The Space Race: Is Funding for NASA Still Relevant?

The Space Race: Is Funding for NASA Still Relevant? Abstract Since its inception in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has spent a total $1.3 trillion dollars adjusted for inflation. This paper examines the debate between two opposing views on funding for NASA. The debate is broken down into two groups, pro-funding and anti-funding. The arguments between both sides, while very similar, are opposite in their views. The pro-funding side is in the opinion that, positive economic impact, international relations, and planning for the future call for increased funding. Those anti-funding argue that funding NASA impedes the economy, there is little to no return on investment, and that the United States should be focused on the present, rather than the future. This paper examines both sides of the argument, weighs each of the opinions, and examines how the relationship of this issue is pertains to the field of Public Administration. The author states his view and gives his recommendations on the issue. Keywords: NASA, public funding, public administration, national debt Ten years after the start of the Cold War, the U.S.SR launched the first artificial Earth Satellite into space. In response to tensions with the former Soviet Union, the United States National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA, launched its first satellite into space, kick starting what is known as The Space Race. A few months later, NACA was dissolved and superseded into NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Since its founding in July of 1958, NASA has averaged roughly 0.9% (Rawden, 2017) of the annual United States Federal budget. However, since the 1990s, that average has seen a significant decrease. In February of 2016, 58 years since NASA was founded, Congress surpassed NASAs requested budget of $18.5 billion and approved $19.3 billion (AG, 2016) to fund NASA. With the House and Senate both approving a Federal Budget of $3.9 trillion (Congressional Budget Office, 2017), NASAs current budget only equates to 0.49% of the overall budget. However, with C ongress surpassing the NASAs requested budget, this marks the first time in five years they have seen a substantial budget increase. With budget forecasts by the Congressional Budget Office (2016) putting the nation at a debt of $20.1 trillion by 2018, this leaves public administrators to question whether this budget increase and NASA itself is worth the money. As Public Administrators, we can see that the debate over the funding of NASA is broken down into two opposing viewpoints. Those in favor are compelled by several factors, such as, public admiration for NASA, strengthening international relations, and planning for the future. While those opposed argue that funding NASA impedes the economy, there is little to no return on investment, and that the United States should focus on the present, rather than the future. No matter what side you are on, we can see that the debate over the funding of NASA is important to the field of Public Administration. This paper examines both sides of the debate over the funding NASA and how public administrators can use this debate as a case study for future problems. Viewpoint #1: Those in Favor A 2015 PEW Research survey shows that 68% of Americans had a favorable view of NASA (Motel, 2015), with those of higher education having more favorability. The survey also cites a different PEW survey conducted in 2011 that found 58% of the public said it was essential that the U.S. continue to be a world leader in space exploration. These studies confirm that the public has great admiration toward NASA, but there is a need to justify the high price tag of space exploration. This justification can be argued with several factors: Inventions and Technology, International Relations, and Future Planning. Inventions and Technology After a Korean airliner accidentally strayed into Soviet airspace in 1983, and was subsequently shot down, then President Ronald Regan declassified the use of Global Positioning System (Brustein, 2014). This 20-year-old technology was developed during joint experiments between the Navy and NASA using NASAs advancements in satellites and technology. GPS is today one of the most widely used inventions that NASA helped create. However, there are also a wide range of inventions and technology that funding of NASAs research and development helped to create. In NASAs magazine Spinoff (NASA, 2008), they credit themselves with several medical inventions, including artificial limbs improvements, thanks to innovations in robotics and shock-absorbing materials. When NASA needed a stronger material for their landing parachutes, Goodyear developed a new fibrous material that is five times stronger than steel. Goodyear then used this technology in their tires to create the longer-lasting tires we have today. NASA also created Solar Energy technology, which sparked the clean-energy movement. While it is hard to quantify NASAs return on investment, the countless advances they have made on inventions and technology have helped shape our world and boost our economy. International Relations While NASA is the highest spending space agency in the world, there are many other countries that work with the