National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)

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On October 1, 1958 the United States created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The creation of this government space agency was primarily due to the circumstances that United States national defense faced during the Cold War (Garber and Launius). In this time of reference, space exploration was prioritized greatly in the United States as it later became known as the “space race” between the U.S and the Soviet Union. Later on, NASA would be known to put the first man on the moon. This was not only an achievement for the United States but for the world. The funding for this government agency is imperative for countless reasons. Foremost, the space program has lead various projects such as the discovery of water on Mars …show more content…
Many of these innovations are top cutting-edge technology that surfaces in all parts of the world today. Dating back to the earliest revolutionary breakthroughs NASA’s sent out the first Television Infrared Observation Satellite on April 1, 1960 (NASA). This geostationary satellite transformed the weather gathering method. Later, this led to the creation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which has opted for research in aiding a better understanding of the atmosphere and oceans (NOAA). Daniel Lockney Executive of the Technology Transfer Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC, states “NASA has contributed in recent years to the advancement of several specific forms of medical imaging devices, and in the past the Jet Propulsion Laboratory has done groundbreaking research” (NASA’s Space Shuttle: A Lifetime of Technology Transfer Benefits p4). Lockney describes NASA’s contribution to the medical field as it has prosed new technologies such as the CAT scan, MRI and other digital imaging devices because of NASA research. Antoher example or One noteworthy technological that has greatly impacted many lives is the “G-suit” or “anti-gravity suit” created by NASA (NASA). G-suits were initially designed for astronauts to wear during Earth’s re-entry, the suit purpose is to restrict blood from …show more content…
Fraser Sherman’s article “Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology” touches on this issue. In his article, Sherman describes lower employment rates and loss of competition as two of the primary factors of disadvantages associated with advancing technology (Sherman). Employment rates tend to be negatively affected by scientific advancements, such as call center operators being replaced by technologically advanced operating machines or traditionally human operated positions such as cashiers being replaced by autonomous checkout devices. These specific types of technological advances, namely ones that replace expected traits such as good customer service in checkout lines can have a negative impact on consumers (Sherman). While it may not be immediately evident, even the space industry shares in these types of concerns. The space industry is responsible for a large amount of jobs with over 18,000 individuals directly employed by NASA, a figure that doesn’t even encompass those employed through private contracts by NASA (https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-nasa-58.html). Large workforces that revolve around a technological industry such as the space program could be endangered by advancements that produce

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