NASA: Necessity or Waste?
Saagar Patel
Oklahoma State University
“That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” These
were the famous words heard across the world when Neil Armstrong first stepped
on the moon. These words implied that this was an incredible feat and also that
there was more to come- that this was only the beginning. Space exploration and
innovation was in its hay day at that time and received much support from the
American people. However, in recent years NASA has taken a big hit in funding
in the U.S. budget. Many Americans believe that their tax money is being wasted
on NASA and there are much more important uses for that money. Why pay money to
something that has no direct effect on me? This is the thought that is employed
by so many. Here is the answer. NASA funding is not a waste of money or
resources because space exploration is the key to discover new resources for
the future, NASA develops many technologies used by consumers here on earth,
and it ultimately has an underlying role in the way Americans think and are
viewed.
In today’s world, it is quite obvious
the resources needed for the current lifestyle are limited and will one day be
depleted. This ranges from resources needed for energy to the temperatures
needed to sustain life. One of the many issues facing America and ultimately
the world, right now, is discovering a new form of energy after oil has run
out. On numerous occasions, a great ordeal of money is spent on a certain
project and completely ignoring another; the “problem is the wasted opportunity: that money could go to improving
efficiency” (McKibben). McKibben argues
that if something is not necessary, then it is, in fact, a waste. Many of the
things that are necessary that NASA is doing may never get acknowledged as such
“wastes” overshadow them. Efficient energy resources seem like a necessity in
current times. Much evidence exists that reveals that there are many efficient
forms of energy resources in space whether it is found on an asteroid, the
moon, or even another planet. When NASA gets underfunded, it loses money to
explore and is ultimately a wasted opportunity. Also, an issue for the more
distant future is finding a habitat where life can exist. Earth is so often
seen as permanent and everlasting, but that is obviously not true. Pollution
has a major effect on the lifespan of earth. Many of the gases being released
into the atmosphere are depleting the ozone layer, which in turn allows
radiation to enter. These conditions will not be able to support human life.
Maybe there are other planets or moons that exhibit similar atmospheric
conditions to earth? Also, the earth is an ideal distance from the sun and is
receiving the proper amount of heat. However, the sun is a star, and just like
every other star, it will burn out. Since the sun is the epicenter of our solar
system, exploration beyond our galaxy will be needed. To believe that earth is
one of a kind seems quite unrealistic, as the universe is infinitely large
filled with galaxies and planets. To bring that into perspective, earth is like
one grain of sand on all the beaches in the world. Since all these aspects
affect each and every person, the money going into NASA does, in fact, have a
direct effect on everyone.
Part of
the money and resources being spent on NASA goes into research into new
technologies and products being used here on earth. NASA does so many things
besides space exploration that many Americans are unaware of. NASA was created in
1958 when President Eisenhower signed the Space Act. The Space Act states that
all research and advancements should benefit all of the people. Therefore, the
tax money being paid toward NASA is actually benefiting the citizen so the more
funding NASA receives, the more benefits the people receive. NASA has developed
a publication called “NASA Spinoff” that informs the public of all the
commercialized products that were directly developed from NASA technology and
research each year. Satellite television is one of the many widely used
technologies that many people do not realize derived from NASA. More
importantly, NASA has developed numerous technologies for the medical field and
human health. One of the most widely used technology spinoffs in medical
practice is the scanning technology found in MRI and CAT scanners. Originally,
NASA had been looking for a safe landing spot on the moon. This required a
scanning system that could penetrate the thick dust fields on the moon, leading
to the scanning systems being used today in hospitals across the world. Another
overlooked, yet quite important technology, developed through NASA research is
the water filtration system found in millions of households. NASA originally
was trying to develop a filtration technique to use in extreme conditions, but
this technique using carbon filters and silver ions was adopted for home use
also. Currently, there is vast research going on at NASA Johnson Space Center
on the benefits of nanotechnology and nanomaterial where the benefits range
from strength and performance to cost and efficiency. Obviously, there is some
space application, but will most likely have most of its benefits used here on
earth. All these aforementioned innovations and many more can be found in
NASA’s Spinoffs publication released each year. So, how can one assess that it is a waste to
spend money on NASA; that it has no direct effect on he or she?
