AS YOU READ, HAVE AN OPINION...SHOULD WE GO BACK TO THE MOON OR NOT?
-------------------------
(CNN) -- American astronauts will not return to the moon as planned if Congress passes President Obama's proposed budget.
Obama's budget -- which aims to tighten the nation's purse strings in certain areas while increasing money used to create jobs -- would cancel NASA's Constellation Program, which had sought to send astronauts back to the moon by 2020.
Constellation alsointended to study the idea of establishing a moon colony. The program was set to follow the U.S. space agency's shuttle missions, which are due to end in September.
On its Web site, the White House Budget Office says the program to send astronauts to the moon is behind schedule, over budget and overall less important than other space investments.
"Using a broad range of criteria, an independent review panel determined that even if fully funded, NASA's program to repeat many of the achievements of the Apollo era, 50 years later, was the least attractive approach to space exploration as compared to potential alternatives," the site says.
"Furthermore, NASA's attempts to pursue its moon goals, while inadequate to that task, had drawn funding away from other NASA programs, including robotic space exploration, science, and Earth observations."
Overall, Obama's proposed budget increases the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's budget by $6 billion over the next five years. The president's budget would give NASA a $19 billion budget in 2011, compared to its $18.3 billion budget this year.
Congress has to approve the federal budget, and a final ruling may not happen for months.
The budget changes will not prevent NASA from returning astronauts to the moon and exploring the rest of the solar system, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden said in a conference call with reporters on Monday.
"Imagine trips to Mars that take weeks instead of nearly a year; people fanning out across the inner solar system, exploring the Moon, asteroids and Mars nearly simultaneously in a steady stream of firsts ... That is what the president's plan for NASA will enable, once we develop the new capabilities to make it a reality," Bolden said.
The NASA administrator emphasized the fact that the president's budget would increase NASA funding overall and said the Constellation program was behind schedule and over-budget anyway.
"The truth is we were not on a sustainable path to get back to the moon's surface, and as we focused most of our efforts and funding on getting back to the moon we were neglecting investment in key technologies to get us beyond," he said.
Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida, criticized the president for slashing NASA's moon-mission program from his suggested budget.
The move could cause the U.S. to fall behind other countries in space exploration, he said.
"If they don't push hard now for research and development of the new big rocket that'll take us out of low-Earth orbit and let us explore the heavens, then we are going to be falling behind China and Russia, and that's something I don't think will sit well with the American people," he said in an interview with CNN.
Louis Friedman, executive director of The Planetary Society, called that assertion "ridiculous," and said he's hopeful the end of Constellation would lead to the U.S. returning to the moon more quickly.
Friedman believes that Constellation is a flawed and bloated program, which should be replaced with a new program that would get the U.S. back to the moon more efficiently.
Constellation was behind schedule, and a new program offers a fresh start and puts needed emphasis on space exploration beyond the moon, he said.
"I think the Constellation program probably fell on its own weight as opposed to any major policy change," he said.
Others questioned what will happen to the money NASA has already spent on its program to return to the moon.
"I think that some of the things they're working on could be used regardless of what the program is," said John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org and a space policy expert. "Some of it however, I think is just going to end up on the cutting room floor."
About $250 million in federal stimulus money has paid for investments in the Constellation Program, according to a CNN report. NASA's current budget gives Constellation $3.47 billion in funding, according to the White House Budget Office.
NASA says the Constellation research and technology would be useful in other space endeavors.
NASA first sent astronauts to the moon in 1969, and the space agency's Apollo program sent astronauts to the moon at total of six times.
CNN's John Couwels and John Zarrella contributed to this report.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/space/02/01/nasa.budget.moon/index.html
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think that we should return to the moon someday. If the constellation project is actually going to do what it says, then we should allow it to run it's course. The colinization of the moon would allow for the human race to explore further into space. This would create a better understanding of the unknown world around us.
ReplyDeleteI think that the constellation program is a great idea. The only problem is that it is not the right time to do it. Perhaps when the nation's ecocomic status get better the program could launch.
ReplyDeleteThe constellation pogram is great idea but it can wait the economy is doing bad and it is right that Obama is cutting down on NASA budget it does not matter if other countries are ahead of us first they should fix problems inside the US..
ReplyDeleteThe Constellation project sounds cool. i think it is great to study something that may have an impact on our ability to sustain life on Earth. But i want to hear if NASA is really upset about this. Politicians just say they do not like the cut because its politics. Also i would like to add what is the problem with the U.S having to be the best at everything. maybe that is why other countries hate America so much.
