The U.S. Journey Into Space

Paper Summary:

This paper recounts America's path into space exploration beginning in 1920 with Professor Robert Goddard who created a rocket in a vacuum. The writer explains that in the years following it became a race between the U.S. and the Soviets to conquer space, which resulted in NASA being created in 1961. This paper explains the importance of continuing the space program into the future using economical, environmental and political reasonings. The paper also discusses the option of privatization, which would be effective in the reduction of launch costs and the modernization of current facilities.

From the Paper:

"Since that first step on the moon, relatively little progress has been made by the United States in the journey into space, beside the commercial ventures. "The reasons that drove our space program and NASA off in the wrong direction are numerous-a lack of leadership from the White House, a skeptical Congress, and taxpayers unconvinced that the space program holds long-term promise for the nation, to name a few." The U.S. is no longer under threat of the Soviets and the motivation has dwindled.
Presently, NASA is engaged in a plan to send man to Mars. First, they will send unmanned craft to "study the planet's soil and atmosphere, analyze rock samples, bring back some rocks to Earth, and determine the suitability of longer-term manned missions." NASA's goal is to send a manned mission in 2014. The delay is due much in part to the neglect of the planet's surface by the Viking mission in 1976, which didn't occur until the Pathfinder probe in 1997."

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