Many people don't understand why the government spends money on a space exploration program when we have so many economic problems today. Some people even get upset when someone proposes increasing the budget for NASA. But NASA is about more than just looking at the stars and floating around in a cool spaceship. NASA has given not just the American people, but the whole world something to dream about. Go outside and look at the moon or the stars and tell me it doesn't immediately spark curiosity inside you. Humans have always pushed the envelope and ventured into the unknown. Space is just the next step for the human species. Space exploration unites the people of the world for a common goal of unlocking the secrets of the cosmos. But if pure curiosity is not enough for you to think we should increase the budget of NASA, consider the information below.
The NASA budget for 2013 is $17.7 billion. That is $1 billion less than what was spent in 2010. It is 1.4% of discretionary spending but compared to the budgets below, its hardly anything at all.
- Defense - $851 billion.
- Education - $69.8 billion.
- Health and Human Services - $71.7 billion.
- Housing and Urban Development - $35.3 billion.
- Agriculture - $21.4 billion.
Some Everyday Technology Thanks to NASA
1. Cell Phone Camera
In the 1990s, a team at the JPL worked to create cameras that are small enough to fit on spacecraft while maintaining scientific quality. One third of cell phone cameras contain this technology.
2. Clean Energy Technology
The company that developed the Space Shuttle Main Engine is using the knowledge gained to create clean energy technology that would decrease carbon emissions by 10 percent.
3. Scratch-Resistant Lenses
The Lewis Research Center contributed to making sunglass lenses more resistant to scratches and spotting.
4. Water Filtration and Purification
NASA developed ways to filter water for manned space missions. Water purification technology also helped treat contaminated water after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico.
5. CAT Scans
Digital imaging partly developed by the JPL has proven incredibly useful in a variety of medical technologies, like CAT scanners, radiography and microscopy.
6. The hand-held vacuum
cleaner
7. Air-cushioned trainers
A process known as “blow rubber molding” was used to produce space helmets. Using this technology, Nike produced the trainers known as Nike Air.
8. Firefighter breathing apparatus
9. Blankets for marathon runners
10. Safer runways
NASA researchers discovered that cutting thin grooves across concrete runways reduces the risk of an aircraft aquaplaning after landing. This has been adopted by airports around the world.
11. Pill transmitters
NASA is developing a pill that can be swallowed to monitor astronaut vital signs. This technology can be used to monitor babies in the womb and several other uses.
12. Faster racing cars
Carbon-fiber-reinforced graphite is used in the nose cone of the Space Shuttle. It is found in everything from tennis rackets to Formula One racing cars
13. The roof of the Millennium Dome
The same Teflon-coated fiberglass material used on the Millennium Dome in London was developed in the 1970s for use on astronauts’ spacesuits.
14. Personal storm warning system
Call To Action
If you agree that we should increase the budget of NASA, then visit penny4nasa.org
and sign the petition. Also, spread the word about penny4nasa and spread this blog to those that still need some convincing. If they don't want to sign it after this blog, tell them we fucked this world up and need NASA to find us a new home.
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