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Student Name
Devin Patten
English 2010
25 March 2012
Stasis Model Facts
A Brief History: Space Exploration. Aerospace. The Aerospace Corporation, 21 Jan
2005. Web. 25 Mar 2012.
The Challenger tragedy led to a reevaluation of Americas space program. The new goal was to
make certain a suitable launch system was available when satellites were scheduled to fly. Today
this is accomplished by having more than one launch method and launch facility available and by
designing satellite systems to be compatible with more than one launch system (A Brief
History).
Space systems will continue to become more and more integral to homeland defense, weather
surveillance, communication, navigation, imaging, and remote sensing for chemicals, fires and
other disasters (A Brief History).
And while the space shuttle will likely continue to carry out important space missions,
particularly supporting the International Space Station, the Columbia disaster in 2003 signaled
the need to step up the development of its replacement. Future space launch systems will be
designed to reduce costs and improve dependability, safety, and reliability. In the meantime most
U.S. military and scientific satellites will be launched into orbit by a family of expendable launch
vehicles designed for a variety of missions. Other nations have their own launch systems, and
there is strong competition in the commercial launch market to develop the next generation of
launch systems (A Brief History).
Dinerman, Taylor. Space: The Final Frontier of Profit? The Wall Street Journal. Dow
Jones & Company, Inc., 13 Feb 2010. Web. 25 Mar 2012.
The main idea: to spend $6 billion over the next five years to help develop new commercial
spacecraft capable of carrying humans (Dinerman).
Big aerospace firms tempted to join NASA's new projects will remember the public-private
partnership fiasco when Lockheed Martin's X-33 design was chosen to replace the space shuttle
in 1996. Before it was canceled in 2001 this program cost the government $912 million and
Lockheed Martin $357 million (Dinerman).
George W. Bush's promising Constellation human spaceflight programwhich would be killed
under Mr. Obama's planhas already cost $9 billion since 2004 (Dinerman).
The space entrepreneurs may claim that they can send people into space for a fraction of the
previous cost, but they have not yet proved it. NASA's policy is neither bold nor new; it is yet
another exercise in budget-driven program cancellation (Dinerman).
Handberg, Roger. The future of American human space exploration and the Critical
Path. The Space Review. N.p., 11 Jan 2010. Web. 25 Mar 2012.
The ISS continues as a bone of contention when in January 2004, the Americans announced
their intention to shut down the shuttle in 2010 (now possibly into early 2011) and deorbit the
ISS in 2015 or 2016, or in any case have the US abandon the ISS for the Constellation program
(Handberg).

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As a result, historically, the US, as its price for being leader, was normally willing to pay the
largest share of the costs, which for space operations are usually significant and long-term due to
recurring program delays and cost overruns (Handberg).
There is little major disagreement that the US should not be involved in such prestigious
activities but the funding question always comes wrapped in a comparative cost analysis: the
shuttle versus tax cuts or the shuttle versus environmental programs. The reality is that the
human spaceflight program survives as well as it does because neither political party has truly
bought into a pay-as-you-go budget; deficits growing as far as the eye can see have allowed the
humans spaceflight program to survive (Handberg).
NASAs now traditional strategy of buying into human spaceflight projects with low-ball
numbers is increasingly more difficult to justify. Cost overruns will not disappear, but
congressional willingness to accept them is becoming more problematic, especially over the next
decade as the United States digs out from under the current economic difficulties (Handberg).
Commercial launch programs are likely to partially replace government vehicles for reaching
orbit, but space exploration means going places where there exists no immediate commercial
market. The costs are enormous given the likely economic returns. You can subsidize
commercial flights but that removes them from economic rationality if the market approach is to
work (Handberg).
The more critical issue is the declining willingness of presidents and congresses to fund longterm space programs, especially human exploration, because it is significantly more expensive
than unmanned missions. How NASA is able to fund such programs in the absence of strong
political support remains a difficult question. The degree of difficulty has grown over the years
but has not yet returned to the levels of congressional antagonism as in 1993 when the ISS came
within one vote of cancelation on the House floor while its budgetary competitor, the
Superconducting Super Collider, was terminated (Handberg).
Kaku, Michio. The Cost of Space Exploration. Forbes.com. The Moon, 16 July 2009.
Web. 25 Mar 2012.
Suddenly, the race to the moon was all about proving the superiority of capitalism over
communism. Arthur C. Clarke, the British author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, once commented
that he would have never imagined there would be a push to put men on the moon if it hadn't
became the focus of competition between two nations (Kaku).
After all is said and done about what went wrong, the bottom line is simple: money. It's about
$10,000 to put a pound of anything into a near-earth orbit. (Imagine John Glenn, the first
American to orbit the earth, made of solid gold, and you can appreciate the enormous cost of
space travel.) It costs $500 to $700 million every time the shuttle flies. Billionaire space tourists
have flown to the space station at a reputed price of $20 million per head. And to put a pound of
anything on the moon costs about 10 times as much. (To reach Mars, imagine your body made of
diamonds.) We are 50 years into the space age, and yet space travel is just as expensive as it
always was (Kaku).
The space station costs upward of $100 billion, yet its critics call it a station to nowhere. It has
no clearly defined scientific purpose. Once, President George H.W. Bush's science adviser was
asked about the benefits of doing experiments in weightlessness and microgravity. His response
was, Microgravity is of microimportance (Kaku).
Now, NASA is painfully reconstructing the infrastructure that it dismantled back in the 1970s
as it prepares to send astronauts to the moon via the Orion crew vehicle and the Ares launch

