NASA and the Future of STEM

Throughout history, humankind has strived to explore new lands and broaden their
horizons. Humans have been ceaselessly pushing into new territory, whether it be for the
expansion of country, like Magellan, or the expansion of the mind, like Newton. In the current
day, technology has reached points people in the past couldnt imagine, and humans as a whole
know more about the natural world now than they ever have. In 1962, US President John F.
Kennedy spoke about the ultimate challenge of landing a man on the moon. With work from the
the still-new National Aeronautics and Space Administration, this goal was realized. Ever since
then we have been pushing more and more into extraterrestrial realms, and furthering science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics along with it. However, interest in NASA and funding
proportional to the rest of the government's spending has dropped ever since the Space Race in
the 60s. When it comes to the burgeoning STEM fields, there is still much progress to be made,
and furthering NASA could be the answer. NASA should be given more funding in order to
further American STEM research, STEM industries and the economy, and STEM education and
interest.
In order to achieve the nation's goals of scientific expansion and exploration, NASA
requires more funding, which in turn will further American STEM research and development.
Increased NASA funding will allow them to spend more on research and development. Some of
NASAs previous advancements have helped further the medical, safety, and environmental
fields. (NASA) For example, NASA has developed lightweight, shock absorbent materials
initially used for space travel purposes, which are now being used by the private sector in order
to create prosthetic limbs. NASA sponsorship and development also led to the creation of the
modern day solar panel. Other creations include modern firefighting suits, advancements in
computer science, water purification, and baby food. NASAs track record shows that if they
were given more funding to conduct research, technology would advance alongside the increase
in research. In an interview with Chris Barth for Forbes magazine, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse
Tyson, who worked with President Bush on several space-committees, stated that the largest
return-on-investment for increased NASA spending is in innovation and technological
advancement in our society. (Barth) The money spent on NASA will bring forth technological
innovation and advancement that we wouldnt have had previously, which would then spur

STEM interest and be used in American industry. This STEM advancement has been profound
for decades. In 1989, a report written by NASA described how their research and advancements
in software, robotics, and artificial intelligence for satellites were being used in American
factories (NASA). Computer science was still a very niche subject for American citizens in the
80s, and NASA was making leaps and hurdles in these fields, not only for their own good, but
for the good of American research and industry.
NASAs work in the STEM industries has been profound, and increased funding will lead
to a spur in our national economy. As stated earlier, many technologies created by NASA are
now being used by the private field in creating new products for consumers and areas such as the
medical field. In 2012, NASA spent over five billion dollars in the U.S. manufacturing industry
alone (The Taurus Group). Increased spending in this industry will promote the growth and
success of American companies, furthering our economy. Alongside furthering U.S. industrial
companies, increased funding in NASA will lead to the development of private aeronautical
companies. In 2003, then-senator and current Governor of Kansas Sam Brownback stated in an
address to Congress that increases funding in NASA will lead to the rise of private space
corporations who would grow and compete with each other. (Brownback) This is more true than
ever, with companies such as Space X and Orbital ATK pursuing their own advancements in the
field of aeronautics, as well as being commissioned to embark on missions for NASA.
Aeronautics companies compete for grants from NASA, spurring development in the industry,
and are planning their own manned missions to Mars and beyond. Increased funding will also
promote U.S. STEM industries, and not just the aeronautical ones. In 2014, Senator Amy
Klobuchar wrote, By driving innovation and boosting exports, a STEM-capable workforce
spurs economic growth and supports high-quality jobs. (Klobuchar) A nation informed about
the STEM fields that NASA specializes in will spur the economy, and more jobs that advance
technology and research, and in turn American industry, will be created. In 2006, Senator Bill
Nelson pointed out in a Senate hearing that increased funding will lead to NASA expanding,
creating jobs for U.S. citizens in high-competition STEM fields. (Nelson) This promotes more
people joining the STEM workforce, and creates more jobs for people in the industry to have.
More funding for NASA means greater STEM industries and improvements in the American
economy, and with this will come a greater interest in STEM fields.

