NASA's Budget: "How much would you pay for the universe?"

Recently, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson called for NASA's budget to be increased to one penny for every federal tax dollar—in other words, to 1% of the federal budget, about double what it receives now. Currently, NASA receives about 18 billion dollars a year. In comparison, the US Air Force alone receives about 170 billion a year.



I believe that to survive, humanity must explore space. We cannot keep abusing this Earth forever. So if we can spend hundreds of billions of dollars to keep America safe, we should be able to spend some more keeping humanity's future safe.

For those interested, a site has been launched about the proposal.

I would support funding NASA's research in strictly colonization of, say, Mars and/or other suitable planets. Primarily, we should focus on settling problems we have here on Earth before worrying about other planets. But on the flipside of that, there is the argument that, if we get far enough into colonization and manage to build stations on the surface of planets and moons, it could stimulate our earthside economy by having a sudden large demand for work out in space.

Basically, more jobs and employed for the investment in colonization. Again, I'm definitely for that. I just think we should try and keep a balance between funding for progression down here and progression up there, and maintain it strictly.

There will always be problems here on Earth. It's not like someday we'll look around and say, "Well, that takes care of Earth's troubles! Now we can finally take a crack at space!" The initial investment in spaceflight is generally economically unsound—although that's starting to change. But we have to look at the long-term. Besides, a number of technologies—GPS, for example—are the direct result of the space program. And I feel that a number of other worldly problems could benefit from further space exploration.

Originally Posted by Vulpes

There will always be problems here on Earth. It's not like someday we'll look around and say, "Well, that takes care of Earth's troubles! Now we can finally take a crack at space!" The initial investment in spaceflight is generally economically unsound—although that's starting to change. But we have to look at the long-term. Besides, a number of technologies—GPS, for example—are the direct result of the space program. And I feel that a number of other worldly problems could benefit from further space exploration.

That's why I don't think we should necessarily wait for that mythical moment when world peace is achieved. On the other hand, I think there is certainly some sort of limit to how much we should spend on NASA's research.

Originally Posted by ManofRedHelms

That's why I don't think we should necessarily wait for that mythical moment when world peace is achieved. On the other hand, I think there is certainly some sort of limit to how much we should spend on NASA's research.

Doubling NASA's budget would definitely not bring it anywhere close to that limit.

Originally Posted by Vulpes

Doubling NASA's budget would definitely not bring it anywhere close to that limit.

Oh, I wasn't referring to any specific amount. I don't have research and notes about any numbers in front of me, though it just makes sense that we watch ourselves. An abstract cop-out of an answer, I know.

In my opinion, America should stop spending such a Ludacris amount of money on the military and spread it around to other things. NASA would be one of the things I'd like to see get more funding.

Stopping spending on military is foolish, except in the area of bringing our overseas empire back home. No one is launching massive space programs that threaten our security, so why waste the money? We kinda have to figure a way to get off-planet without making a hole in the ozone before we can safely engage in extraterrestrial colonization/exploration. Our current economic situation takes much higher precedence than space programs that do not actually benefit us.

Originally Posted by Rakshael

Stopping spending on military is foolish, except in the area of bringing our overseas empire back home. No one is launching massive space programs that threaten our security, so why waste the money? We kinda have to figure a way to get off-planet without making a hole in the ozone before we can safely engage in extraterrestrial colonization/exploration. Our current economic situation takes much higher precedence than space programs that do not actually benefit us.

You know, the first airplanes didn't have much practical use, either.

What are we without science and exploration? I'd much have modern astronomy and space technology than war.

The US should definitely cut back on military spending. We should always have defense, but so far I haven't seen any real need for us to be stationed all over the globe, especially when many don't want us.

Originally Posted by Gamzee

In my opinion, America should stop spending such a Ludacris amount of money on the military and spread it around to other things. NASA would be one of the things I'd like to see get more funding.

Exactly. NASA deserved four times the budget, not just two.

I view NASA as a conduit of science and science as knowledge that already has changed the way we live. So NASA is exploring space to invent better technologies created by observing the unknown that will improve lives everywhere. Hm....

In addition, we have some awe-inspiring pictures of real objects in space.

Although the debt is a pressing issue, NASA only accounts for half of a percent of the US's total budget. It should definitely be increased in addition to reducing the US's military expenditures by 66-75%. Bring all the soldiers home, close all the bases and have the military's only role be defense and preventing genocide and human rights abuses.

That is not to say that most of the money saved should go to other programs, it should go to deficit reduction first and foremost.

I'm not sure the military could respond to genocide and human rights abuses abroad without making us end up with tons of soldiers abroad... just like we have now (but not for the same reasons).

Well, if Neil says we should... It probably makes sense. :b

Originally Posted by Rakshael

Stopping spending on military is foolish, except in the area of bringing our overseas empire back home. No one is launching massive space programs that threaten our security, so why waste the money? We kinda have to figure a way to get off-planet without making a hole in the ozone before we can safely engage in extraterrestrial colonization/exploration. Our current economic situation takes much higher precedence than space programs that do not actually benefit us.

NASA doesn't just give us spaceships to ride to the moon and take pretty pictures. Plenty of technology has been created or improved because of NASA.

Originally Posted by Left4Cuccos

I'm not sure the military could respond to genocide and human rights abuses abroad without making us end up with tons of soldiers abroad... just like we have now (but not for the same reasons).

Sure they can in cooperation with other states eg. Libya. There's no reason the US should take on the entire burden of wars, just send a modest number of forces with other states doing the same.

Originally Posted by Pietro

Sure they can in cooperation with other states eg. Libya. There's no reason the US should take on the entire burden of wars, just send a modest number of forces with other states doing the same.

The problem with that is that is dependent on the cooperation of other states who may not feel like doing a damn thing. It might be a shortage of money, military capability, or just commitment but the result is the same.

If other states don't want to join you on a human rights military intervention, you're down ♥♥♥♥ creek without a paddle.

Regardless of whether or not we would decrease defense spending, NASA deserves an increase. Hell, it deserves for its budget to be tripled, quadrupled, quintupled, even. Asking to double its budget is not a great demand considering how important NASA is, not only for space exploration, but as a symbol of science.

While I agree with that sentiment, I have to disagee. There are too many thing wrong with America that money can be thrown at to even double NASA's budget.

As much as I like the idea of space exploration, space travel should be the least of our concerns at the moment.