Space Exploration
The Coalition for Space Exploration is a collaboration of space industry businesses and advocacy groups whose mission is to educate and inform the public on the value and benefits of space exploration and to help ensure the United States will remain a leader in space, science and technology - key factors that will benefit every American, strengthen our nation’s economy and maintain our national security.
The Coalition for Space Exploration consists of a Public Affairs team and a Government Affairs team.
The Public Affairs Team is comprised of the leading public communications professionals from each of the Coalition member organizations.It directs and develops public outreach activities, such as advertising, editorial placement efforts, research, reports and public appearances.
The Government Affairs team is comprised of the Coalition member companies’ Washington, D.C. representatives. It tracks the progress of space exploration policy, and assists the Public Affairs team on messages and audiences for the public outreach effort.
The Coalition continues to recruit new members and partners in its campaign to increase support for space exploration. Membership in the Coalition for Space Exploration is open to any U.S.-based company or organization that supports the exploration of space and is willing to commit funding or other resources toward the cause of space exploration.
Why Explore Space?
Human space exploration drives discovery. It is vital to gaining essential knowledge about our home planet, its environment and ourselves. Our world leadership and economic security are being globally challenged while our way of life is depleting the known natural resources of our planet. Research conducted in space provides critical information to help us win these battles for our country for the sake of future generations.
What Are The Benefits?
The knowledge gained from the exploration of space fuels science and discovery, creates innovative technology, stimulates education, spurs medical advancements, supports a robust economy, improves our quality of life and contributes to a safer environment. More than 1,500 documented products have been derived from space technology, including fire-resistant materials, enhanced weather-forecasting tools and miniaturized medical devices such as an insulin pump and the DeBakey Heart Pump.
Facts to consider
Technology - During the past 30 years, space program technology has resulted in more than 1,500 commercial products, including rain water purification systems for developing countries, satellite radio, digital and satellite television, cell phone technology, cordless tools, and GPS navigation in the family car, boat and even on the family farm.
Innovation - A survey of 146 senior executives by Christian & Timbers in 2004 found that 69% agreed with a prediction that the Vision for Space Exploration would drive new technology and boost venture capital markets.
Medical - Digital hearing aids, miniature heart pumps, cancer detection devices, common smoke detectors, fire-resistant aircraft seats, safety grooving on roads, LASIK eye surgery, humanitarian demining devices, and numerous other medical and safety devices and improvements trace their origins to space technology.
Economy - Just 15 firms that received an initial $64 million in NASA life sciences research and added $200 million of their own money created a $1.5 billion return on investment in the form of sold commercial goods and services during 25 years (Space Policy Institute at George Washington University).
Environment - We have learned more about our home planet and how best to preserve and protect it due to improved software and imaging developed from the space program. Space technology is responsible for rainwater purification systems for developing countries and numerous environmentally friendly products.
Is It Worth It?
Space exploration should not be viewed as an expense, but rather an investment. NASA’s annual budget is less than 1% of the total annual federal budget, or about 15 cents per day for the average citizen. Space technology advances have created countless industries, spawned millions of jobs and generated billions of dollars into the economy – an immeasurable return on America’s investment. If the United States is to maintain a healthy economy, we must continue to invest in leading-edge research and exploration. Today’s indulgent culture spends and risks far more for a far less return. Exploration and its results have an impact on everyone in this country, and will for generations to come.
Facts to consider
Cost - NASA’s budget is .7 of 1% of the federal budget. Divided equally among the U.S. population, it costs around $1 per person, per week. During the height of Project Apollo, NASA’s share of the budget was about 4%. In a recent Gallup poll (August 2006), almost two-thirds (63%) of American adults surveyed think NASA’s budget should remain at present levels or be increased. NASA’s budget increased only a modest 5% for 2005 and is scheduled to increase only 2.4% in FY06. "Our economy can certainly afford an effort of this magnitude, but the public must believe the benefits to society deserve the investment." Neil Armstrong in Houston on March 12, 2004.
Return - In 2002, the commercial space industry contributed more than $95 billion in U.S. economic activity, $23.5 billion in employee earnings, and employed 576,000 people – a 16% increase in jobs from three years earlier (FAA, March 2004).
Thanks for adding me, it is the best place to explore....mysteriously deep i used to want my own private island...but now i think i want my own planet!....
What could be more appropriate for space than a photo a boy that is seemingly floating above the clouds. I took this photo of my son the other day...it's an illusion, of course.
see now this is sketchy because you guys have government ties. every1 knows that NASA cant give any1 a straight answer about anything. every1 knows NASA has government contractors to 'airbrush' out certain objects they don't want the public to see. when are the astronauts going to be aloud to discuss their experience with unidentified craft while on mission? when are ppl going to start paying attention to what armstrong tells us in his cryptic speaches or when buzz talks about the eliptical craft that was following them during apollo 11. paint a nice picture of every1 exploring space together but only feed certain parts to us who r grounded...this can only go on for so long...
Space...I like it because it is egalitarian...everyone can live next to it, we can't all have realestate overlooking an ocean, we can't all have access to the micro world in an electron microscopes, most of us will never ever be near the strange floor in the middle of the sea. But every clear night, out of anyone's own window you can see in a lightyear's distance the snapshot history of a near stars and wonder about roaming black holes, and wonder what where we will be travel in 200 years and what will be known...and it's all there for the searching, it's all there for anyone to sit and reach for a star. How could one not like space...it's so much better than TV.
