Anais Avila

Mr. Rogers
Government 4
02 November 2015
Shooting For the Stars: Continuing NASAs legacy
Human curiosity for the cosmos is almost as large as the cosmos itself. Thats why in
October of 1958 the United States government created the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, in the hopes that man could one day visit space. NASA was born under turbulent
circumstances the US and Russia had been engaged in a Cold War since the end of World War
II; the Cold War was a fight between Russia and the US over different ideologies and
allegiances. Once the United States announced their intentions in space, Russia followed suit; the
Space Race had begun and would continue until the United States successfully put a man on the
moon in July of 1969. Since that fateful day in 1958, NASA has made many stellar
accomplishments for the people of the United States, the people of the world, and the growing
importance of technology. Recently, however, the US has lost sight of the importance of NASA
and all it has done and could do for mankind. The people of the US were very supportive of
NASA during the Space Race, but once Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon US interest in
NASA quickly decreased. Since then, NASAs budget has been reduced slowly but surely every
fiscal year. The Space Fund Act of 2015, a bill that would increase NASAs funding to 1% of the
annual budget, would open the door to exploration beyond the moon. The Space Fund Act of
2015 should become a law; NASAs lack of funding has halted further space exploration,
decreased funding has forced NASA to rely on Russia for transportation to and from the
International Space Station, and NASAs advancements drive economic growth and patriotism.

We cannot let our passion for space be fueled only by rivalries with other countries. NASA
should not be allowed to slowly deteriorate from lack of sufficient funding.
Due to a $28 billion budget cut, NASAs last three remaining space shuttles were retired
in 2011, ending all American man-operated space missions. Despite NASAs forced grounding,
they hope to put humans back in space and on an asteroid by 2025 and on Mars by the 2030s.
Unfortunately, Constellation, NASAs man-operated space exploration program, had their budget
cut by $28 billion (Gramling). While the funding allocated to NASA is just enough to adhere to
the BBAs discretionary funding levels, it does not allow NASA to do all the things within their
power. Modern technology is making it possible to one day visit Mars or any other planet, but if
NASAs funding continues to decrease at the same alarming rate, we may never put a man on
Mars, or even worse, we may never put a man in space again. The White House reportedly
directed NASA to concentrate on Earth-based projectsNASA should be working to keep the
United States as the world leader in space exploration (Landrith). Although NASA does concern
itself with sciences that are not space-related, their priority should be space travel but because of
budget cuts NASA has been grounded against their will. There is so much to explore in the
cosmos; NASAs full potential cannot be reached if their funding doesnt coincide with their
plans. Not only did the retirement of the last space shuttles end man-operated space exploration,
but it also marked the beginning of NASAs dependence on Russia for access to space.
Since the Cold War, Russia and the United States have always been somewhat
competitive with each other. In the last few years, NASA has been forced to rely on Russia for
transportation to and from the International Space Station. In 2015, NASA, once again
modified its current contract with the Russian government to meet Americas requirements for
crew transportation servicesthe cost of these services to the U.S. taxpayers will be

approximately $490 million (Bolden). Not only is this insulting to all the people who worked
diligently to win the Space Race against Russia, but it is also an unnecessary tax on the people of
the US. NASA could transport their own astronauts to the ISS, but because of budget cuts,
transportation to the ISS is no longer a monetary priority. Why should NASA rely on who was
once their nemesis? This shows weakness, and ensures that for decades to come the United
States will be both subservient to, and reliant on, other countries for our access to space
(Shelby). The United States was once the leader in space exploration but at this rate they will
soon be overshadowed by Russia or China; Russia hopes to return a man to the moon by 2018.
The United States should be ensuring NASAs continued legacy with increased funding, not
ensuring its demise by giving money to another nation in order to do a simple task. It is common
fact that it takes money to make money; when money is invested in NASA it puts money back
into our own economy and drives economic growth. Not only is the economy positively affected,
but the rate of patriotism also rises.
Innovation drives the economy. NASAs many technological advances not only benefit
astronauts and space travel, but they also benefit mankind and their lives on Earth. NASA has
invented many things that some people have grown reliant on, such as dehydrated food, cochlear
implants, insulin pumps, water filters, and much more. In 2003, all 50 states and Washington
D.C. participated in NASA procurements. Every state was then awarded money in grants and
awards; California received the largest amount totaling at $3.28 billion (Haerens). NASA dollars
boosted the economy of every state. Because of this, money invested in NASA should never be
considered a waste. In addition to boosted state economies, funding NASA also increases
feelings of patriotism. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped foot on the moon for the
first time, 600 million people watched their TV sets intently as history was being made. In 1986,

