NASA is a critical player in America’s economy that drives the country to the frontier of science and innovation. Yet, the business is struggling due to the 2013 Presidential Budget Proposal, a budget that estimates a twenty percent decrease in NASA’s budget. This budget cut will having devastating effects on America such as terminating various planetary expeditions, hindering the growth of the economy, and inhibiting advancement in innovation. Inadequate funds are an immense drawback towards NASA’s principle mission: pioneering towards the frontier of science and increasing America’s innovative capacity.
Currently, there are several NASA space missions planned; however, the 2013 budget proposal would cripple these plans due to insufficient funds. The estimated funds for the planetary science program are slashed by $309 million, which is more than a twenty percent reduction from the previous year (Plait). Due to these reductions, planned missions such as ones to Jupiter and Saturn would be terminated. More specifically, MAVEN, a space mission planned to study the upper Martian atmosphere in 2013, would also be immediately terminated. These ceased space missions ultimately steal NASA from its main goal: uncovering groundbreaking discoveries from the frontier of science. The termination of the Mars exploration program is a prime validation for this assertion. The 2013 budget also proposes a $130 million cut in the agency's Mars exploration program, which is $226 million less than the previous year (Plait). This estimated 38.5% cut would effectively cease new explorations of Mars. NASA is a currently participant of ExoMars, a mission in conjunction with the European Space Agency planned to launch two robots to Mars in 2016 and 2018 (Wall). However, the budget would force NASA from the ExoMars mission and leave the European Space Agency to scour for extra funds. John Logsdon, professor emeritus at George Washington University, stated, “NASA has, I think, already told ESA it’s not going to be able to provide a launch vehicle in 2016. This is going to cause a big international uproar in one dimension. (Wall)” According to media reports from ScienceInsider, ESA has already begun talking to Russia about picking up the slack due to NASA pulling out (Wall). Evidently, America is already losing its position in the frontier of space, solely due to proposed budget cuts. Ceasing various space missions such as ExoMars, will unquestionably pull the United States from the frontier of space exploration. In effect, other nations such as Russia, will surpass the United States in space travel and exploration.
Additionally, NASA’s 2013 proposed budget would have harmful effects on America’s economy. Initially, the insufficient funds would cease space mission, which would pull America back from the frontier of space exploration. Consequently, the American economy would experience major drawbacks. NASA has a long history of exploration and economic growth. Since its creation, NASA has become a source of financial resources that spurs innovation, create jobs, and spark the economy. For example, Florida’s Space Coast in Brevard County, Florida is a key location of business and jobs. The Brevard Workforce has about 9,000 space industry related jobs, along with 14,000 “indirect” jobs such as restaurants, hotels, and stores, which are dependent on the space center at Cape Canaveral (Sucui). However, the proposed budget would cripple many factors of NASA such as Cape Canaveral. With the budget, 23,000 Cape Canaveral workers would be unemployed. Now on a bigger scale, it is estimated that there are currently 125,000 people working in aerospace-related jobs (Oleson). The budget cut would indefinitely cut many of these workers and leave them unemployed, similar to the example of Florida’s Space Coast. Aforementioned, NASA is a source of financial resources that would spur America’s economy. The opportunity to increase national revenue from space, develop sustainable commercial markets, and employ hundreds of more qualified workers would have considerable advantageous effects on the economy (Oleson). The government should support space commercialization, rather than cut funds for the space organization. NASA is not only a space organization, but also a profiting business that requires government support to expand opportunities for economic growth. Therefore, the budget cut would not only threaten the future of space missions and America’s position in the frontier of science and exploration, but the cut would also force America’s economy to take a toll.
Furthermore, the budget proposal restricts the advancement of innovation. NASA is an enterprise that adventures into the frontier of innovation, which is the main source of the growth of an economy. Neil deGrasse Tyron, the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, asserted “Space is a $300 billion industry worldwide. NASA is a tiny percent of that. But that little bit is what inspires innovation and innovation drives economy.” Tyson states that whatever needs the country may have –geopolitical, military, economic- space becomes that frontier (Chow). NASA is composed of several STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) subjects, such as biology, chemistry, geology, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering, which assist the growth of innovation. These subjects that are consistently utilized in NASA operations have significant influence in advancing innovation (Fox News). For example, the precision and accuracy in Lasik eye surgery was capable due to the groundbreaking technology used in space shuttles and stations (Fox News). This is a prime example of how taking the frontier of space will increase innovation. NASA is not only a space organization, but also a source of STEM growth and ultimately innovation.
The 2013 proposed NASA budget would have overwhelming negative effects that will fundamentally decrease America’s innovative capacity and global competitiveness. The insufficient funds will cease space missions, which will draw America back from the frontier of science. Consequently, the inadequate funds will inhibit NASA’s advancement in the American economy and innovative volume. The 2013 proposed budget steals NASA from its main mission: steer America towards the frontier of science and innovation. In order to uphold this mission, the projected NASA budget must be restructured.
Works Cited
1. “How will the White House’s brutal budget cut affect NASA?” Phil Plait. io9. http://io9.com/5885042/how-will-the-white-houses-brutal-budget-cuts-affect-nasa
2. 2. “Big NASA Budget Cuts to Slash Mars Missions, Experts Say.” Mike Wall. Yahoo! News. http://news.yahoo.com/big-nasa-budget-cuts-slash-mars-missions-experts-020004601.html
3. “End of Space Shuttle Program to Have Far Reaching Impact.” Peter Suciu. CNBC News. http://www.cnbc.com/id/43469916/End_of_Space_Shuttle_Program_To_Have_Far_Reaching_Impact
4. “Cutting NASA’s budget would be a bad move.” Gary Oleson. The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/commentary-cutting-nasas-budget-would-be-a-bad-move/2012/01/30/gIQAZh19rQ_story.html
5. “Boosting NASA’s Budget Will Help Fix Economy: Neil deGrasse Tyson.” Denise Chow. Space.com. http://www.space.com/15310-nasa-budget-future-space-exploration.html
6. “The Costs of Cutting NASA’s Budget.” FOX News. http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1483676909001/the-costs-of-cutting-nasas-budget/
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