Ben Epstein - APES B Block -
9/8/12 - Liz Gottlieb
Purpose:
The purpose of this news report and discussion is to bring
to light the massive amount of money our government is spending on our space
program and to ask ourselves if this is really the best use of our
tax-money. It is also to discuss
whether entering a new Space Race with the Chinese is a smart idea that will
enhance our technology or whether in the grand scheme of things it will be
detrimental to our country.
Research Facts:
-
NASA rover Curiosity landed on Mars after a
254-day journey covering over 350,000,000 miles.
-
This project cost NASA over 2.6 Billion dollars.
-
NASA budget this year was around 18,000,000,000.
Discussion Questions:
1.
In what ways did the original Space Race in the
1900s help the USA? In what ways did it hurt us?
2.
How might these answers be used to determine the
reasoning behind another one with China?
3.
Is it right for the United States be spending so
many billions of dollars on a space program that many say has reached its
limits when our tax-payer’s money could be spent in far better ways, given the
amount of economic struggle the US is currently facing?
4.
If the Curiosity mission is successful, will it
lead to, maybe one day, a manned mission the Mars? If so, how much money should
be invested in what some people say is completely unnecessary to begin with?
5.
Does having a presence in space really matter
when over $18,000,000,000 is spent annually by NASA to execute their missions
and operate their systems in space?
YouTube clip of news
report regarding Space Race with China:
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