Why Go to Space Pt II

Continued from Part I

I have often had to justify why going into space is a good idea and use of resources when we have so many other problems.  Here are some reasons.

But first, a matter of scale.  The estimated federal budget for FY 2007 was 2.7  trillion dollars.  Trillion, as in 1000 billion.  The estimated NASA budget adjusted for inflation $17.2 billion.  For that year, NASA consumed 0.6% of the Federal budget.  Not even a whole percentage point for the national agency directed to lead us into the next stage of human technological development.

In exchange for 0.6% of the federal budget, you get a space program, national pride, economic stimulation, and a slew of inventions that you get to use and no royalties are charged!

• Satellites and everything that come with them: phones, tv, internet, gps, weather reports, etc
• Love that power drill?  Thank NASA and the Apollo program, where NASA took up a whole 5% of the federal budget.
• Smoke detectors
• Use a water filter?  NASA and that Apollo program again.

Coming up next, NASA in your city's museum