agency and receives its fundings from the annual federal budget passed by the United States Congress. However, there are conflicting opinions that consider whether or not funding for NASA is a waste of government spending.