“I want to be an astronaut when I grow
up.” This has been said by a countless amount of children in the last 4
decades. It implies a sense of ambition and hope. Obviously, every kid is not
going to grow up and become an astronaut, but the fact that so many young Americans
are so intrigued by the idea makes the general population of America viewed as
a people of ambition and drive. Following the space race, the United States was
viewed around the world as leaders in technological advancement and home to the
world’s brightest minds. This was something that the country took pride in.
America, even before this, has always been viewed, in essence, as “a city upon
a hill” where it expected to be better than the rest. Keeping NASA alive plays
a key role in maintaining this status. Without a space program continuously
doing great things, there will be many children without the curiosity to
achieve something new, to explore the unknown. They must have some hope that
they one day can be part of a program that strives to do the impossible. With
the current funding, “NASA currently receives half a penny from every tax
dollar” (Moskowitz). This truly limits the capabilities of NASA for it now is
forced to slow down, delay, or even extinguish many of its goals. Planetary
exploration took a huge cut in the funding as it ultimately forced the U.S. to
back out of European- led Mars missions upcoming in 2016- 2018. This means that
NASA “must fundamentally restore its Mars exploration program,” and it has to
do so with very little money and resources (Moskowitz). The return is worth the
cost when it truly comes down to it. Do an experiment. Instead of half of a
cent of a tax dollar, raise the money received to a whole cent of a dollar and
observe the return. It is a low cost, high reward scenario, so what is the
problem? The American people must have faith in NASA’s endeavors, just like the
dream Obama has with the new green energy proposition (Jackson Jr.). Jackson
Jr. describes why he feels this is a worthless cause that will consequently
cause more trouble; this is the same popular attitude regarding NASA and its
goals that truly causes NASA to lose so much funding. Once again, there has to
be hope.
Overall, NASA is vital for the future success
of the country and potentially even the world. Resources on earth are available
today, but will not always be. NASA will take on that challenge to find new
resources. NASA will always continue to develop technologies and products that
benefit people here on earth, as well as in space. NASA also inspires people to
do great things and to go beyond what is expected. NASA and its success is one
of the aspects that makes this country truly unique. Truly, it does not make
sense why so many are against the idea of NASA funding. As was mentioned
earlier, if something is not necessary, than it is a waste. NASA is necessary.
NASA is not a waste. In reality, it is truly underfunded. Neil de Grasse Tyson,
a noted astrophysicist claims “[A
major boost of funding to NASA] would reboot America's capacity to innovate as
no other force in society can…beyond the spinoffs, what matters are the
cultural shifts in how the electorate views the role of science and technology
in our daily lives. If all you do is coast, eventually you slow down while others
catch up and pass you by" (Moskowitz). America has never let any others
catch up before, why start now?
Works Cited
Jackson Jr., B.H., and Innis, N. (2009). “Going Broke By Going
Green.” In R. Frohock, K. Sisk, J. Glover, J. Cross, J. Brubaker, J.
Alger, J. Fokken, K. Jones, K. Dyer-Fisher, & R. Brooks (Eds.), Academic Universe: Research and
Writing at Oklahoma State University (pp.
381-383). Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing.
McKibben, B. (2009). Waste Not, Want Not. In R. Frohock, K. Sisk,
J. Glover, J. Cross, J. Brubaker, J. Alger, J. Fokken, K. Jones,
K. Dyer-Fisher, & R. Brooks (Eds.), Academic Universe:
Research and Writing at Oklahoma State University (pp.
363-368). Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing.
Moskowitz, (2012, March 8). NASA Chief Defends 2013 Budget in
Congress. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46668418/ns/technology_and_science- space/t/nasa-chief-defends-budget-congress/#.UQHpOL_oTrkClara.
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