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Andrew Russo
UWRITE 1103
Professor Malcom Campbell
11/11/15
A Waste of Time and Space? Should the US Government Fund the Space Exploration Program?
URL: http://fundspaceexploration.weebly.com/

HOME PAGE
Overview
Since the beginning of time, space has bemused humans as they gaze up at the midnight sky
pondering what they observed. For thousands of years, many have tried to solve the vast mystery
that we call space, but most of the information that was found led to more questions than it did
answers. On July 20th, 1969 the whole world watched in awe as the first men went into outer
space, and landed on the moon. Along with the launching of our tremendous space shuttle, this
monumental event in American history launched a serious advancement in human technology.
Space exploration has led to many of the items that we use today like LED lights, fire-resistant
structural materials, and even improved tires that we use for our cars (Turner). It would be very
hard to imagine what life would be like if our government did not invest in exploring
technologies that we could use in space, as well as on earth. Since space exploration has led to
multiple benefits for the earth, our government should continue spending time, money, and effort
exploring space technologies that will benefit human kind.

INNOVATIONS PAGE
Technological Innovations
Below, you will find several examples of technological advancements that have been a result
from space exploration. These items have benefited daily life for humans in uncountable ways.
All of these items are "spinoffs" of NASA technology that were easily be re-purposed for people
to use in everyday life.
(Examples)
History of the Improvement of Space Shuttles: Project Mercury
Project Mercury is recognized as NASA's first space shuttle. It was a cone shaped capsule with a
19 foot 2 inch escape cylinder mounted on top that could only hold one person. The shuttle was 6
feet 10 inches in length and 6 feet 2.5 inches in diameter. The shuttle flew a total of 6 manned
missions and was used to orbit a manned space craft around earth, see how man could

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successfully function in space, and successfully launch a manned space craft and bring it safely
back to Earth.
History of the Improvement of Space Shuttles: Challenger
The Challenger space shuttle was successfully constructed in February 1978. It was the first
space shuttle to take off and land at night when it completed the mission STS-8. The shuttle flew
nine successful missions until it tragically exploded 73 seconds into its 10th mission on January
28, 1986
Changes since the challenger
Since the Challenger disaster several changes have been made to the launching of space shuttles
and how NASA approaches safety:
New Maintenance Standards
1. Hardware inspections and schedules,
2. Planned maintenance activities,
3. Maintenance procedures configuration control, and
4. Maintenance logistics
Improved Communications
1. Implementation of effective management communications at all levels.
2. Standardization of the imposition and removal of STS launch constraints and other
operational constraints.
3. Conduct of Flight Readiness Review and Mission Management Team meetings,
including requirements for documentation and flight crew participation.
Other Precautions
1. actions required prior to next flight,
2. first flight/first year operations, and
3. development of sustainable safe flight rate

History of the Improvement of Space Shuttles: Discovery

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Although he Discovery space craft was completed on August 12th, 1983, the shuttle did not take
its first flight until August 30th, 1984. The Discovery successfully flew 39 missions and has
spent over a years worth of time in space. It currently resides in the James S. McDonnell Space
Hangar in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

History of the Improvement of Space Shuttles: Atlantis

The Atlantis space shuttle is the second to last operational space shuttle that was ever created. It
took its first flight on October 3, 1985. It successfully flew 33 missions and has traveled over
100 million miles. It was officially retired on July 21st 2011 after it flew its last mission. It is
currently displayed at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.
NASA FUNDING
Funding of NASA from 1958-2008

Clearly displayed in the graph the total percentage that NASA receives from the government has
severely decreased over the 50 year span. Since the amount of funding is directly correlated with
the amount of space missions that NASA is able to fly per year they have severely decreased as
well.
COMMERCIAL SPACE EXPLORATION
SpaceX