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rocket in 2020. This time, though, there could be a traffic jam on the moon, since China, India
and Japan have all publicly announced that by then they too will have sent astronauts to the
moon (Kaku).
Ladkawalla, Emily. "What is Space Exploration Worth." The Planetary Society. The
Planetary Society Blog, 30 Dec 2011. Web. 9 Mar 2012.
In the hours after Curiosity launched last month, there were more than a few people questioning
the worth of spending two and a half billion dollars to launch a spacecraft to Mars
(Ladkawalla).
Even though NASA is not as large a part of the budget as people think it is, it's irrefutable that
$2,500,000,000 (the approximate total cost of Curiosity through its primary mission) or
$17,800,000,000 (the fiscal year 2012 budget for all of NASA) is a lot of money that could pay
for lots of other worthwhile things (Ladkawalla).
The high costs are not associated (entirely) with the materials that leave Earth. Instead, they're
associated with the technical challenges of building machines to rigorous specifications. To meet
those technical challenges, we need lots of very smart engineers, and those engineers are
developing all kinds of new technologies. Many of those new technologies can be turned to
commercial uses, providing a direct economic benefit and making America one of the few
nations in the world capable of revolutionary technological innovation. NASA has a website
devoted to spinoff technologies; there's a lot more than just Velcro and Tang. NASA
technologies have made their way into medical, architectural, military, automotive, and artistic
applications, just to name a few (Ladkawalla).
Malik, Tariq. Obama Budget Scraps NASA Moon Plan for 21st Century Space
Program. SPACE.com. TechMediaNetwork.com, 1 Feb 2010. Web. 26 Mar 2012.
The budget request, released today, would scrap NASAs Constellation program to build the
Orion spacecraft and Ares rockets for new manned moon missions, a $9 billion investment to
date. The request calls for $19 billion in funding for NASA in 2011, a slight increase from the
$18.3 billion it spent in 2010. The request does, however, pledge extra funding to extend the life
of the International Space Station through at least 2020 and offers $6 billion over five years to
support commercially built spaceships to launch NASA astronauts into space. The space
agencys three remaining space shuttles are due to retire later this year (Malik).
Announced in 2005, NASAs Constellation program aimed at retiring the space shuttle fleet this
year and replacing it with new capsule-based vehicles (called Orion) designed to launch on Ares
I rockets, with a larger heavy-lift rocket called Ares V launching lunar landers and rocket stages
needed for moon-bound missions. The moon plan, announced by former President George W.
Bush in 2004, was aimed at returning astronauts to the moon by 2020. It would cost $100 billion,
roughly the current price tag of the International Space Station. Cancelling the program will cost
more than $2 billion in closing costs, NASA officials said (Malik).
The request would set aside $369 million for vital technology development and test programs,
with $183 million earmarked to support the International Space Station through 2020. The
station was slated to be decommissioned in 2016, a year before the Augustine committee
believed NASAs new Orion ship would be ready to ferry astronauts to it. The new budget would
set aside $3.1 billion in funding to develop better heavy-lift rockets and more advanced space
propulsion technology to explore faster and farther out into the solar system, NASA officials
said (Malik).

