The Smithsonian Institution

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is perhaps the most well known space agency in the world. Since its formation in 19581, it has pioneered in space science, yet is also renowned for its large budget. NASA has the highest budget of any space agency, $18.6 billion2 in 2015, the equivalent of every American paying $54 towards the agency3, meaning 0.14% of total GDP is spent on NASA3 . This money is spent on the ISS, sending astronauts, probes and satellites into space, astrophysics and planetary science research, maintaining and developing NASA’s space telescopes (the Wide Field Infrared Survey telescope searching for dark energy and exoplanets, the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope) and developing spacecraft2. Space exploration is an incredibly expensive process with one shuttle launch costing $450 million4 however NASA’s colossal budget benefits the USA greatly; the agency employs 18,000 people5 as astronauts, engineers, scientists and teachers and G. Scott Hubbard, former director of the NASA Ames Research Center estimates that every dollar spent on NASA returns $8 to the economy6.While this figure is an estimate, it demonstrates NASA’s worth and capacity for money making. NASA works on pioneering research and as its patents and licenses return to the US treasury, it

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond at a glance is a modern metropolitan building that displays a vibrant exhibition of Byzantine art found in the Medieval and Byzantine wing. They are grouped together because they share a progression of time occurring in the heart of Europe roughly from the 1300s until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The exhibit begins with displays of medieval art of Western Europe. It further progresses to Byzantine art arranged in broad categories ranging from pre-Christian art, liturgical material, secular material and a display of coptic textiles. Although small scale, a few art pieces prominently featuring the human figure stood out in particular.

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.

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) holds many works of art from all types of cultures from around the world. The Torso of an Emperor in the Guise of Jupiter from Roman culture and the Torso of Aphrodite from Greek culture, are but two of them. It is unknown who the artist was for either of them, but the work has lived on for centuries. During the time period the gods were known for their perfection- like body and extraordinary looks. Since the sculptures highlight only the torso of the body it represents that only image matters and the brain does not.

“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.

The Carnegie Museum of Art was a museum created to focus on the art of tomorrow rather than already popular art and artists of today. A necessary part for that dream of Andrew Carnegie to become a reality is having a place to house these art pieces. While of course he could have just found an empty warehouse and placed all the art there that would neither have given the pieces of art justice nor would anyone want there personal collection to be placed on display there. Instead, in order to have a successful art museum you have to house the art in a place that does it justice. Museums heavily rely on their architecture to accurately portray and supplement the showpieces within the museum. Carnegie’s art museum

Paragraph 1- NASA is using all the money they have to keep what they have right now up and running, but if we sell the older spacecrafts and satellites the private companies can keep them running and being worked on while NASA builds bigger and better things. In Brian Berger's article “With NASA Budget Cuts Looming, SETI Eyes Private Funding”, he says, “NASA's astrobiology budget, the source of most of that grant money, is facing a steep decline. Under NASA's 2007 budget proposal, currently before Congress, the U.S. space agency would spend $32.5 billion on astrobiology in the year ahead--half of what it spent on astrobiology in 2005.” (Berger, pg 1). A survey was conducted between February 4, 2013, and February 6, 2013, by random people, the results were 75 percent believe that NASA’s budget should be doubled to 1 percent of the federal budget to fund initiatives including a mission to Mars.

There are a lot of places to go and things to do in Dc. One place to go is the Smithsonian Castle. The Smithsonian Castle was designated as a National Historic Landmark. ("Smithsonian Institution Building, The Castle.") It was Designated on January 12, 1965. Also in the year 1900 it was designated as a children’s museum.("Smithsonian Castle.") Mr. James Renwick, Jr was a big part of the Smithsonian Castle. He is the one he designed the building. ("Smithsonian Institution Building, The Castle.") There was a lot of things used in the making of the Smithsonian Castle. One of the big thing that it was constructed by was Red Sandstone. Someone gave the Smithsonian Castle a gift the help construct it. His name was

The Bowers Museum is a historical place where multicultural diversities are exhibited through the arts. The museum was founded in 1936 in our lovely city of Santa Ana. This museum is here today because of Charles and Ada Bowers who submitted the bequest to the city of Santa Ana. This museum is one of the largest museums in California and the go to place for Orange County Residents. It was closed down for a period of time and reopened in 1992 as a cultural center. Now they have expanded and added a Kidseum made just for kids. As you walk through the hallways your mind is taken to other parts of the world, as if through magic, we get to see through other cultures eyes. This was my first time stepping foot in a museum so I did not know what to

It’s believed that NASA contributes in many ways, such as our economy, scientific morale, our vision as progressive Americans, and overall progression of knowledge. Most of these ideas have to do with the greater good of now, and our future. Michael McBrien cautions us against removing funds, and in fact suggests increasing funds because our world benefits in ways beyond what’s obvious. Examples of things that would be affected by the defunding of NASA are well paying jobs and defending against NEO’s (Near Earth Objects). The problem in the article is when McBrien shows his obvious bias for government programs when he says, “The cost of NASA, as is true of almost any government agency, is worth it.” McBrien has now showed the readers that, beyond the intention to persuade people about NASA funding, he is pro-government-spending in other areas as well. This resonates because it leaves many readers who more conservative, but believe in the idea of funding NASA, isolated and weary to buy into the

Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world's largest museum and research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities. Among the Smithsonian's most famous items are the Hope Diamond and the Ruby Slippers. The Smithsonian also has a large number of traveling

Secretary Heyman's was force into a decision on January 30, 1995, to mount a less controversial exhibit, other museum officials raise questions about the chilling effect of self-censorship, and in 1995 the Historians' Committee for Open Debate on Hiroshima calls for national teach-ins in protest. The Last Act. American University hosts an exhibit including some of the material planned for the original Smithsonian exhibit, and the new, Smithsonian exhibit opens on June 28.

Because any mission conducted by NASA is extremely expensive, Congress is also responsible for deciding whether they should fund the program or not. The U.S. government (Congress) funds NASA using federal revenue collected from income, corporate, and many other taxes. The total amount of money that NASA has been funded from the years 1958 to 2011 amounts to a whopping $526.178 billion , which averages out to about $9.928 billion per year.

The J. Paul Getty Museum is located on the West side of Los Angeles and is opened all week with free admission except on Mondays which is closed completely. The Getty is divided into two campuses, the Getty Center and Getty Villa. Although both campuses serve as a major role for the Getty Museum, the Center is what is commonly referred to as the museum. The museum sits at the top of a hill that takes 15-20 minutes to hike. However, a tram is available to haul visitors from the parking lot up to the building which is roughly ¾ of a mile. However, the hill does not stop guest from coming. Nearly 1.8 million visitors come and view the Getty Museum annually.

Intrinsically intriguing as the artworks and themes are for many viewers, what lies with greater uniqueness is the visual context of art, as emphasized by Helena. Artworks, despite the era or time period, are always initially distinguished based on the surface; for example, what’s present and what’s going on. As I tour the Grohmann Museum with Helena, I was taught to look at the furthest distance in the portrait rather than the surface.