United States to continue space exploration. While the U.S. was the only country to land on the moon, future explorations require international cooperation. In 2006 NASA and China reached an agreement promising that both countries would strengthen exchanges, enhance mutual trust, develop a lasting friendship, and promote cooperation in relevant fields (Foley, 2014). This policy is necessary to continue the economic prosperity and relationship between the two countries. NASA also collaborates with 15 other countries to maintain and expand the International Space Station. This partnership strengthens relationships and encourages trade agreements. In turn, the trade agreements help boost our economy and strengthen NASAs case for a high return on investment. Future Planning Proponents of continuing to fund NASA usually break down Future Planning into two parts: Population Growth and Earth Security. The population is undoubtedly growing exponentially. The UN estimates the world population will reach 9.7 billion people by 2050 (UN, 2015). This growth raises the question of earth sustainability. The world will eventually run out of resources and room to house and feed its people. Many people believe that the solution is in space exploration. With NASA currently planning expeditions to Mars, a planet with possible habitation aspects, there is a strong belief that humans can become an interplanetary species. This belief is only possible if we continue funding NASA, and being the leader in space exploration. Earth Security is another part of NASAs responsibilities. NASA not only monitors the weather, but asteroid and nautical sea patterns. Defunding our space program could potentially be disastrous if NASA could no longer take preventative steps to combat cli mate change. View Point #2: Those Against While there is no doubt there is a great love for NASA, defunding the space program would be beneficial for our economy. PEW Research conducted a study in 2014 finding that although a majority of people were in favor of space exploration, only 22% of people said that the U.S. spends too little on space exploration (Wormald, 2014). This leaves opponents questioning as to why the U.S. spends billions of dollars each year to fund NASA. Those arguing for defunding the space program have three main reasons: NASA impedes the economy, there is little to no return on investment, and that the United States should focus on the present, rather than the future. Impeding the Economy With a forecasted debt of $20.1 trillion by 2018, many politicians are trying to find ways to reduce our spending. While only 0.5% of the national budget, $19.1 billion dollars is no small amount of money. Adjusted for inflation, NASA has accounted for $1.1 trillion in expenditures since its founding in 1958 (Rawden, 2017). Since the introduction of the new fleet of space shuttles in 1971, each launch carries a price tag of around $1.5 billion per flight. Companies such as SpaceX have been awarded contracts totaling $1.6 billion for 6 flights to the ISS. It is no wonder NASA has started to turn towards private companies to send supplies and expeditions into space, when private companies can accomplish the goals at a smaller price. In 2014, NASA announced that U.S. companies SpaceX and Boeing were awarded $6.4 billion for future space flights. All this money could have been allocated toward paying back debts and protecting the financial future of the United States. Return on Investment In the opposing view, I stated that it would be hard to quantify NASAs Return on Investment. This lack of calculation gives cause to those opposed to funding the space program. While NASA is credited with countless inventions, but the price tag for inventing them is hard to justify. A 2011 PEW Research study shows that only 38% of people think the space program contributes to a lot to scientific advancements, and that 52% of people believe that human astronauts are non-essential to the program (Kennedy, 2015). These statistics can be viewed as a misallocation of NASA funding. If there has not been a significant invention since NASA published its 2008 list of technologies that benefit our lives and its last crowning achievement, sending Pathfinder to mars, costing $265 million, NASA has not truly justified its recent return on investment. Prioritizing the Present As NASA continues to look to the future, opponents say we should focus on the present. With a large National Debt, the United States needs to prioritizing its current finances so it can continue to have a future. While the earth is made up of a finite amount of resources, it is unlikely that they will run out before we can fix our economy. The sun is not estimated to begin to die for another 5 billion years (Scudder, 2015), and only 3% of the earth supports more than half of humanity (Nuwer, 2015). In other words, the world is not ending anytime in the foreseeable future, and we are not going to run out of room on earth. Instead of worrying about the future, the U.S. needs to prioritize on the present. NASA needs to look at all their assets, and begin to look at what it can liquidize. The space shuttle program alone is valued at nearly $200 billion (Hsu, 2011).