Zach Daines P1 Mcnees THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION

US GOVERNMENT… The future of space exploration is bright and NASA should be funded fully and space exploration/research should be encouraged. There are countless benefits, many of them unforeseen, that are gained from NASA’s exploration and research. The following will inform you of the ideal way to continue with space exploration with NASA at the forefront.

WHY WE EXPLORE “The Earth is the cradle of the mind, but we cannot remain forever in the cradle. Space exploration has taught us that this cradle is not a cage and that we can leave it.” -Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Russian Space Flight Pioneer We are naturally inclined to know what it out there. Since the beginning of humanity we have been exploring new places, mapping the skies and venturing into new frontiers. Today space is that frontier. There is no question that we must continue to explore this new frontier which holds our long-term future.

WHERE SHOULD WE GO? -Current NASA goals include missions to Mars along with a mission to an asteroid. These are expected to be accomplished by the mid 2030’s. -These goals are sensible and are in reach for us and today’s technology. They should be supported and will help expand our knowledge greatly.

WHY MARS? “Mars is unquestionably the most scientifically interesting destination in the inner solar system, with a history much like Earth’s. It possesses resources which can be used for life support and propellants. If humans are ever to live for long periods on another planetary surface, it is likely to be on Mars” -US Human Space Flight Plans Committee

WHY AN ASTEROID? -Asteroids are made of similar material found on Earth and are rich in minerals and other natural resources. -According to Paul A. Heckert, a physics professor at Western Carolina Univ., many asteroids contain minerals such as gold, iron, nickel and platinum. One particular asteroid, Asteroid 1986 DA contains $25 triliion worth of these minerals. He said,”The market value of a single moderate sized asteroid is considerably more than the entire accumulated US national debt. -Asteroids have low gravity so a space ship could fly up next to it and perform its mission without needing to use a lander. This would save millions of dollars. -Asteroids likely have clues to scientific questions like where our water came from and how an asteroid could be diverted if it were to hit Earth. -There are currently 9 asteroids that could be reached within days.

MANNED OR UNMANNED? Manned missions to space are incredibly expensive and don’t serve any important purpose. It isn’t a good way of doing science, and funds are being drained from the real science that NASA does. Sending people to space may be a great show, but so much of what you do has to be built around the necessity of keeping people safe and alive that science takes a second place. Above all it’s an incredible waste of money. -Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize Laureate, Physics/Astronomy Professor at Texas Univ. In the future unmanned missions should be utilized as much as possible because of its benefits.

FUNDING There is no question that NASA should continued to be funded fully. There are countless benefits of space exploration that many fail to see especially the taxpaying public. Here are some benefits of NASA and the space and aeronautics industry. -$25 billion dollars spent on space research and development in 1959 has profited into a $181 billion dollar gain. -Over 350,000 people are employed in the space and aeronautics industry. -Research and technological advances made are invaluable.

FUNDING Nasa funding only takes up 0.5% of the annual federal budget. Not even 1%. This amount turns out to be around $18 billion. This isn’t much compared to what we pay on other things. -$8 billion for missile defense -$16 billion for nuclear weapons -$5 billion for foreign militaries$ -$12 billion for spy satellites -$9 billion to reconstruct Iraq $18 billion is not a lot of money especially when you consider the return investment that comes from NASA’s research. Also, Earth won’t last forever. When we invest in NASA we invest in our future.

SOURCES Schnee, Jerome. "Economic Impact of the US Space Program.". Rutgers University, n.d. Web. 23 May Levinger, Josh. "Should We Cut NASA Funding?." The Tech Online Edition. N.p., April 9, Web. 23 May Parks, Peggy. Space Research. San Diego: Reference Point Press,