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About SpaceX
SpaceX is a space exploration company that was founded in the year 2002 by modern day
inventor Elon Musk who is also the founder of Tesla motors. The companys main goal is to be
able to have humans sustain life on another planet. The company supports about 3,000 workers
and has achieved many milestones in the space world as a private company like in 2010 when
they successfully returned a private space shuttle from a low Earth orbit. Another milestone that
SpaceX achieved was later in 2012 when their spacecraft Dragon successfully flew up the
international space station, exchanged cargo and safely landed back on Earth. As a nongovernment owned company SpaceX is able to receive funding from different private investors.
Recently Google has invested 1 billion dollars into SpaceX giving Google roughly ten percent
ownership if the company.
NASA & SpaceX
NASA and SpaceX work together on different space projects that benefit both companies. In
recent times SpaceX helps NASA with their cargo missions to the International Space Station
and NASA has also funded several of their astronauts to fly on space missions with SpaceX. If
NASA receives more money from the government they will be able to work more with SpaceX
and continue to organize successful space missions.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Donations (switched with about NASA page)
This is a page that has the option for the user to click on a hyperlink button and direct them to the
penny for NASA website. The website provide the viewer with more information on how they can
donate money to NASA and help fund space exploration projects. It also gives information about
their causes and what the program is all about so that people are more informed about NASAs
causes and what they use their money for.
ABOUT NASA PAGE
A brief history of NASA (switched with donations page)
In 1959 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was started by President
Dwight Eisenhower as a result of the Soviet Union launching the first unmanned satellite
Sputnik into space. During the 1960s NASAs main focus was to have the first humans walk on
the moon. After several missions, on July 20th 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin who were
leading the Apollo 11 mission were the first of twelve men to walk on the moon. Once the
Apollo missions came to a halt, NASA began to focus their research on the concept of a reusable
space shuttle which would provide a move continent access to space. NASA, with help from the
Russian space program and the hard work and effort of 15 other countries, were able to execute
the International Space Station (ISS) program which permanently left the earths mark in space.
However, over the years the funding that NASA receives from the United States Government is

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decreasing each year making it much harder to fund progressive space programs that will benefit
the world.
Recent News
In more recent news, NASA has spent a lot of their research on exploring the Earth's neighbor
Mars that has Earth-like qualities. NASA has claimed that they have found running water on the
planet Mars which reignites the question of if there really is life on Mars. NASA has also
conducted a mission along with the Russian space program to send two men into space for a
whole year and study various projects like how the two men's bodies will react to spending a
years time in space, a genetic project conducted with the American astronaut and his brother to
see if the genetics remain the same after the year and many more. These major breakthroughs
and missions have caused NASA to recapture the attention of the public and make them aware of
the relevant research that they are conducting.

OTHER: WORKS CITED PAGE

BLOG PAGE
Tell me what you think. Explain what your personal views are on the funding of space
exploration.
(User comments)
Author: Andrew Russo
A freshmen at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Andrew is a Computer Science
major who plans on concentrating in cyber security with a minor in criminal justice. He likes to
spend time playing sports, spending time with friends, and collecting sneakers. Space exploration
has always been an interest of Andrews and enjoys learning new things about it and how it can
affect our lives.

Works Cited

Dunbar, Brian. (2015a.) "Space Shuttle Overview: Atlantis (OV-104)." NASA. NASA, 12
Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

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Dunbar, Brian. (2015b.) "Space Shuttle Overview: Challenger (OV-099)." NASA. NASA,
12 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

Dunbar, Brian. (2015c.) "Space Shuttle Overview: Discovery (OV-103)." NASA. NASA,
12 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

Dunbar, Brian. (2015d.) "Space Shuttle Overview: Endeavour (OV-105)." NASA.

NASA, 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

Etherington, Darrell. "SpaceX Raises $1 Billion In New Funding From Google

And Fidelity." TechCrunch. N.p., 20 Jan. 2015. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

Launius, Roger D. "NASA's Actions to Implement the Rogers Commission

Recommendations after the Challenger Accident." NASA's Actions to Implement
Rogers Commission Recommendations. National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, 18 July 2000. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

Loff, Sarah. "About Project Mercury." NASA. NASA, 14 Sept. 2015. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

McEvers, Kelly. "The Year In Space: U.S., Russian Spacefarers On The International
Station." NPR. NPR, 8 October. 2015. Web. 20 October 2015.

Smith, Jim. "Space Age Inventions You Probably Use." CNN. Cable News Network, 08
Oct. 2007. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

Turner, Janelle. "NASA Technologies Benefit Our Lives." NASA Technologies Benefit
Our Lives. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

Wilson, Jim. "What Does NASA Do?" NASA. NASA, 1 Nov. 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.