Isn't dismantling the space program long overdue?

[InformedIgnorance]

The soviet union ended in 1991, so let's look at budgets from 1992 onwards:

--------Amount-----Budget--In 2007USD
1992 - $13,961m - 1.01% - $15,310m
1993 - $14,305m - 1.01% - $18,582m
1994 - $13,695m - 0.94% - $18,053m
1995 - $13,378m - 0.88% - $16,915m
1996 - $13,881m - 0.89% - $16,457m
1997 - $14,360m - 0.90% - $15,943m
1998 - $14,194m - 0.86% - $15,521m
1999 - $13,636m - 0.80% - $15,357m
2000 - $13,428m - 0.75% - $14,926m
2001 - $14,095m - 0.76% - $15,427m
2002 - $14,405m - 0.72% - $15,831m
2003 - $14,610m - 0.68% - $16,021m
2004 - $15,152m - 0.66% - $15,559m
2005 - $15,602m - 0.63% - $16,016m
2006 - $15,125m - 0.57% - $16,085m
2007 - $15,861m - 0.58% - $15,861m
2008 - $17,318m - 0.60% - $17,138m
2009 - $17,782m - 0.57% - $17,186m
2010 - $18,724m - 0.52% - $17,804m
2011 - $18,448m - 0.53% - $17,005m
2012 - $17,770m - 0.48% - $16,014m

So let's look at this objectively. AFTER the soviet union collapsed, the Budget allocation has fallen year by year the total during those twenty one years in USD using 2007 values was about $USD 343,011m; adjusted to 2012 values that becomes $USD 380,624m.

In addition to simply employing themselves and finding out 'neat stuff' about reality as opposed to simply sitting on their *****, NASA is a key vehicle in pushing scientific advancement in areas no business is willing to invest, you see businesses like to innovate, they take technologies and combine them in creative ways to make money, on the other hand they are far less likely to invent, because that requires significant investment without certainty, this means they rely on others doing the invention for them. NASA is one such group, they invent and discover what no one else is willing to put in the effort and investment to do. When NASA does discover and invent things, you know little things like medical or robotics technologies etc, these tend to spur businesses to use those inventions for their own innovations; by investing with NASA to discover things, whole ranges of new technologies are identified, entire industries birthed, huge number of people employed to commercialize the findings of a source you are so ready to discard.

Can you think of a more efficient or effective use of not even 400 billion when you consider the massive technological advances and economic growth dependant on what NASA has done in those twenty years of budget neglect.

edit: lots of posts in the meantime, tyson is spot on here, the stupidity of a declining nasa budget is really inexcusable when you consider that american manufacturing is tanked, if you are not even willing to invest at the other end of the spectrum with the invention, your economy is a toilet

 

[Penumbra]

Tyson again, talking about long-term vs. short-term thinking, the importance of improving technology and space research, and the ratio of lawyers to scientists in Congress (which is why we end up with situations like the James Webb telescope almost getting cut or why the largest particle accelerator project was cancelled after billions of dollars were spent, allowing more forward thinking countries to do it instead.)

[youtube]tKdaRcptVz8[/youtube]
Neil Degrasse Tyson on Bill Maher - YouTube

 

[Alceste]

You're not even an American. You have no idea what it's like to watch your taxdollars getting wasted on sending into space tomato plants and old geezers as a thank you gift for their service to the nation. I also realize you were just itching to get in that little dig Christians being "anti-science." Saldy, your impatience means that you used it in an instance where it has no applications. We're not denying science. We're saying let's us our precious scientific resources on something a little closer to land.

Surprisingly, Canada also funds scientific research. I'm cool with that.

 

[methylatedghosts]

You don't see me telling you the true way to practice Bodiwhateveritis you practice. You know why? Because I don't know jack **** about it. It's the same principle in action when you suggest a moral failure on my part because I consider certain doctrines heretical and their practitioners deniers of our faith

So when you clearly demonstrate to know sweet **** all about the benefits of space exploration, why would you even begin to talk about it?

Cordless tools, memory foam, ear-thermometers, water filters, cellphone technologies... These are only 5 of the ~1650 products that are commonly used today that are directly resultant of the technology developed in space exploration. You owe a tremendous amount to space programmes and don't even know it.

Space exploration is important because it represents human kind's ability to dream and innovate. The 60s and 70s were times of huge steps forward in technological and scientific development simply because people felt they were allowed top dream, quite literally of things that were out of this world . Limit that, and you stifle innovation, progress, dreams. "small step for man, big step for mankind" no truer words were ever spoken

 

[methylatedghosts]

Tyson again, talking about long-term vs. short-term thinking, the importance of improving technology and space research, and the ratio of lawyers to scientists in Congress (which is why we end up with situations like the James Webb telescope almost getting cut or why the largest particle accelerator project was cancelled after billions of dollars were spent, allowing more forward thinking countries to do it instead.)

[youtube]tKdaRcptVz8[/youtube]
Neil Degrasse Tyson on Bill Maher - YouTube

I was going to quote Neil Degrasse Tyson as well! I couldn't remember his exact words though, but it was something to the effect of what I said in the previous post about dreams, innovation and progress

 

[Debater Slayer]

Cordless tools, memory foam, ear-thermometers, water filters, cellphone technologies... These are only 5 of the ~1650 products that are commonly used today that are directly resultant of the technology developed in space exploration. You owe a tremendous amount to space programmes and don't even know it.