ReplyDeleteI think we should cut the Constellation program. NASA has spent a lot of money and a lot of time to accomplish very little. If cutting a program in order to replace it with something more effective and less costly will give us better results down the road, I say go for it. Of course, this is my initial opinion. I am not very well read on the topic; there is probably some information conveniently left out of this article that I am not aware of.
ReplyDeleteThe Constellation program is a great idea and the reason why America is one of the greatest countries is because they always find a way to make things happen. If Obama cuts back on NASA funds other countries will surplus the U.S. we have always been one of top countries when it comes to space.
ReplyDeleteThe constellation program basically states that one day NASA would get their $19 billion budget back. however, nineteen billion is a lot of money and space is necessary for Americans' to learn and explore. Education in America is necessary and every year there is new and "necessary" education budget. why would NASA be any different?
ReplyDeletethe constellation program is a great idea and I imagine we will be back on the moon as expected. the cuts only do one thing and that is delay. why does it matter if the U.S. falls behind. we are smart enough to not stay that way for long.
ReplyDeletei think the constellation program is a good idea..with the 19 billion we can actually do good job in space and do i right. yeah we may fall behind..but with more money america may discover more than china or russia.
ReplyDeleteDan Rivera
ReplyDeleteCecilia Lepore
Ensley Jensen
According to CNN's John Couwels and John Zaralla, Congress is waiting to pass, president Obama’s budget, towards NASA to further explore the moon and establish a colony. NASA’s argument is that they need the money from the government because they want to go back to the moon, and also try to take weekly trips to Mars. The president does not agree with this concept because he wants to spend the $19 billion NASA asked for, to stimulate economy and help those who need money. NASA also argues that if America does not go to the moon again soon, we will fall behind with China and Russia. If NASA does not receive the ninety billion dollars, it would not be a total failure, because they currently give $3.47 billion for Constellation funding, according to the White House Budget Office.
CNN reporters, John Zaralla and John Couwels, report that NASA needs nineteen billion dollars by next year, but congress has to think about it twice because they want to use that money to stimulate economy and help people.
According to the CNN.com article, “Obama budget would cut moon exploration program” by John D. Sutter NASA would not return to the moon in 2020. Sutter suggests that, Obama aims to cut certain programs in order to increase money to create more jobs. Sutter acknowledges that, the White House budget office believes the constellation project is behind schedule. President Obama proposed budget does not plan to stop astronauts from exploring space but only moon explorations. The main debate is that the U.S. will fall behind other countries in moon explorations.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama wants to cut the NASA constellation project to save money to create jobs.
Hollie Davis
ReplyDeleteKelsi Hall
Jacob Arambula
In the article written by John Couwels and John Zarrella, it’s stated that the budget Obama wants won’t benefit the Constellation Program. The new budget will completely get rid of the program altogether. It’s important to NASA that the United States stays ahead of Russia and China on space research. However, according to the White House, the program is working slow, very expensive, and less important that other things involved with space. Obama wants the budget to be at 19 billion and the budget this year was at 18.3 billion. If the budget cuts the program, then they will take the lead and it may be hard to get back. It also states that if we do get rid of the program, once they are able to reinstate a new program, it will get the U.S. back to the moon and beyond that more frequently and efficiently according to Louis Friedman.
According to the article written by John Couwels and John Zarrella, the White House wants to cut the Constellation Program and increase the budget to 19 billion in order to improve the program later.
Marcus Hall
ReplyDeleteRajan Patel
Dwight Mashburn
The CNN article by John Couwels and John Zarrella states, that NASA would get more money to use for other programs but they wouldn’t be able to go to the moon like they planned. It also would cancel NASA’s Constellation Program which planned to send astronauts to the moon in 2020. Obama increased budget by 6 billion over the next 5 years. NASA’s administrator Charlie Bolden doesn’t think that cutting the constellation program would not stop the astronauts from going to the moon. This move can cause the U.S. to fall behind other countries in exploring the moon. Many people such as John Pike believe that all these actions are made to just cut room floor.
According to a CNN article by John Couwels and John Zarrella, Obama plans to increase the budget for NASA but he is deciding what NASA can spend it on and this can impact NASA negatively.
Crystal Huerta
ReplyDeleteNoemi Perez
Alexandria Penaloza
Dr. Schmoll
John Couwell and John Zarella wrote an article on President Obama wanting to pass a proposed budget. He would like to cut the budget for NASA. Obama would like to create more jobs for American citizens, which in turn will cancel the Constellation Program, which seems to be behind. It does not mean that astronauts will not return to the moon, they will just need to be more careful in choosing what they spend the money on. The plan is to send astronauts back to the moon in 2020.
