Imagine if NASA had double the money it currently receives. What amazing things could they achieve? Let’s dive into this exciting topic and explore the potential of a well-funded NASA.
NASA, the United States’ space agency, is funded by taxpayers. In 2016, NASA requested $18.5 billion from the federal budget. To put this in perspective, Americans spend about $27 billion on pizza and $97 billion on alcohol each year. Despite its achievements, NASA’s budget is only a small fraction of the federal budget, usually between 0.5% and 1%.
With more money, NASA could do incredible things. Jeff Matthews from the Space Frontier Foundation suggests that a better-funded NASA could send more astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), support commercial spaceflight, and even start a robotic mission to Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Right now, the ISS isn’t fully staffed due to budget limits, which means we’re missing out on important scientific research.
If NASA’s budget were doubled or even tripled, it would still be less than what the Department of Education or the intelligence community receives. Micah Walter-Range from the Space Foundation believes that more funding could help NASA develop new technologies, maintain the ISS beyond its planned retirement in 2024, and continue human spaceflight programs.
The ISS is crucial for research, especially as we look to explore deeper into space. Walter-Range highlights the need for more biological research to understand how humans can live in different gravitational environments.
Despite the potential, a fully funded NASA seems unlikely. Budget cuts have already affected NASA’s ability to communicate with the public about how their tax dollars are used. In 2015, Congress reduced funding for Earth science, which is vital for understanding our planet.
Aaron Oesterle from the Space Frontier Foundation points out that NASA sometimes becomes a political tool, leading to support for less impactful programs. Matthews suggests that with a tripled budget, NASA could aim for a manned mission to Mars by the late 2020s, benefiting both the public and private companies like SpaceX and Boeing.
Dr. Tyson notes that NASA costs Americans just half a penny per tax dollar. This small amount isn’t enough for ambitious projects. More funding could boost missions in weather, atmospheric, and Earth sciences, and speed up new launch systems and studies on human biology and robotic missions.
Isn’t it exciting to think about what NASA could achieve with more funding? If you’re passionate about space, don’t miss the global premiere of “Telescope” on Saturday, February 20th, at 9/8c on the Discovery Channel.
Curious about how space exploration benefits you? Check out this video for more insights! Special thanks to the Space Frontier Foundation and the Space Foundation for their contributions to this story.
If you could decide, how much funding would you give NASA? What projects would you want them to focus on? Share your thoughts!
Imagine you are in charge of NASA’s budget. Create a pie chart to allocate a hypothetical doubled budget. Decide how much funding each project should receive, such as the ISS, Mars missions, or Earth sciences. Present your chart to the class and explain your choices.
Participate in a class debate on which space missions should be prioritized with increased funding. Form teams to argue for missions like a manned Mars mission, robotic missions to Europa, or enhancing the ISS. Use evidence from the article to support your arguments.
Research the current role of the International Space Station in scientific research. Create a presentation on how increased funding could enhance its capabilities and extend its operational life. Share your findings with the class.
Write a short story imagining a day in the life of a NASA scientist working on a newly funded project. Describe the challenges and breakthroughs they experience. Share your story with classmates and discuss the potential impact of their work.
Watch the suggested video on how space exploration benefits you. Write a reflection on the key points discussed and how they relate to the potential of a well-funded NASA. Share your thoughts in a class discussion.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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According to the 2016 fiscal year budget request, NASA is seeking $18.5 billion. What if we doubled that amount? Hey space enthusiasts, Trace here for DNews. NASA is funded by the taxpayers of the United States. When NASA landed on the moon, it was a collective achievement by the people.
Historically, aside from the Space Race during the Cold War, the U.S. has allocated a consistent budget to NASA, typically between one-half and 1 percent of the federal budget. Currently, that amounts to about $18 billion. For comparison, Americans spend approximately $27 billion on pizza and $97 billion on alcohol annually.
