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If you want to know more about innovation and technology in the U.S. Government, then lift off with NASA. This is one government agency in need of a big budget boost for deep space exploration and discovery to benefit mankind.
NASA is a crown jewel of public sector innovation and a global role model for groundbreaking scientific research and technology. However, Congress needs to significantly increase NASA’s budget to maximize its potential for the USA and the world.
Rich History, Challenging Future
NASA serves as a reminder to the USA of what’s possible when our Government harnesses the space agency’s full potential, as evidenced by a rich history of a landmark achievement.
These historic accomplishments range from landing men on the moon to current breakthroughs via the Mars Rovers, in addition to amazing findings by the Hubble and Kepler Space Telescopes.
Hubble is able to see back to the beginning of the universe, soon after the so-called “Big Bang“. Meanwhile, Kepler continues to discover hundreds of new Earth-like planets orbiting stars similar to our sun — albeit millions of light-years away (one light-year = about 9 trillion kilometers or approximately 6 trillion miles).
Some of these so-called exoplanets closely resemble Earth with rocky surfaces, atmospheres and the potential for water — or oceans of liquid nitrogen, for example. These exoplanets are located in the habitable “Goldilocks Zone” and may in fact harbor life, at the microbial level or otherwise. The more Kepler examines the cosmos, the more exoplanets it finds with solar systems similar to our own.
Thus, NASA has not only proven instrumental in boldly going “where no man has gone before” but also in applying innovative approaches in space that yield practical technology solutions to problems on Earth.
- NASA Spinoff PSA with Actor Seth Green (one minute video).
When it comes to a rich return on investment (ROI), NASA provides a technology windfall to multiple industries via its Earth Science missions. NASA’s amazing discoveries in space provide important tangible benefits back home, which should not be overlooked.
Today’s NASA initiatives include sending humans to an asteroid by 2025 and to Mars in the 2030s (video), among other important projects.
- For more on NASA innovation and technology, check out my exclusive interview with the space agency’s Deputy Chief Technologist here.
Envy of the World?
In its heyday, the U.S. space program was the envy of the world and put the former Soviet Union to shame. But what about NASA today? Frankly, it’s unwise to rely on Russia to hitch a ride to the International Space Station (ISS) because of the dissolution of our own space shuttle program. Rather, NASA should be self-sufficient. And while some private sector companies are moving closer to commercializing space travel, it’s NASA that ultimately has the most expertise, experience, and resources to make historic scientific discoveries that benefit all mankind.
Therefore, it’s unfortunate that NASA has been underfunded, in my opinion, due to the ongoing climate of budget austerity in Washington and a lack of vision by some politicians. This is nonsensical because if any federal agency deserves a major budget increase based on science and technology ROI then it is most certainly NASA.
JFK’s Challenge to America
Further, one can’t put a price on inspiring the nation through space exploration, as President John F. Kennedy did in the early 1960s. President Kennedy super-sized NASA’s budget because he had the vision to understand the critical importance of America leading the world in space exploration, research, and technology.
According to Ten Presidents and NASA, “On May 25, 1961, Kennedy addressed a joint session of Congress to announce his decision to go to the moon. He backed up this decision with remarkable financial commitments.”
Under JFK, NASA’s budget was boosted by 89 percent one year, and then by another 101 percent the following year. As JFK said during his famous “moon speech” in September 1962 (video):
I regard the decision last year to shift our efforts in space from low to high gear as among the most important decisions that will be made during my incumbency in the office of the Presidency.
Today’s lawmakers in Washington should take a cue from JFK and supersize NASA’s budget ASAP. This will not only benefit the USA but the entire world.
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Previously published on Linkedin.com
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Photo credit: Pixabay.com
