NASA: Budget Cut Interview

Interview About NASA

The discontinuation of funding toward NASA is going to have a negative effect on the United States economy. A 1992 article in the British science journal Nature reported: "The economic benefits of NASA's programs are greater than generally realized. The main beneficiaries (the American public) may not even realize the source of their good fortune.” When I interviewed my teacher, she had no idea that NASA was beneficial to the economy. She said, “It sounds like our government is being penny wise and dollar foolish.” In my opinion we should increase funding toward NASA which will improve our economy and increase development. A November 1971 study of NASA released by the Midwest Research Institute of Kansas City, Missouri , Technological Progress and Commercialization of Communications Satellites concluded that "the $25 billion in 1958 dollars spent on civilian space R & D during the 1958-1969 period has returned $52 billion through 1971. The discounted rate of return for this investment will have been 33 percent." She was truly surprised when I informed her of the economic benefits and return. She stated, “My Uncle John Cassini, was awarded the National Air and Space Museum Lifetime Achievement Award, so I feel that I should have been more knowledgeable on this subject.” Unfortunately the public is not aware of the benefits toward the economy which a portion of is science, engineering, and technology. According to an article, Public Opinion of the American Space Program, published in December of 2011, “The American public perceives the NASA budget as commanding a much larger share of the federal budget than it in fact does”..