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Wall, Mike. "Romney, Gingrich support space exploration, but not with federal funds."
Mother Nature Network. SPACE.com, 24 Jan 2012. Web. 9 Mar 2012.
Both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich stressed the importance of space exploration for the
United States, saying a strong space program helps develop key technologies and inspires young
people to study science and engineering. But during the debate, held at the University of South
Florida in Tampa, neither candidate said giving NASA more money was the right way forward
(Wall).
Gingrich also implied he would trim NASA's budget, which currently represents roughly 0.5
percent of the federal budget. I'd like to see a leaner NASA, he said. I don't think building a
bigger bureaucracy and having a greater number of people sit in rooms and talk gets you there
(Wall).
Wilson, J.R. Space Program Benefits: NASAs Positive Impact on Society. NASA. NASA,
27 Aug 2008. Web. 25 Mar 2012.
It is often said that at least some of the technological developments and advances in science,
medicine, engineering and other disciplines that arose directly or indirectly from NASAs
programs no doubt eventually would have occurred anyway. When, where and by whom cannot
be known nor how different such developments might have been without the interaction of
multiple advances in multiple areas, freely shared, within what has been, in the history of human
advancements, the blink of an eye. But there is also no doubt that space is a unique environment,
demanding rapid innovation and new ways of thinking, with little tolerance for error. And these
demands reward all of us when they spurred creativity and technological invention (Wilson).
The areas in which NASA-developed technologies benefit society can broadly be defined as:
health and medicine, transportation, public safety, consumer goods, environmental and
agricultural resources, computer technology and industrial productivity (Wilson).
Zubrin, Robert. Obama wrecks the Mars program. National Review Online. National
Review Online, 15 Feb 2012. Web. 9 Mar 2012.
In its budget submitted to Congress on February 13, the Obama administration zeroed out
funding for NASAs future Mars-exploration missions (Zubrin).
No funding has been provided for the Mars probes planned as joint missions in 2016 and 2018
with the European Space Agency, and nothing after that is funded either (Zubrin).
NASAs Mars-exploration effort has been brilliantly successful because, since 1994, it has been
approached as a campaign, with probes launched every two years, alternating between orbiters
and landers. As a result, combined operations have been possible, with orbiters providing
communication links and reconnaissance guidance for surface rovers, which in turn can conduct
investigations on the ground to verify and calibrate orbital observations. Thus, the great treks of
the rovers Spirit and Opportunity, launched in 2003, were supported from above by Mars Global
Surveyor (MGS, launched in1996), Mars Odyssey (launched in 2001), and Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter (MRO, launched in 2005). But after serving ten years in orbit, MGS is now no longer
operating, and if we wait until the 2020s to resume Mars exploration, the rest of the orbiters will
be gone as well. Moreover, so will be the experienced teams that created them. Effectively, the
whole program will be completely wrecked, and we will have to start again from scratch
(Zubrin).

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The 2016 and 2018 missions have been planned as a NASA/ESA joint project, with the
Europeans contributing over $1 billion to the effort (Zubrin).
The U.S. federal government may be going broke, but its not because of NASA. Since 2008,
federal spending has increased 40 percent, but NASA spending has remained the same (Zubrin).
In 2008, NASA spending was $17.4 billion; this years budget is $17.7 billion. Yet in 2008,
NASA was running an active space-shuttle program, preparing for the critical mission to save the
Hubble Space Telescope, developing systems for returning astronauts to the moon by 2019,
building the Curiosity and MAVEN Mars probes, and planning an orbiter for Jupiters moon
Europa (Zubrin).