So, what could NASA accomplish with a few billion extra dollars? According to Jeff Matthews of the Space Frontier Foundation, a well-funded NASA could send more crew members to the International Space Station (ISS), support commercial spaceflight, enhance deep-space human missions, and initiate a robotic mission to Europa. Due to the current budget constraints, the ISS is not fully staffed, which means we are missing out on valuable scientific opportunities.
If NASA’s budget were doubled or tripled, it would still be less than the budgets of the Department of Education or the intelligence community. As Micah Walter-Range of the Space Foundation noted, if funding were abundant, NASA could invest significantly in developing new technologies. This could allow for the maintenance of the ISS after its planned retirement in 2024 while also funding the human spaceflight program—currently, it’s a choice between the two.
The ISS plays a crucial role in research and support as we explore deep space. Walter-Range emphasized the need for more biological research to prepare for human life in different gravitational environments.
Unfortunately, a fully funded NASA seems unlikely. Previous budget cuts have affected NASA’s public outreach efforts, which aim to inform the public about how tax dollars are being utilized. In 2015, Congress reduced the budget for Earth science, which is essential for understanding our planet’s systems and changes.
The Space Frontier Foundation’s Policy Director, Aaron Oesterle, pointed out that NASA often becomes a political tool for various interest groups, leading to support for programs that may not yield significant results. Matthews suggested that a tripled budget could facilitate a manned Mars landing in the late 2020s and provide substantial benefits to the American public and other stakeholders.
Who are these stakeholders? Primarily taxpayers, but also private companies like SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Raytheon, Orbital ATK, Lockheed Martin, and many others that have contracts with NASA. This indicates a tangible return on investment for taxpayer dollars.
However, NASA’s upcoming human mission to Mars and the new rocket designed for that purpose are both facing significant cuts in the proposed 2017 budget. As Dr. Tyson mentioned, NASA costs Americans just half a penny per tax dollar. This small fraction is insufficient to support ambitious projects.
Increased funding could enhance essential missions in weather, atmospheric, and Earth sciences, while also accelerating contracts for new launch systems and studies related to human biology and robotic missions.
Wouldn’t that be amazing? If you’re as passionate about space as we are at Discovery, be sure to mark your calendars for the global premiere of “Telescope” on Saturday, February 20th, at 9/8c on the Discovery Channel.
Curious about how space exploration benefits you? Check out this video for insights! Special thanks to the Space Frontier Foundation and the Space Foundation for their contributions to this story.
How much funding would you allocate to NASA? What projects would you prioritize? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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This version maintains the core information while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
NASA – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a United States government agency responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. – NASA launched a new satellite to study the atmosphere of Mars.
Funding – Financial support provided for a specific purpose, such as scientific research or space missions. – The new telescope project received funding from several international space agencies.
Astronauts – Trained individuals who travel into space to conduct experiments and explore outer space. – The astronauts aboard the International Space Station conduct experiments in microgravity.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse that exists beyond Earth’s atmosphere, where stars, planets, and other celestial bodies are located. – Scientists study space to understand the origins of the universe.
Research – The systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions, often conducted in scientific fields. – Research on the effects of zero gravity on the human body is crucial for long-duration space missions.
Exploration – The act of traveling through an unfamiliar area to learn about it, often used in the context of space exploration to discover new celestial bodies. – Space exploration has led to the discovery of new planets and moons in our solar system.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry, including the development of tools and machines. – Advances in technology have made it possible to send robotic rovers to explore Mars.
Gravity – The force that attracts a body toward the center of the Earth, or toward any other physical body having mass. – Gravity on the Moon is much weaker than on Earth, allowing astronauts to jump higher.
Missions – Specific tasks or operations carried out by space agencies, often involving the launch of spacecraft to explore space or conduct scientific research. – The Mars rover missions have provided valuable data about the planet’s surface and atmosphere.
Biology – The scientific study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, and evolution. – Understanding biology is essential for studying how life might exist on other planets.
