nasa

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

One of the areas where we are in danger of losing our competitive edge is our space program. When I was growing up, NASA inspired the world with achievements we are still proud of. Today, we have an administration that has set ambitious goals for NASA without giving NASA the support it needs to reach them. As a result, they've had to cut back on research, and trim their programs, which means that after the Space Shuttle shuts down in 2010, we're going to have to rely on Russian spacecraft to keep us in orbit.

We cannot cede our leadership in space. That's why I will help close the gap and ensure that our space program doesn't suffer when the Shuttle goes out of service by working with Senator Bill Nelson to add at least one additional Space Shuttle flight beyond 2010; by supporting continued funding for NASA; by speeding the development of the Shuttle's successor; and by making sure that all those who work in the space industry in Florida do not lose their jobs when the Shuttle is retired -- because we cannot afford to lose their expertise.

More broadly, we need a real vision for space exploration. To help formulate this vision, I'll reestablish the National Aeronautics and Space Council so that we can develop a plan to explore the solar system -- a plan that involves both human and robotic missions, and enlists both international partners and the private sector. And as America leads the world to long-term exploration of the moon, Mars, and beyond, let's also tap NASA's ingenuity to build the airplanes of tomorrow and to study our own planet so we can combat global climate change. Under my watch, NASA will inspire the world, make America stronger, and help grow the economy here in Florida.

NASA is about more than just space exploration. Quite a lot of the innovation that has come from NASA has trickled down to the general population. NASA innovations include:

MRI technology.
Advanced small lasers, like those used for laser eye surgery.
Ergonomics
Running shoe cushioning technology.
Satellite television.
Popular purified water filtration systems.
Memory foam for mattresses.
Bar coding
Advanced fire resistant materials.
Heat-retaining materials.

Each of those innovations were within the NASA program but were adapted in some way for commercial use.

While I am a proponent of affordable public health care, the idea that diverting money from NASA will make this a reality is a stretch. In 2007 the NASA budget was $16.2 billion, 3.5% less than they requested and the same as 2006. Let's see how that compares to other agencies:

The national budget for 2007 was $2.784 trillion, according to GPO documents. This is federal only.
The national budget for social programs in 2007, including HHS, VA, Social Security, The Dep of Agriculture, Labor and Housing was $1.581 trillion.
The Department of Defense, including Homeland Security, accounted for $653 billion.
Interest payments on the national debt of almost $9 trillion was $400 billion.

NASA's budget accounted for 0.58% of all federal spending.
The Department of Defense budget was more than 40 times more than NASA.
Federal social programs received 98 times more than NASA. That's federal only, and does not include state and local government programs.
Eliminating the NASA budget would add just over 1% to the federal budget for social programs.

$16.2 billion seems like an awful lot to us, but it's a very small amount relative to the federal budget. Additionally, consider that as of 2006 NASA had about 17k employees. And consider the contractors, independent research groups, manufacturers and vendors that do business with NASA - or each other, on behalf of NASA.

The fact is NASA is an integral part of our society, and the research they're doing is extremely important. It's not just about theory and "let's see if we can." There are real world applications to the work that NASA does.. . .

Artist’s impression of NASA’s planned heavy-lift cargo rocket leaving the Earth and carrying a lunar lander toward the Moon.

NASA will launch this vehicle, as well as other exploration cargo, using rockets that are derived from components of the Space Shuttle. This approach will allow NASA to use tried and tested components, benefit from an experienced workforce, and smoothly transition many of its operations when the Space Shuttle is retired by 2010.

NASA will continue to pursue an expanded robotic program to explore the solar system and universe. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2008, to map the surface of the Moon and search for future landing sites. NASA’s recent successful robotic investigations of Mars and Saturn will be followed by missions that will explore some of the least known areas of the solar system: Mercury, the asteroids, and Pluto. The Mars Science Laboratory will launch in 2009 to sharpen our scientific understanding of the red planet; future spacecraft will conduct research and test technologies to support future human exploration of this planet.

The Agency will also build on its legacy of revolutionizing the science of astronomy. NASA will continue to operate space telescopes such as Hubble, Chandra, and Spitzer, while planning for the next generation of spacecraft that will enhance our ability to find planets around other stars and peer deep into the history of the universe to better understand its origins and structure. All the while, NASA will continue to play a major part in the interagency Climate Change Science Program and participate in the international initiative on the Global Earth Observing System of Systems, retaining critical investments in satellites, technologies, and research that will improve forecasting of the weather, monitoring of forest fires, and tracking the spread of pollutants here on Earth. The Agency will also continue to develop space probes to study the Sun’s influence on Earth and the space environment. source