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Peace, Plenty, and Progress
The Space Program and Public Priorities
GROSS WORLD INCOME (2006) $48.75 Trillion
U.S. Gross National Income (2006) $13.25 Trillion
U.S. Federal Budget (2006) $2.71 Trillion
Examples of National Spending
- Projected General Social Program Spending (HUD & HHS) (2010) $869.2 Billion (Projected Social Welfare Spending (2010) $169.237 Billion)
- Projected Defense Spending (2010) $663.7 Billion
- Amusement, Recreation, and Movies (2008) $165.5 Billion
- Jewelry (2008) $65.744 Billion
- Baking Products (2008) $62.335 Billion
- Toys, Dolls and Games (2008) $54.866 Billion
- Commercial Amusements (2008) $35.56 Billion
- Apparel (2006) $22 Billion
- Projected NASA Budget (2010) $18.7 Billion
- Cosmetics and Perfumes (2008)$18.282 Billion
- Bowling and Billiards (2008) $3.63 Billion
The NASA budget represents less than 1% of the Federal Budget, and today's NASA budget represents less than half of the spending power of its 1968 budget.
References
- Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Census 2009
- Hunger Project Newsletter 1983
UTAH SPACE ASSOCIATION
National Space Society Chapter
The Higher Public Priorities
The post-Apollo Program cutbacks came due to a perception of competing national priorities. The Space Program has never been a real competitor to increased social progress in the world. It doesn't deplete needed natural resources, needed for social progress, and it is possible for the economy to grow. The Space Program is part of the solution—a future the youth can look forward to with anticipation.
World hunger could be eliminated within 15 years, for less than 1% of the money the world spends on weapons. This is about 1/30 of 1 % of the world gross domestic product. One-half of 1% of the world gross domestic product, would be a reasonable international commitment to improve the human condition.
In the United States, many social problems could be solved through increased public service, stronger extended families, and more public commitment to traditional moral values.
The dictators that oppress, in the 3rd world, tend to discourage social progress, and limit how much U.S. influence is allowed in their countries. To improve the human condition worldwide, we would need much human motivation from those in power throughout the world; elimination of wars, increased public education, and economic freedom, along with public dedication to the moral wisdom of the ages.
Application Satellites
Continuous satellite surveys provide up-to-date agricultural information that can help people, in third world countries, to respond quickly to cure crop diseases and conditions that otherwise might be selected too late.
Up-to-date satellite surveys can help improve crop and fishing yields in the third world. This technology rode on the coattails of project Apollo.
Communications satellites make long-distance, remote area, medical diagnosis possible.
Communications satellites can also be used to help expand educational opportunities for people throughout the third world.
Space-Based Manufacturing
Natural Resources of the Space Frontier:
- Zero Gravity (Microgravity)
- Hard Vacuum
- Abundant higher power solar energy
- Wide temperature range
- Dominance of surface tension
- High grade ores
All the metals and materials the human race needs exist in the megaton quantities. The key is setting up space based industrial operations, and bringing down space transportation costs.
Materials Processing In Space
Advantages of the Space Environment:
- Containerless Fluid Forming
- High Purity Control
- Mixing of otherwise unmixable materials
Some Future Benefits
- Vastly reduced cost of solar cells
- Super-strong high temperature-resistant metals
- Mass production of high quality rare medicines and vaccines
- Perfectly formed crystals for use in medical devices, lasers, optics, and electronics