Should the US begin a new program of manned space exploration

1
Should the US begin a new program of manned space
exploration?
Lila Cummings
2
Plan - Budget

• 12 billion increase to NASA's budget over the
  next 5 years.
• 11 billion comes from shift within NASA's
  current budget of 86 billion.
• 1 billion from US government
• Only 1 of NASA's budget would come from
  government

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Plan - Government

• President Bush has said that this is Only the
  beginning.
• He hopes to create a launch pad for deeper space
  exploration, as well as tapping resources on the
  lunar surface that could be used in those
  missions.
• The United States government welcomes
  international participation in this project.

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Plan - Timeline

• 2008 New Space Shuttles developed and tested
• 2009 begin tests on ISS and long term
  physiology effects
• 2014 manned missions begin
• 2015-2020 lunar missions begin
• 2030 manned missions to Mars begin

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Costs and Criticism

• The United States is stopping participation with
  the International Space Station by 2010 with
  Russia and 14 other countries still involved with
  the ISS.
• If we want to continue flying Columbia Shuttles,
  by 2010 recertification would be needed. Instead
  NASA plans to spend more money and build safer
  and completely redesigned shuttles (which are
  actually referring to past shuttle structures).

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Costs and Criticism

• 24 billion was spent developing the Apollo
  missions in the 1960s.
• Accounting for inflation, that 24 billion would
  be 142 billion now.
• This leaves the question is the 86 billion
  budget sufficient? Many experts believe it is
  not.

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Costs and Criticism

• All of the proposed missions that Bush has
  described could be done safely, efficiently and
  more effectively with robots according to some.
• The image of explorers facing the unknown
  dangers of a strange planet a hundred miles from
  earth is certainly heroic, but it is hopelessly
  old fashioned. If you want romance, read romance
  novels.

8
Costs and Criticism

• On a political note, some speculate that Bush
  introduced this plan mainly as a political
  maneuver in an effort to gain popularity.
• These people and others claim that this endeavor
  is a waste of federal money and we should be
  spending the money on more worthy causes like the
  environment.

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Benefits and Support

• The moon could be used as a launch base and
  potential source of energy and fuel for further
  flight.
• A new manned space program would encourage
  younger people to study math, science and
  engineering and pursue a career in these fields.

10
Benefits and Support

• The human thirst for knowledge ultimately cannot
  be satisfied by even the most vivid pictures or
  most detailed measurements. We need to see and
  examine for ourselves, and only human beings are
  capable of adapting to the inevitable
  uncertainties posed by space travel.
• We must physically explore space ourselves to
  fully understand what is out there.

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Benefits and Support

• US robotic missions since 1992 21
• Failed US robotic missions since 1992 5
• Percent Failed 23.8
• Failed - any mission that did not achieve its
  primary goal.

• US manned missions since 1994 24
• Failed US manned missions since 1994 1
• Percent Failed 0.04
• Failed - any mission that did not return to
  Earth.

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Benefits and Support

• Countering the claims that too much money is
  being spent on funding NASA many site the amount
  of money that is spent on the war in Iraq.
• Specifically, the White House Budget (Office of
  Management and Budget) is going to spend 35
  billion by 2011 to reorganize Army Forces in Iraq
  and Afghanistan and to increase active Army
  combat brigades by 30.

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Should this be done?

• I believe that a manned space exploration program
  should be pursued, but with modifications to the
  current plan.
• First, the plan needs to be slowed down
  especially if the budget is grossly under what it
  is required.
• Second, compromise is needed not all missions
  need to be manned, some goals can be accomplished
  by robots.
• Lastly, the United States should stay involved in
  the ISS this would help maintain better
  relations with the other countries involved and
  encourage help and cooperation in our further
  space exploration programs.

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Should it be done?

• In other words

Is a good approach!