a poll designed to ask people how important they felt it was for the US to be leading space
exploration, 58% of people said it was essential (Bainbridge). As the years went by and NASAs
missions became less important and space shuttles lay dormant, public morale decreased
exponentially. Rates of patriotism rose when NASA was active and taking steps towards
scientific advancement and adventure. Before the moon landing, many people did not even
believe it was possible to explore space, but now, will the growing advancement of technology,
exploring space and beyond is definitely a possibility, but it is not a priority.
Many Americans believe NASA is not worth the cost, or believe that space exploration is
relatively unimportant. Why continue to explore space when weve already made it to the moon,
our closest space frontier? Why dedicate time to space travel when we should be focusing on
matters of more importance on Earth? Why spend so much money on NASA? NASAs total
inflation-costs since the day it was established in 1958 is $900 billion, while Americans alone
spend more than $250 billion a year on tobacco (Fowler). What is really considered a waste:
smoking away your money, or investing it in an administration that has used the money given to
them to advance human knowledge? To believe that space exploration is a privilege, or
unimportant, belittles every one of NASAs accomplishments. It is an astounding fact that the
expenditure for the 15 U. S. naval expeditions from 1840-1860 approached one quarter of the
annual federal budget, by far exceeding even the Apollo commitment (Dick). Money invested in
exploration of another country is never considered wasted. How is space exploration any
different? Maybe one day humans could live in space, but well never know if NASA ceases to
exist.
In 1962 President John F. Kennedy made a promise to the American people that there
would be a man on the moon by the end of the decade and although he wasnt alive to witness it,

that promise was fulfilled on July 21, 1969. Since then, NASA has continued to keep their
promises such as the launching of the International Space Station, the Mars Rover, multiple
man-operated space missions, and so much more. But the possibilities dont end there space is
vast and filled with endless adventures and things to discover. NASA was able to make the
American peoples dream a reality. Just because the once unreachable frontier of the moon has
been reached, it does not mean there isnt more to be discovered. NASAs longevity should be
ensured with continued and consistent funding. The Space Fund Act of 2015 plans to do just that,
by raising NASA funding percentage from 0.47% of the annual budget to 1%. Funding NASA
does much more than just send man to space in a shuttle; scientific innovation happens every day
at NASA. The Space Fund Act should become law because we should give NASA every
opportunity possible to lead mankind into the future.

Works Cited

Bainbridge, William Sims. The Meaning and Value of Spaceflight: Public Perceptions. Springer,
12 Aug. 2014. Print.
Bolden, Charles. "NASA Notifies Congress about Space Station Contract Modification with
Russia." Letter to U.S. Congress, 5 Aug. 2015.
Dick, Steven J. "The Importance of Exploration (continued)." NASA.gov. NASA, 29 Sept. 2004.
Web. 02 Nov. 2015.
Fowler, Wallace. "Anniversary Shows Us That NASA and Space Exploration Are Worth Their
Costs." UT News. University of Texas at Austin, 21 July 2014. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.
Gramling, Carolyn. Bids in Space: When Should We Outsource Government Science? Earth
Magazine, 30 Jun. 2010.
Haerens, Margaret. NASA: Opposing Viewpoints. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2012. Print.
Landrith, George. America Belongs in Space. Human Events, 28 Nov. 2010. Print.
Shelby, Richard. Statement before Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies
Appropriations Subcommittee. Senate.gov. United States Senate, 22 Apr. 2010. Web. 19
Oct. 2015.