As a nation, America has always focus on expansion and growth. Educationally, while we
may not be the best, we have been making strides to further the nations knowledge in the STEM
fields. An unconventional, but effective method of doing this would be to further NASAs
funding. In 2009, a report done by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which oversees
how government agencies are spending money, said that one of NASAs fundamental goals was
to further higher level STEM education. (U.S. Government Accountability Office) This focus is
pursued through the use of public programs that interest children at a young age to participate in
classes that increase STEM knowledge and interest. In order to push academics at a higher level,
NASA gives out grants to students at colleges in order to pursue STEM fields. (Ramsey) This
increase in education will not only further the STEM fields, but change American society and
culture. In the previously mentioned interview with Barth, Neil deGrasse Tyson stated, ...the
shift in attitude that it brings upon our culture, where people then see and feel the role that
innovations in science and technology play in their lives (is the greatest value of NASA). They
embrace that as a part of the identity of our culture itself. Furthering NASA funding will create
a more scientifically, technologically, and mathematically aware American populace. American
culture promotes individual growth and the expansion of our nation as a whole, and with NASAs
growth, personal and widespread expansion will be more focused on the STEM fields.
Even with all the work that NASA has done and could do, many people are against
furthering the funding of the agency. The U.S. as a nation is tragically in debt, both to other
countries and individually as a populace. Many argue that NASA should be defunded in order to
save money for the U.S. Government. However, in a budget spending report from 2010, the
Senate stated that NASA only had 0.53% of the Federal Budget. In comparison, the U.S.
Department of Defense had 18.7% of the budget. If any program were to be defunded, the largest
ones that have more room for effective cuts should be first, and smaller, but still important
programs should be kept intact. Others also state that NASA has no effect on the economy
directly, and because of such should be defunded in order to be spent better elsewhere. However,
an article written by a Michael McBrien of Northwestern University states that estimated ratios
of revenue generated compared to spending have been as high as 14-to-1. (McBrien) This is a
huge return on investment through the American economy, and because of such, NASA spending
has a direct positive impact on our nations financial status. While NASAs funding may be seen

as trivial in the face of terrestrial issues, extraterrestrial expansion and advancement may be the
answer to these issues.
Humanity has never stopped focusing on pursuing uncharted territory. Whether it be a
unmapped continent or a distant planet, humankind has had its eyes on something new and
exciting forever. However, local issues have inhibited growth and advancement of unnecessary
expansion. While WWII created a boom in global industry, the war on terror has left American
education and research underfunded. Inner issues such as American poverty, poor education, and
border safety have all drawn the nations eyes away from the original American ideal of
exploration. People wanting to be free against tyranny and oppression led themselves to a new
land to stake their own claim. Frontiersmen blazed trails through thick forests, wide mountain
ranges, and vast desert and plains until they reached an endless ocean not seen by a man of their
kind before. Soon, American industry and innovation would lead and inspire the world. In recent
years that ideal has faltered, and American growth and expansion has stagnated, simply because
there is nowhere else to go on our planet. NASAs goal is to explore and to pursue that lost,
original American ideal. NASA needs to be given more funding in order to further American
STEM research, STEM industries and the economy, and STEM education and interest. Not only
will it help our nation prosper, but it will help us expand to new frontiers. America needs a new
generation of trailblazers, and advancements in STEM fields are the way for that to happen.

Works Cited
- Barth, Chris. "Neil DeGrasse Tyson: Invest In NASA, Invest In U.S.
Economy."Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 09 Sept. 2016.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisbarth/2012/03/13/neil-degrasse-tyson-invest-in-nasainvest-in-u-s-economy/
- Brownback, Sam. "-NASA: HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT Hearing." - NASA:
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT. US Senate, 2 Apr. 2003. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.
http://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web
%20Site/Documents/Congress/Senate/April%202,%202003%20Human
%20Spaceflight/MARCIA~1.PDF
- Klobuchar, Amy. "STEM Education for the Innovative Economy." (2014): n. pag.
US Congress, Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Sept. 2016.
http://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/9bfced75-07a0-466b-a94b8ab399582995/stem-education-for-the-innovation-economy.pdf
- McBrien, Michael. "GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR NASA SHOULD NOT
BE REDUCED YET." NU Writing. Northwestern, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2016.
http://www.northeastern.edu/nuwriting/a-case-for-nasa/
- NASA. "Advancing Automation and Robotics Technology for the Space Station
Freedom and for the U.S. Economy." 3.1 (1989): n. pag. NASA, Feb. 1989. Web. 19
Sept. 2016. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19920023565.pdf
- NASA. "NASA Technologies Benefit Our Lives." NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 18
Oct. 2016. https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff20
- Nelson, Bill. "NASA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES Hearing." NASA: ISSUES
AND CHALLENGES. US Senate, 25 Apr. 2006. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-109shrg64139/pdf/CHRG-109shrg64139.pdf
- Ramsey, Sarah. "NASA Awards Grants to Expand STEM Education." NASA.
NASA, 1 Sept. 2015. Web. 09 Sept. 2016 http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasaawards-grants-to-expand-stem-education
- "Socio-Economic Impacts of NASA." Arid Land Irrigation in Developing
Countries (2015): n. pag. The Taurus Group, NASA. Web.
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SEINSI.pdf
- US Gov. Accountability Office. "NASA: Briefing on National Aeronautics and
Space Administrations Programs and Associated Activities." October 15, 2009
Congressional Requesters Subject: (2009): n. pag. US Government Accountability
Office, 15 Oct. 2009. Web. 19 Sept. 2016. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1087r.pdf