ÂÂ   If the U.S. defunded NASA and worked toward privatizing the program and selling its assets, the U.S. could be benef icial toward reducing the U.S. debt. The Military and Department of Defense need to absorb most of NASA while privatizing and selling the rest. Afterwards, the U.S. needs to begin to cut the enormous Defense Budget, to make up most, if not all, of the deficit.ÂÂ   If the United States focuses on prioritizing the present, by takes steps to reduce its expenditures, such as reducing or eliminating NASAs budget, we can begin to see a brighter, less constrictive future. Assessing the Arguments Both sides of the debate have similar yet conflicting arguments. The pro-funding NASA side argues that NASA boosts the economy by, facilitating inventions and new technology, strengthening international relations, and planning for the future. While those against argue that funding NASA impedes the economy, there is little to no return on investment, and that the United States should focus on the present, rather than the future. Whether NASA helps to boost or impedes the economy is the biggest aspect of the debate. While the space agency can never truly be recognized for their accomplishments, it is my belief that NASA has helped the economy in the past and is no longer the innovative and economically stimulating agency it once was. Public interest in NASA is starting to dwindle as much as their budget, and it is only time before private companies, such as SpaceX start to take over. There is also no doubt that NASA has strengthened our international relationships with other space-orie nted nations. These relationships facilitate our trade agreements with one another, boosting our economy. If the U.S. were to defund NASA, it would make it hard to find a new avenue in which to continue those relationships. In the final argument, Future versus Present orientation, is the most heated side of the debate. At only 0.49% of the U.S. Budget, defunding NASA would hardly make a dent in the debt. However, the U.S. needs to start somewhere, as every little bit helps. If the U.S. were to privatize and sell NASAs assets, it would be able to make a noticeable difference on tackling the debt. Conclusion and Recommendation As Public Administrators, we should be concerned at every aspect of our national budget. I believe we should either go all in and increase funding of NASA, or privatize and sell the assets.ÂÂ   Both sides of the debate have compelling sides. If we were to increase the budget, we would continue international cooperation and trade agreements, possibly continue to see new inventions and technologies, and facilitate Americans love of space travel. However, forced to choose a side, I believe we should take the opposite route. The national debt is wildly out of control and if we do not take steps to fix our mistakes, the world could see a disastrous economic depression. By selling off some of NASAs assets to private companies and foreign countries, the U.S. would, in turn, can cash a sizable paycheck, and begin to pay off its debts. By privatizing NASA, the U.S. can also begin to turn the $19 billion funding toward the debt. If we do not begin to take action against our debt, the curr ent and future generations may see a disastrous financial future. The United States cannot continue down the current financial path it is taking, and defunding of NASA is a crucial step on the road to recovery. If the U.S. takes the route toward defunding NASA, that road can be used as a vital case study for Public Administrators. We will be faced at a time to do what is popular versus what is economically feasible. In times of economic hardship, the right path is not always the easiest. References AG: News Reviews in Astronomy Geophysics. (2016). U.S. boosts budget for NASA. Astronomy Geophysics, Vol. 57 Issue 1, p1.7 https://doiorg.spot.lib.auburn.edu/10.1093/astrogeo/atw014 Brustein, Joshua. (2014, December 4) GPS as We Know It Happened Because of Ronald Reagan. Bloomberg. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12- 04/gps-as-we-know-it-happened-because-of-ronald-reagan Congressional Budget Office. (2017, February 8). The Federal Budget in 2016: An Infographic. Retrieved from https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52408 Congressional Budget Office. (2016, January 25). The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2016 to 2026. Retrieved from https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/114th-congress-2015-2016/reports/51129-2016outlook.pdf Foley, Jordan. (2014, April 16) Strategy for International Cooperation in Planning the Chinese Space Station. MIT Political Science Department Research. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID2425862_code1609318.pdf?abstracti d=2425862mirid=1 Hsu, Jeremy. (2011, April 11). Total Cost of NASAs Space Shuttle Program: Nearly $200 Billion. Astrobiology Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.space.com/11358-nasa- space-shuttle-program-cost-30-years.html?_ga=1.261610826.693458589.1485213070 Kennedy, Brian. (2015, July 14). 5 facts about Americans views on space exploration. Fact Tank. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/14/5-facts-about- americans-views-on-space-exploration/ Motel, Seth. (2015, February 3) NASA Popularity Still Sky-High. Fact Tank. