opinion@dailylobo.com
October’s blockbuster film “Gravity” is captivating audiences with a spectacular portrayal of the world beyond our atmosphere.
Reminiscent of the Apollo era, America is once more infatuated by the thrill of exploring the cosmos.
But will our renewed sense of awe outlast the media buzz surrounding “Gravity”?
Off the silver screen, we face an ongoing debate over the future of American space travel, both manned and unmanned. NASA has been a fixture of our society for over half a century now (and incidentally, “Gravity” was released on the organization’s 55th birthday), but federal budget strains leave the nation wondering: is NASA really worth all the money?
Critics claim that NASA sucks up funds that could be diverted towards more pressing issues on our own soil, like poverty or medical research. At first glance this view is not entirely unreasonable, especially when some members of Congress speculate that NASA sunk $20 billion of its budget on projects that never even reached completion.
Sure, space exploration may sometimes be inefficient, but I’m here to argue that it’s nevertheless an extremely worthwhile investment.
Any scientist will maintain that scientific discovery is of inherent value, especially when in pursuit of answers to fundamental questions such as the origin of life. But NASA is more than just a venue for curious scientists to practice their moonwalking. When seeking significant contributions from NASA, we need not look any farther than Earth.
NASA research provides critical technology to many scientific fields, including medicine and climatology. Through the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity project, the agency recently developed small ultrasound machines as a means for astronauts to easily monitor each other’s health in-flight.
In partnership with the World Interactive Network Focused on Critical Ultrasound, that technology is now being adapted to serve individuals in impoverished rural areas. WINFOCUS training director Dr. Luca Neri notes that this effort “enhances people’s opportunities to access and (provides) accurate, immediate, cost-effective health care.”
NASA is also utilizing its unique position among the stars to study climate change on earth. Satellites launched in 2002 from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment demonstrate unprecedented accuracy in tracking ocean circulation. This data is proving crucial to climatologists who study the influence of glacial melting and global warming on global sea level shifts.
NASA’s contribution to science is enormous, and so is its budget — projected to reach $17.7 billion for fiscal year 2014. But in the context of federal spending, how significant is this sum really?
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In the past, public surveys reveal that on average, people estimate that about 20 percent of the federal budget is allocated to NASA. This is far from reality, as only about 0.5 percent of funds go to space exploration efforts. In fact, all of the money sent to NASA since its launch in 1958 still amounts to less than the $700 billion tied up in the 2008 bank bailout.
Popular astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson even spoke in favor of increasing NASA funding at a Senate Science Committee meeting last year.
“Right now, NASA’s annual budget is half a penny on your tax dollar,” Tyson said. “For twice that — a penny on a dollar — we can transform the country from a sullen, dispirited nation … to one where it has reclaimed its 20th century birthright to dream of tomorrow.”
Tyson unifies the voices of the scientific community and the public. Even though we worry about funding, future American scientists and engineers retain the passion and skills that breed innovation.
UNM boasts a prime example of emerging aerospace engineering talent. Students of Configurable Space Microsystems Innovations & Applications Center have worked since 2011 to build a satellite featuring 3D-printed circuit boards that can collect data on radiation levels in space.
This remarkable new satellite, called Trailblazer, is part of NASA’s Educational Launch of Nanosatellites project. COSMIAC joins other small satellite projects from universities across 25 U.S. states.
On the ELaNa mission website, NASA claims that this project “assists the Nation in attracting and retaining students in STEM disciplines.” It also provides UNM students with an unparalleled opportunity to pioneer future cutting-edge research at the university.
While NASA and its operations may sometimes feel alien, upon closer examination we can see the substantial benefit of space exploration to American progress and technological development. As long as we continue to harness our passion for exploration, NASA is no waste of space.
