Bye Bye Shuttle



NASA’s budget cuts follow in the wake of the news that its Space Shuttle program is shutting down. Three space shuttles, Discovery, Endeavor, and Atlantis, have officially been decommissioned, effectively ending the 30-year Space Shuttle program. The end of this program brings about the lay-off of more than 8,000 engineers, technicians, and other employees who were employed by NASA to ensure the continual operation of the space shuttles. Most of those employed live in Florida due to the presence of the Kennedy Space Center, and as a result, these massive lay-offs will most likely have detrimental effects on Florida’s economy. However, a counter argument to this is that with the end of the Space Shuttle program, NASA will increase funding to the private sector for space travel, thus funding the creation of future jobs in the private sector.  

Picture: http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/hsfe_shuttle/index.html

Link: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-09-06/business/os-florida-super-committee-20110904_1_federal-budget-cuts-federal-funds-information-federal-deficit

Source: "Effects of NASA's Shuttle Program Ending | Marketplace from American Public Media." Marketplace from American Public Media. American Public Media, 02 Nov. 2010. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. <http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/effects-nasas-shuttle-program-ending>.