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/02/03/nasa-popularity-still-sky-high/ NASA (2008) NASA Technologies Benefit Our Lives. Spinoff. Retrieved from https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/tech_benefits.html Nuwer, Rachel (2015, September 1). Is the world running out of space? Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150901-is-the-world-running-out-of-space Rawden, Zachary. (2017, February 10). NASA Budgetary Breakdown. Retrieved from https://1drv.ms/x/s!AqSRkru4qW2DlGLiBv3dpnZnmNwA Scudder, Jillian. (2015, February 13). The sun wont die for 5 billion years, so why do humans have only 1 billion years left on Earth?. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://phys.org/news/2015-02-sun-wont-die-billion-years.html UN. (2015, July 29). World population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html Wormald, Benjamin. (2014, April 23). Americans keen on space exploration, less so on paying for it. Fact Tank. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact- tank/2014/04/23/americans-keen-on-space-exploration-less-so-on-paying-for-it/

Enthalpy Lab Background

Enthalpy, represented by the sign ? H in kJ/mol, is the heat change in a reaction. It shows whether how much heat is released or absorbed during the reaction. If the reaction is endothermic, the enthalpy would be positive and if the reaction is exothermic, the enthalpy would be negative. During a chemical reaction, which consists of breaking and creating bonds, heat is either absorbed or released. In this lab, the reaction uses the disassociation of an ionic compound ammonium nitrate shown in the equation #1 below into ions.In order to disassociate ammonium nitrate into ions, energy is required. Both NH4 and NO3 are always soluble, therefore the ionic compound disassociates completely. Through equation #2, heat absorbed or released can be measured. In equation #2, q stands for the heat change in joules, m for the mass of the water in grams, C for the specific heat of water, and ? T for the change in temperature. By using the calorimeter with a stir rod, change in temperature is found . 1. NH4NO3(s) NH4(aq) + NO3(aq) 2. q=mC? TFree energy is a thermodynamic function that shows the available energy that can be converted into work. By using the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation, which uses free energy and is shown in equation #3, spontaneity of the reaction can be found using enthalpy, temperature, and entropy. Free energy, unlike entropy, is an absolute way to determine whether the reaction is spontaneous or not. If the free energy is negative, then the reaction is spontaneous, whereas if the free reaction is positive, then the reaction is not spontaneous.If free energy is neither, meaning if the free energy is zero, the reaction has reached equilibrium, therefore not shifting to left or right. In this lab, the reaction shown in equation #1 reaches equilibrium, so the free energy of this reaction would be zero. Entropy, shown by the sign S, is the measurement of molecular randomness or disorder. It is given in J/K*mol and it determines the disorder by the number of molecul ar arrangements that are possible in the state, whether it is solid, liquid, or gas.The more arrangements there can be, or larger amount of mole there is, the higher the entropy. If the change in entropy of a given reaction is negative, it means that the reaction is increasing in order, or decreasing in disorder. If the change in entropy of a given reaction is positive, it means that the reaction is increasing in disorder. Generally, negative entropy of a given reaction means that the reaction is spontaneous, but not always. Both equation #3 and #4 can be used to find entropy. 3. ?G = ? H-T? S 4.? Sreaction=? pSproducts – ? nrSreactants In equation #4, if the entropies of the molecules involved in the reaction are known, then change of entropy in the overall reaction can be found by subtracting the sum of the entropy of the products by the sum of the entropies of the reactants. If the entropies of the molecules aren’t known like this lab, than equation #3 can be used t o find the entropies of the reaction, where T represents temperature in Kelvin, ? G is the change in the free energy in kJ/mol, ? H is the change in enthalpy in kJ/mole, and ?S is the change in entropy in J/K*mol. The enthalpy of the reaction shown in equation #1 can be calculated by the third equation using arithmetic because ? G is zero. And in this equation, the formula number 3, where ? G = ? H-T? S, Enthalpy must be greater that Entropy if the equation is to be positive. This is reason why this value is set to zero, because then by subtracting the enthalpy the value of entropy can be found. And through these methods, the value of G can be substituted in and to find the accepted value of ? H and ? S.The Kelvin is the accepted value, and the ? S can be found when plugged in ? H and ? G to be found as the zero value. The calculated entropy should match or be very close to the accepted entropy value for the dissolving of ammonium nitrate if the ionic compound is dissolved in water and the enthalpy determined by the calorimeter because the calorimeter shouldn’t have lost any heat to surrounding and all of the solid should have been dissolved. Through this method, the absorbance rate of FeCl3 can be estimated, just like how NH4NO3 can be found.