Space exploration is important because it represents human kind's ability to dream and innovate. The 60s and 70s were times of huge steps forward in technological and scientific development simply because people felt they were allowed top dream, quite literally of things that were out of this world . Limit that, and you stifle innovation, progress, dreams. "small step for man, big step for mankind" no truer words were ever spoken

I couldn't agree more.

Also, the mere fact that people can now use the Internet to bash space exploration on Internet forums could be said to be a result of space exploration programs; namely, being able to launch satellites.

But that doesn't count because we don't know what space tomato tastes like, right?

 

[averageJOE]

How much money was flushed down the toilet on those two shuttles that crashed? Can anyone name one achievement of the program in the post cold war era that was worth the cost? I think you can make an argument that battling the ruskies in the race to the moon was a far better alternative to waging war on the field of battle. With jobs going overseas at a disturbing rate aren't those funds more needed here on the ground?

So your going to start with getting rid of your internet?

 

[methylatedghosts]

I couldn't agree more.

Also, the mere fact that people can now use the Internet to bash space exploration on Internet forums could be said to be a result of space exploration programs; namely, being able to launch satellites.

But that doesn't count because we don't know what space tomato tastes like, right?

Right.

Without space programmes I couldn't possibly reply to you right now on my cellphone internet while having a beer at my favourite pub. I would have to wait till I got home, turn on my desktop, hit the connect button on the dialup connection, and then reply. Of course, if I had to do all that I might be more inclined to agree with the OP...

 

[Penumbra]

I was going to quote Neil Degrasse Tyson as well! I couldn't remember his exact words though, but it was something to the effect of what I said in the previous post about dreams, innovation and progress

This might do:

Right now, NASA's annual budget is half a penny on your tax dollar. For twice that—a penny on a dollar—we can transform the country from a sullen, dispirited nation, weary of economic struggle, to one where it has reclaimed its 20th century birthright to dream of tomorrow.

-Neil Tyson

 

[methylatedghosts]

So your going to start with getting rid of your internet?

To be fair, I think we'd still have internet, but not nearly on the scale we see it at now. This forum discussion would be more likely to take place over a period of months, rather than hours, and via letters written to our local newspapers...

I was listening to a talk back station on the radio some time ago, and there was an interview with someone on the BBC who had a role to play in the first satellite broadcast live television between the USA and the UK. Absolutely fascinating

 

[InformedIgnorance]

Now, now, people. It is a very rational suggestion - provided that you believe we already know everything worth knowing.

 

[Willamena]

How much money was flushed down the toilet on those two shuttles that crashed?

Is that really the important question?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

You're not even an American. You have no idea what it's like to watch your taxdollars getting wasted on sending into space tomato plants and old geezers as a thank you gift for their service to the nation.

Do you think that the US is the only country with a space program?

 

[Revoltingest]

Do you think that the US is the only country with a space program?

The only really successful one.

 

[Willamena]

Do you think that the US is the only country with a space program?

Passive aggressive high-five!

 

[Riverwolf]

You're not even an American.

I am and I fully, 100% agree with her.

You have no idea what it's like to watch your taxdollars getting wasted on sending into space tomato plants and old geezers as a thank you gift for their service to the nation.

Better than watching said dollars go to funding weapons of mass destruction.

I also realize you were just itching to get in that little dig Christians being "anti-science." Saldy, your impatience means that you used it in an instance where it has no applications. We're not denying science. We're saying let's us our precious scientific resources on something a little closer to land.

But don't you like the internet?

No more space program = no more internet.

 

[freethinker44]

it adds up

It doesn't add up, actually. We have spent less on NASA over its entire history than we have on the military in the last 5 years. NASA's budget is half a percent of the total budget. I promise you NASA is not a financial problem for the US.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

It doesn't add up, actually. We have spent less on NASA over its entire history than we have on the military in the last 5 years. NASA's budget is half a percent of the total budget. I promise you NASA is not a financial problem for the US.

FWIW, I'm in favor of pretty much gutting the military as well

 

[gnomon]

If this is his industry I have little doubt he has access to clever apologetics written by people with far more "credentials" defending their work. On the surface whatever "facts" he presents will look convincing. If I were to take the bait 'll be left with googling websites in order to attempt to refute whatever he posted. In short, I'm sure he can post clever arguments by phds that sound convincing. This isn't about being declared the winner of some debate. This is about survival and competing with third world counties putting us out of business making practical stuff people use every day of their lives.

It is far easier to just accept a half ***** premise and walk away.

Facts. Premises. Arguments.

Now pardon me while I go shove this lighted candle up my urethra to treat this kidney stone. Someone told me it's a bad idea but what do they know with their facts and data and whatnot.

 

[Riverwolf]

FWIW, I'm in favor of pretty much gutting the military as well

Well, if we had done that before, and redirected most of that money to NASA, we'd have colonized Mars by now, if not other moons so that limited resources and overpopulation would probably not be such an immediate problem anymore.