Budget cuts for NASA’s 2012 fiscal year include a proposal to end the Constellation project, signaling an end to prospects for future manned moon visits. President Obama has long voiced disappointment with the Constellation project, calling it “over budget, behind schedule, and lacking in innovation.” The end of this program is a severe blow to many people who envisioned colonies on the moon, not to mention at least landing another crew on the moon by 2020. With the loss of these moon prospects comes loss in the public’s interest. The success of the first moon landings was in part due to the public’s enrapture with the idea of setting foot on the moon and beating the Soviets there. This public involvement united the nation as a whole, and greatly boosted the economy. As the Constellation project nears its cancellation, so does the public’s interest in spaceflight. No longer will children be fascinated with the possibility of setting foot on the moon, because NASA has lost most of its inspiration. Instead of getting back to the moon and inspiring the public, NASA has chosen to pursue other areas of space travel that do not cause as much interest. This will slow down growth of the space sector, and consequentially slow down the national economy for space travel.
Picture: http://letsonfamily.com/misc.htm
Picture: http://letsonfamily.com/misc.htm
Source: Amos, Jonathan. "BBC News - Obama Cancels Moon Return Project." BBC News - Home. BBC, 01 Feb. 2010. Web. 02 Dec. 2011. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8489097.stm>.
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