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Definitions

Space exploration: The exploration of outer space using technology. Explorations may be
done physically by humans or via robotic missions.
Satellite systems: Computer-controlled systems or objects launched into the earths orbit.
Their purpose may for observation, navigation, communication, weather, and research.
International Space Station: A habitable satellite-laboratory where scientists do research
and conduct experiments on spacecraft systems and equipment used for missions to
uncover space.
Constellation Human Spaceflight Program: A program within NASA established to
develop rockets and capsules to replace the shuttle and send astronauts to the moon and
even Mars. Announced in 2005, NASAs Constellation program aimed at retiring the
space shuttle fleet this year and replacing it with new capsule-based vehicles (Malik).
Manned missions: Sending humans on space shuttles to perform a certain task, away
from the earths atmosphere.
Unmanned missions: Sending robotic technology to explore the outer space with a
specific purpose.
The Space Race: A geopolitical race between the United States and the Soviet Union to
be the first ones to reach the moon ( mid-to-late 20th century). The US saw its victory, in
1969, when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin successfully landed on
the moon. Suddenly, the race to the moon was all about proving the superiority of
capitalism over communism (Kaku).
Federal funding: Monetary aid supplied by the government to benefit the American
public in various areas.
Federal budget: Used to fund government operations for each fiscal year. The intention of
the 2012 budget is to focus on deficit reductions.
NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It was established in 1958
as the nations civilian space program and aeronautic research firm.
NASA-developed technologies: NASA technologies have made their way into medical,
architectural, military, automotive, and artistic applications, just to name a few
(Ladkawalla).
Bureaucracy: Consists of non-elected government officials, organized to execute rules
and functions of their institution.
The Barrack Obama Administration: The executive branch directed by the nations
president, Barrack Obama. They exercise their powers granted in Article II of the
Constitution. In its budget submitted to Congress on February 13, the Obama
administration zeroed out funding for NASAs future Mars-exploration missions
(Zubrin).
Mars probes: Robotic missions sent to Mars to reveal conditions of the planet. Scientific
information obtained by the satellite is sent to the earth via radio transmission.
European Space Agency: Headquartered in France, this intergovernmental aeronautics
firm participates in the ISS program with its 19 member states.
Hubble Space Telescope: Carried into orbit in 1990 and is still in operation today. It
captures sharp, detailed images of new discoveries outside the earths atmosphere.

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Cause/Effect & Value
The start of space exploration for the United States was known as the famous Space
Race. When the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik 1 into earths orbit on October 4th,
1957, America plunged into the challenge. About a month after the Sputnik 1 was launched, the
Soviets released a second rocket, Sputnik 2, but this time with a passenger- a dog named Laika.
These events led to the automatic expansion of Americas efforts within its space program. On
January 30th of 1958, the US successfully launched its first satellite, Explorer 1. It could be said
that the start of space exploration was to see who was the bigger and better nation, or as some
might say, all about proving the superiority of capitalism over communism (Kaku).
Space exploration, today, is not necessarily a race with anybody in particular anymore.
It is more of an incentive to make us a more powerful nation in general. NASAs current goals
for manned missions is, to go out beyond Earth orbit for purposes of human exploration and
scientific discovery (Griffin). This goal ultimately targets the planet of Mars. Many scientists
and researchers have visions of discovering new wonders within the big red planet. They think it
might even, potentially, be an inhabitable new world. Human pilgrimage to this far, distant land
mass will not be an easy task. It will require much time, money, and loads of scientific
understanding.
It is debatable whether manned missions are better than unmanned missions, or vice
versa. They both have their pros and cons, but it really just depends on the type of mission.
Mostly, unmanned missions are far less expensive, more efficient, less dangerous, and can last
for a longer duration out in space.

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Space exploration has many effects on the US and on the whole world in general. It
expands human understanding about our universe while providing significant contributions to
research and technology. Something to keep in consideration, though, are the high costs
associated with space exploration. Lots of money has to be invested into research, engineering
and design, construction and upkeep of equipment, etc. Money is a big issue for todays
economy. Throwing tons of it into space wouldnt be so wise with the 2012 fiscal budget with
goals of reducing the nations deficit.
Like mentioned earlier, space exploration and discovery adds on to our nations
superiority. Politically, major accomplishments in this area makes the US stand out among other
nations. Perhaps it is a race. A new race to see who can get to Mars first. Or perhaps it could be a
collaboration. Having the International Space Station to ally several nations makes operations
like this much more peaceful.
Space exploration also offers a large number of opportunities in the job market within the
United States and all across the world. It offers jobs such as in the fields of scientific research,
engineering, aeronautics, etc. These same jobs and purposes could be applied to research here on
earth as well. Space exploration has also contributed to much of the modern technology we have
today. NASA technologies have made their way into medical, architectural, military,
automotive, and artistic applications, just to name a few (Ladkawalla). This field of study has
definitely impacted our society for the better.