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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 (TurnerNASA Technologies). 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.

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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 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 nine9 successful missions until it tragically exploded 73 seconds into its 10th
mission on January 28,th 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

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History of the Improvement of Space Shuttles: Discovery

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 3rd, 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

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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
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 non-government 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?
DONATE PAGE
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 the

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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 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 Mmars that has Earth-like qualities. NASA has claimed that they have found
running water on the planet Mmars which reignites the question of if there really is life
on Mmars. 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.

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Works CCited

Dunbar, Brian. (2015a.) "Space Shuttle Overview: Atlantis (OV-104)." NASA.

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

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.

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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.