SectionsObama makes 'uninspired' decision, NASA funding cut will slow technological advancement
Gabriel McLaughlin
Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: Opinion
Last summer, while speaking to the National Academy of Sciences in Washington D.C., President Obama stated "The Apollo program produced technologies that have improved kidney dialysis and water purification systems, energy-saving building materials and fire-resistant fabrics used by firefighters and soldiers." Adding, "More broadly, the enormous investment of that era produced a great outpouring of curiosity and creativity, the benefits of which have been incalculable." Who knew that less than a year later, the same man who so fully appreciated the benefits of the Apollo program would be the one to kill its sequel?
Last week, the president unveiled his latest budget proposal: a $3.8 trillion monster that will push the federal deficit to a record level of $1.56 trillion. Despite the staggering size of the budget proposal, the president decided to cut the cash for NASA's Constellation space exploration program, which would have returned America to the moon by 2019. Just a few months ago, the president expressed his understanding of the tangible technological value of space exploration, so why now would he choose to keep the new moon mission from blasting off?
Of course, there's the obvious reason. The federal government doesn't have any money. As the president's proposed budget sits now, the federal government will have to borrow one-third of what it spends. Not exactly a comfortable position to be in, so cuts must be made. In addition to the cuts in spending, totaling about $17 billion, the president will also propose a spending freeze that could save $10 to 25 billion. These cuts and freezes amount to roughly 1 percent of the president's total budget. Offsetting these "savings" is the president's spending proposals. The president's budget includes a $100 billion jobs plan, which seeks to create the jobs that last year's $787 billion stimulus package failed to provide by mimicking the stimulus model almost exactly. Give that same $100 billion to NASA and not only will a plethora of high paying jobs be created, but the trip to the moon would be fully funded beyond 2019, and the nation would reap the benefits of inspiration and technological advancement.
Last week, the president unveiled his latest budget proposal: a $3.8 trillion monster that will push the federal deficit to a record level of $1.56 trillion. Despite the staggering size of the budget proposal, the president decided to cut the cash for NASA's Constellation space exploration program, which would have returned America to the moon by 2019. Just a few months ago, the president expressed his understanding of the tangible technological value of space exploration, so why now would he choose to keep the new moon mission from blasting off?
Of course, there's the obvious reason. The federal government doesn't have any money. As the president's proposed budget sits now, the federal government will have to borrow one-third of what it spends. Not exactly a comfortable position to be in, so cuts must be made. In addition to the cuts in spending, totaling about $17 billion, the president will also propose a spending freeze that could save $10 to 25 billion. These cuts and freezes amount to roughly 1 percent of the president's total budget. Offsetting these "savings" is the president's spending proposals. The president's budget includes a $100 billion jobs plan, which seeks to create the jobs that last year's $787 billion stimulus package failed to provide by mimicking the stimulus model almost exactly. Give that same $100 billion to NASA and not only will a plethora of high paying jobs be created, but the trip to the moon would be fully funded beyond 2019, and the nation would reap the benefits of inspiration and technological advancement.
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Jim Zender
posted 2/09/10 @ 5:43 PM CST
Gabriel, I enjoyed reading your article but I suspect you may find this differing opinion intriguing. The redirection of NASA spending away from lunar missions to new technologies was hailed by Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin as "President Obama's JFK Moment" in an article he wrote for the Huffingtonpost on February 2. (Continued…)
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