Analyzing the Benefits and Drawbacks of the NASA Program
On July 16, 1969, NASA launched a spaceflight to the moon called Apollo 11. A couple days later Neil Armstrong would be the first man to step on the moon. It was a big milestone for man’s journey of exploring space as millions watched on the television. But as millions watched on the television, the rise of a new question became to spring up. People began discussing if the NASA program was worth it. They began to talk about the downsides of traveling to space like the cost and the safety issues. One can say that space travel is not even worth doing because of things like the time and cost it takes to carry out a space mission. Others can say it is worth doing because the advancement …show more content…
The information gathered and learned from the process of a space missions has led to several inventions. While observing the moon, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory enhanced pictures of the moon by developing a new digital image processing system. In 1958, the Congress established NASA, requiring all the discoveries the space agency made to be shared information. Hence, NASA shared the knowledge they had learned about digital image processing. This knowledge led to NASA playing a critical part in developing the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which is used in doctor’s office around the world to diagnose patients. Another invention that came at the hands of NASA is Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) in 1995. “Engineers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston worked with Dr. Michael DeBakey to develop this artificial heart pump based on the space shuttle’s fuel pumps” (Linda C. Brinson). They used information they gain from developing part of a space craft and applied it to medical field. As a result, the artificial heart helps people remain in a healthy state as the wait on a transplant. In some cases, the patient does not even require a transplant anymore due to the pump. Some other inventions include tools for cataract surgery, programmable pacemakers, voice-controlled wheelchairs, and a digital imaging breast biopsy system. The inventions made by man from the process of space …show more content…
On November 26, 2011, NASA launched a $2.5 billion rover called Curiosity that headed for Mars. The spacecraft flew from Canaveral, Florida and landed on Mars on August 6, 2012. NASA has made several discoveries from Curiosity, as it marks four years that the spacecraft has been on Mars. “Scientists found that ancient Mars likely had the right chemistry to support living microbes. By drilling into Martian rocks, the rover discovered what are believed to be the key ingredients for life—carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur” (Sharon Gaudin). NASA’s research answered the big question on whether Mars could have sustained life. The rover also found evidence of ancient water flows and a surprises amount of water that is underneath the surface of Mars. Curiosity made one of the biggest discoveries for man. Another discovery that came from NASA is the discovery of planet Kepler-452b. This is the first discovery of a near-Earth-size- planet in the “habitable zone” around a sun-like star. NASA’s data analysis, Jon Jenkins says, “We can think of Kepler-452b as an older, bigger cousin to Earth, providing an opportunity to understand and reflect upon Earth’s evolving environment.” This shows the discovery of Kepler could be significant as it would allow us to understand Earth more and the information learned could indeed come in handy in
On July 16, 1969, NASA launched a spaceflight to the moon called Apollo 11. A couple days later Neil Armstrong would be the first man to step on the moon. It was a big milestone for man’s journey of exploring space as millions watched on the television. But as millions watched on the television, the rise of a new question became to spring up. People began discussing if the NASA program was worth it. They began to talk about the downsides of traveling to space like the cost and the safety issues. One can say that space travel is not even worth doing because of things like the time and cost it takes to carry out a space mission. Others can say it is worth doing because the advancement …show more content…
The information gathered and learned from the process of a space missions has led to several inventions. While observing the moon, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory enhanced pictures of the moon by developing a new digital image processing system. In 1958, the Congress established NASA, requiring all the discoveries the space agency made to be shared information. Hence, NASA shared the knowledge they had learned about digital image processing. This knowledge led to NASA playing a critical part in developing the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which is used in doctor’s office around the world to diagnose patients. Another invention that came at the hands of NASA is Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) in 1995. “Engineers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston worked with Dr. Michael DeBakey to develop this artificial heart pump based on the space shuttle’s fuel pumps” (Linda C. Brinson). They used information they gain from developing part of a space craft and applied it to medical field. As a result, the artificial heart helps people remain in a healthy state as the wait on a transplant. In some cases, the patient does not even require a transplant anymore due to the pump. Some other inventions include tools for cataract surgery, programmable pacemakers, voice-controlled wheelchairs, and a digital imaging breast biopsy system. The inventions made by man from the process of space …show more content…
On November 26, 2011, NASA launched a $2.5 billion rover called Curiosity that headed for Mars. The spacecraft flew from Canaveral, Florida and landed on Mars on August 6, 2012. NASA has made several discoveries from Curiosity, as it marks four years that the spacecraft has been on Mars. “Scientists found that ancient Mars likely had the right chemistry to support living microbes. By drilling into Martian rocks, the rover discovered what are believed to be the key ingredients for life—carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur” (Sharon Gaudin). NASA’s research answered the big question on whether Mars could have sustained life. The rover also found evidence of ancient water flows and a surprises amount of water that is underneath the surface of Mars. Curiosity made one of the biggest discoveries for man. Another discovery that came from NASA is the discovery of planet Kepler-452b. This is the first discovery of a near-Earth-size- planet in the “habitable zone” around a sun-like star. NASA’s data analysis, Jon Jenkins says, “We can think of Kepler-452b as an older, bigger cousin to Earth, providing an opportunity to understand and reflect upon Earth’s evolving environment.” This shows the discovery of Kepler could be significant as it would allow us to understand Earth more and the information learned could indeed come in handy in