Spiritual Condition Evaluation - 1192 Words

SPIRITUAL CONDITION EVALUATION PAPER By (Student Name) Institutional Affiliation Date Spiritual Condition Evaluation Paper Topic: Spiritual Condition Evaluation Paper Pages: 4 pages SOurces: 3 Citation: APA Deadline: 4 hrs Instructions: A Spiritual Condition Evaluation paper will be required of you. (Note: Write about yourself. However, If you would rather not write about yourself, you may select a living famous person to evaluate with the instructor’s prior approval. Remember in the final analysis, whether writing about yourself or someone else, only God knows a person’s heart completely so try to be both humble and gentle). This document will run from 900–1,500 words. You will use the course’s†¦show more content†¦Spiritual condition evaluation Throughout the life of my person of interest, knowledge of the existence of a creator has had a crippling effect in his struggle to reconcile his perception of life and the great desire for divine approval and acceptance. This is a result of the common belief that moral and spiritual development is attained through the shedding of dogmatic belief structures, resulting in the elimination of God towards the attainment of self-realization. Strangely, although the secular aspect is quite vividly seen in his way of life, the religious references and biblical allusions cannot be ignored. Despite the lack of cultivation and learning in the morals and ethics of Christianity, he is able to form his own code of behavior based on example and the behavior he views from others. It should be noted that his instinctive sense of morality comes without knowledge of God or a creator and while this may seem to be an atheistic or at least secular way of thinking about how morality is â€Å"inborn† it is impossible to ignore the way the Bible and religious learning influence even this aspect of his life. It would seem that he views other people as closer to God, not simply because of his own isolation, but because he witnesses their apparent ability to function in a world of God. This is seen on his act of acquiring a sense of morality through observation of behaviors of others It is evidentShow MoreRelatedHealth And Health Development Of The Health Sector Essay1634 Words   |  7 Pages (III) APPLICATION IN CURRENT JOB Patients nutritional history is taken, weight check is done, height is measured and evaluation with the appropriate nutritional states as regards the age of the individual. (IV) USEFULNESS OF NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT IN CURRENT WORLD - Development of societies. - Key objective of progress in human development. - For good health and good nutritional status of the population. - To combat mild to serious learning disabilities which may result from malnourished child.Read MoreReflection Of Biblical Counseling815 Words   |  4 Pagescounseling is practical and effective. 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A Brief Note On Penalty And Profit A Story Of Manipulation

Charles Lowd Global Issues/POLS 2401 October 6, 2015 Penalty and Profit: A Story of Manipulation The United States has a long standing love/hate relationship with China. One that is broad in content, with some points being beneficial and other being adversarial. The topics of trade, deficit, and fiscal dependency have been debated for years with no definitive resolution. The relationship became further strained when news spread of China (allegedly) using currency manipulation (also called â€Å"currency intervention†) to decrease the value of yuan (the Chinese currency). China used currency manipulation by buying large amounts of US dollars using yuan. Doing so increases the supply of yuan in the foreign exchange market which causes an increase†¦show more content†¦For the U.S. and WTO to condemn China for trying to keep their economic structure afloat would be hypocritical and unjust. China, a country large in size, population, economy, is a really important asset globally. America’s second-largest trading partner, China is the producer of most of America’s items including clothes, consumer electronics, and manufacturing goods. The codependency of America and China is a very fragile and with recent debate of penalization, a potentially, volatile situation. It is the world’s second-largest economy after the United States, currently â€Å"accounting for about 12 percent of the world economy and about a quarter of global growth in recent years† (Swanson). China’s ability to produce large quantities of goods and at very low costs is what makes the country’s importance to global trade, especially America. 1.2 Trillion dollars of our debt is to China, which helps to keep our interest rates low by â€Å"allowing firms to make investments that would be unattractive at a higher cost of borrowing† (Kaneene). With investments like that, there is an increase in the capital available, an increase in the