For various economic and technological reasons we can begin to afford and sustain the Vision for Space Exploration and the nations of the world making investments of time, resources and energy will find that the benefits far outweigh the costs and risks involved. Due to societal changes, including war, natural disaster recover and Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, NASA's budget currently represents a very small portion of the U.S. federal budget. Due to the magnitude of these changes of the last 40 years, it is important to view the nation's investment in the civil space and aeronautics research program from this larger economic perspective, because some critics have question the value proposition of even the current investment in NASA. However, this author believes that the space development should be recognized as a strategic capability for nations, and that we must bring the solar system into our economic sphere of influence. Additionally, the author believes that NASA must leverage the great economic engines of the nation and the world. With the proper goals in mind, the benefits of space exploration far outweigh the risks. Among the most practical of these is the work with hurricane-monitoring satellites, aircraft and sensors that allow meteorologists to track such storms and predict their severity and impact. The author additionally points out that NASA's space endeavors have created entirely new industrial capabilities that improve the fundamental way of life. With the economic growth and technology development seen since the 1960s, the author believes that we are entering a period in space exploration where we can realize the vision that previously eluded us. In the process of building these new space capabilities, NASA hopes to leverage, to the maximum extent possible, the capabilities that space entrepreneurs hope to create.
Incorporating Space into Our Economic Sphere of Influence
2008
8 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
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