President Obama proposed a budget to make cuts for NASA, which will create more jobs.
Breanna Braccamonte
ReplyDeleteJael Franklin
Matt Allingham
Summary
According to John Couwels and John Zarrella in their CNN.com article, Obama is persuading congress to decrease the space programs budgets extraneous spending on the Constellation project. The Constellation project was intended to create the idea of colonizing the moon. Obama wants to use the money saved from the budget reform to create new jobs. Senator Bill Nelson said "If they don't push hard now for research and development of the new big rocket that'll take us out of low-Earth orbit and let us explore the heavens, then we are going to be falling behind China and Russia…”. One wants to go to the moon, one wants to go beyond the moon, and Obama wants to cut the budget.
Summary of the Summary
According to John Couwels and John Zarrella in their CNN.com article, Obama is cutting the budget of the Constellation program, regardless of what NASA wants to use the money for.
Raul Ramos
ReplyDeleteJohn Gonzalez
Sergio Carrillo
According to John Couwels and John Zarrella, the Obama Administration has decided to, “Cancel NASA’s Constellation Program, which had sought to send astronauts back to the moon by 2020.” The White House stated, “That the program was over budget and is behind schedule and that there are better space investments then the Constellation Program.” For the upcoming years, more money will go towards NASA’s space program, thus increasing their budget for further explorations. Some critics argue that more federal money has to go towards the Constellation Program because it will put the U.S behind other countries. On the other hand, other critics say money that does not go towards the Constellation program will help develop more effective programs and the things that were worked on with the program can be used in other programs.
John Couwels and John Zarrella, writing for cnn.com, discussed the benefits of the Obama Administration reducing funding from the Constellation program to benefit other areas of space exploration.
Michelle Villanueva
ReplyDeleteLidia Gomez
In an article by CNN, President Obama is proposing a new budget cut, which will be increasing more jobs in America. Now this budget cut will affect NASA’s Constellation Program along with decreasing the chances of American astronauts going back to the moon. This Constellation Program is the study of the moon’s colony that allows astronauts to create missions, which was due to be in September. According to the White House’s website, “their budget was over budget and less important then other space programs.” Also, according to the White House it was estimated in 50 years the U.S. had approached space exploration. By the next five years the Space’s Administration’s budget was 6 billion however; today President Obama grants NASA 18.3 billion and in 2011 promises a grant of nineteen million dollar budget. Congress gives no hope to NASA of funding for months and prevents NASA from returning to the moon.
Sentence Summary:
With President Obama’s new budget cuts program, NASA’s Constellation Program does not allow the American astronauts to explore the space and the solar system because more American today need jobs.
Jaime Lynn Villar
ReplyDeleteDeshawnte Perry
Roschelle Pantoja
According to the report on CNN by John Couwels and John Zarrella, if the Congress approves of President Obama’s proposition to increase funds to create more job opportunities, the Constellation program would cancel its plans to return to the moon. If there’s not enough funding, the program will fall back behind other countries such as China. Those opposed more funding believe that the programs is insufficient and could be substituted by other programs to get the U.S. to the moon quicker. According to CNN, the $250 million that was given to the Constellation program would be beneficial to other space related purposes.
The funding for the Constellation program would be useful to developing other programs that are more effective towards the plans of returning to the moon.
Gaby Plascencia
ReplyDeleteBrandon Sanchez
Jordan Reed
According to John Couwels and John Zarrella from CNN.com, President Obama has proposed a new budget that would cancel NASA’s Constellation program. The Constellation program had planned to send astronauts back to the moon by 2020 and possibly establish moon colonies. However, this program was extremely expensive and already behind schedule. If the new program does not pass the Constellation program will put the U.S. behind Russia and China in space exploration. The positive outcome of this new proposed program would be that it would increase NASA’s budget by $6 billion over the next five years. Congress has not yet approved the budget, and this will take several months.
John Couwels and John Zarrella from CNN.com state that the new proposed budget would increase the funding of NASA by canceling the Constellation program and creating more opportunities to further explore space.
Mark Samonte
ReplyDeleteNicole Anderson
Cesar Orta
According to John Couwels and John Zarella from CNN.com, they argue that Obama’s proposed budget will have us far behind in space exploration. Obama’s proposed a budget that would not allow us to go to the moon in 2020 due to the fact that the money would go towards jobs for the unemployment. Obama is forced to cancel the Constellation Program due to the fact that it is already over budgeted and behind schedule. Since the Constellation Program is going to be cancelled, NASA will receive a 19 billion dollar budget that would help them return to the moon, rather than the 18.3 billion dollar budget that we have now.