Posted by 
(Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin salutes the American flag planted on the lunar surface on 7/20/69.)
by: Frank V. Vernuccio, Jr., J.D. (Frank is President of the New American Revolution Bronx Conservative Organization)
Recently, the President took a break from his busy schedule of apologizing for America’s (imaginary) past sins and wrecking it’s present, in order to destroy its future. He did this by significantly defunding the space program, both manned and robotic. To Mr. Obama, those monies are better used to fund imaginary “green” projects such as those developed by Solyndra or in (exploding) electric vehicles.
From a purely dollars and cents perspective, is America’s small investment in space-which is just about one-half of 1% of the federal budget–a worthwhile use of scarce dollars in a depressed economy? The answer is a resounding “Yes.” The Chapman Report analyzed the cost effectiveness of the space program long before spinoffs such as cell phones and GPS technology became major economic factors. It revealed that, even then, in terms of both direct and indirect return on the dollar, spending on the space program paid for itself in federal, state and local taxes; in jobs created; and in U.S. sales and benefits. In an era when phony “stimulus” programs do little but transfer tax dollars into the pockets of the politically well-connected, spending on space represents a true boost to the economy. Turning our backs on space is the equivalent of a farmer eating his seeds for next years’ planting.
Beyond the balance sheet, there are other vital considerations. Our national defense is heavily dependent on orbiting satellites. The few bright spots in our otherwise dismal economy are the direct result of technological advances that are derived from our space program.
NASA Administrator Mike Griffen has noted:
“We see the transformative effects of the space economy all around us through numerous technologies and life-saving capabilities. We see the space economy in the lives saved when advanced breast cancer screening catches tumors in time for treatment, or when a heart defibrillator restores…a patient’s heart…we see it when weather satellites warn us of coming hurricanes…we see it when we use an ATM…
Griffen could have mentioned medical MRIs, flat screen TVs, cordless power tools, and solar power, as well as cell phones, GPS, computer/internet technology, and much more.
The quality of our children’s lives rests heavily upon our current investment in space. Even the health of Earth’s environment will be affected on whether we access the clean and affordable energy that can be accessed in space and from the moon.
Why has the space program–an effort that pays for itself both economically and in returns in defense, health, transportation, public safety, consumer products, the environment, agriculture, and industry, treated–so disdainfully? Why have we allowed our related infrastructure (over the past several years, we have lost our ability to place astronauts in space; we have slashed our unmanned exploration program to the bone; and we underfund key civilian and military space-related budgets to dangerously low levels) to deteriorate?
Opponents of the program are mistaken both in their economic analysis, but also in their belief that even a sharply curtailed U.S. effort keeps us ahead of other nations. That assumption is manifestly incorrect. China has already put men in space, and is developing an orbital space station. It has, right now, the ability to destroy our satellites, crippling our military. Beijing is actively preparing for missions to the moon where, thanks to our withdrawal from space, it will have sole access to its vast resources. Iran has sent satellites in space in preparation of developing an ICBM capability. Russia continues on its steady course, as does Europe, India, Japan and Brazil and others.
There is no valid reason, from the financial, defense, or cultural perspective–not to pursue a vigorous and ambitious space program.
Contact Frank V. Vernuccio:
NEW AMERICAN REVOLUTION BRONX CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATION
3148 Fairmount Avenue Bronx, NY 10465 (718) 541-3286
