Americans Overwhelmingly Support Doubling NASA

[Crisp]

Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Doubling NASA?s Budget, Mission To Mars

The American public overwhelmingly support a doubling of NASA?s budget in order to fund a mission to Mars, according to a recent survey. The poll, commissioned by Explore Mars, a nonprofit organization, and aerospace contractor Boeing, also demonstrated a high degree of enthusiasm about human exploration of Mars.

The survey found that 76 percent of Americans agree that NASA?s budget should be increased to 1 percent of the total federal budget to fund initiatives, including a mission to Mars. Currently NASA?s budget represents less than 0.5 percent of overall federal spending.

Poll respondents said they think a manned mission to Mars should be the country?s top priority in space exploration. The poll also showed that, in spite of the current budgetary climate, Americans remain very optimistic about the prospect of putting humans on Mars within the next two decades, with 71 percent saying they expect it will happen by 2033.

And while NASA does have a goal for a manned mission to Mars by 2033, a recent report by the National Research Council found that NASA lacks the funding and strategic direction needed to achieve their goals. The committee behind the report laid blame on both the executive and legislative branches for failing to establish a clear vision for the future of American space exploration.

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[Phouchg]

Mars. A new hope for everyone. More so for those looking to forget the past, to atone for unspeakable, to escape the earthly clutches, to start it all anew... those who'd rather forget the present... and, of course, the dreamers, inspired from fantasy stories told for centuries, dreamers, to whom Mars would be just the first human space frontier of many more to come, dreamers who build foundations upon illusions.

*cough*

[Yogurtmaster]

I support this 100 percent. Exploring space is not a waste of money and I think Science actually can help here.

[bguy_1986]

Mars. A new hope for everyone. More so for those looking to forget the past, to atone for unspeakable, to escape the earthly clutches, to start it all anew... those who'd rather forget the present... and, of course, the dreamers, inspired from fantasy stories told for centuries, dreamers, to whom Mars would be just the first human space frontier of many more to come, dreamers who build foundations upon illusions.

*cough*

What???

I support this 100 percent. Exploring space is not a waste of money and I think Science actually can help here.

I'm all for it as well.... As long as we cut departments that aren't doing any good. Nasa produces results, although it to can probably get more efficient if it was run more like a business... I can't say that about the rest of our Government...

They have to let spaceX and the other companies to keep doing their thing though. Nasa can be in charge of who to pay, and how much to pay, but don't put a politician to be in charge of that!

[Astra.Xtreme]

How about we increase NASA's budget by 50-100x and, in turn, cut our military budget by 0.1% (yeah I know that's probably exaggerated).

[Growled Member]

I'm all for this as well. I really can't see any downsides of doing this.

[FloatingFatMan]

How about we increase NASA's budget by 50-100x and, in turn, cut our military budget by 0.1% (yeah I know that's probably exaggerated).

I doubt it's exaggerated by much...

[theyarecomingforyou]

The US would do itself a lot of favours by reducing military spending and investing that money into space exploration and colonisation. Levelling Iraq and Afghanistan isn't impressive; setting up a human colony on the moon would be.

[Phouchg]

What???

Why, read it again, if it helps.

[Hum]

How about actually landing on the Moon first ..... :laugh:

[FloatingFatMan]

The US would do itself a lot of favours by reducing military spending and investing that money into space exploration and colonisation. Levelling Iraq and Afghanistan isn't impressive; setting up a human colony on the moon would be.

I wish they'd get a move on with that. I've had enough of this stupid planet. :p

[Growled Member]

I wish they'd get a move on with that. I've had enough of this stupid planet. :p

We can strap you to a rocket and shoot you into space any time you are ready. :D

[FloatingFatMan]

We can strap you to a rocket and shoot you into space any time you are ready. :D

Try it, and I'll come back and haunt you!

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

How about we increase NASA's budget by 50-100x and, in turn, cut our military budget by 0.1% (yeah I know that's probably exaggerated).

agreed. the US could stop invading countries and invade space instead!

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

This put a smile on my face. Space exploration is more than just technology and spending lots of money. It's about realizing dreams and inspiring people all over the world.

I'll just leave this here:

[n_K]

Tax religion and spend all that money on NASA, seems fair to me.

[Tuishimi]

I don't support it. There are too many issues here that need to be resolved, many require money. Not to mention we are already burying ourselves in debt... even if the amount is a pittance compared to the rest of our spending.

We could be funding programs to get people off the streets here, help establish safe/better farming practices for some African nations as well as better irrigation and wells for clean water... etc.

But even beyond that I don't think any of this should be the purview of the gov't... that private organizations like churches and other non-profit organizations should be finding ways to help the homeless, people who need re-education (for careers) and the other aforementioned issues.

[Mordkanin]

I don't support it. There are too many issues here that need to be resolved, many require money. Not to mention we are already burying ourselves in debt... even if the amount is a pittance compared to the rest of our spending.

The ROI in what the US has spent on NASA over the past few decades is incalculable. Conservative estimates pin it at at least several times.

NASA has ultimately made more money for the US than it ever cost.

[fusi0n]

Sounds good to me

[Tuishimi]

The ROI in what the US has spent on NASA over the past few decades is incalculable. Conservative estimates pin it at at least several times.

NASA has ultimately made more money for the US than it ever cost.

So you count it as an investment. Still, I hold to the fact that I think we need to pare back gov't spending and their involvement in every little thing. Perhaps once they are under some modicum of control THEN this could be re-addressed.

[Yogurtmaster]

The military budget is huge and I really think some of it at least is too expensive for what we are really getting. We need to look at those contracts and maybe save some money there to spend on this mission.

The military is always going to be needed, but sometimes I think that those contracts might be stuffed with some unrealistic things and we can save some money for the mission to Mars and beyond.

My dad worked at Boeing (he is now in his 70's and retired) and he told me that there is a lot of wasted money going on. I doubt that is a shock to anyone on this forum, but it is, what it is.

[Stoffel]

Why don't we try to fix earth first before we spend more money on exploring far away planets

We still have heaps of people without even the most basic needs like food and fresh water.

Let's fix that and then look at going into space again

[ShareShiz]

I'm all for doubling NASA's budget. As long as they cut Military spending.

[astropheed Veteran]

I agree with this, it also wouldn't hurt to raise the education budget; cut military spending if required to do this.

[Stoffel]

Funny so many Americans are for spending more on space travel, but when it comes to universal healthcare and good education people all of a sudden call you a socialist

Strange, very strange