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David Helmenstine
Mrs. DeBock
English IV Honors
1 November 2016
Investing in a Better Future
On September 16, 2016, a devastating storm began to form that would shake the lives of
millions of people. Hurricane Matthew was unpredictable; weather forecasters were constantly
updating citizens on the new predicted path. This confusion could have been avoided if we
invested more into space exploration. Investing in space exploration allows us to develop new
technology that allows us to have a better understanding of weather changes. This would
substantially increase our ability to predict and prepare for disasters; prediction and preparation
saves money, lives, and . The United States government should increase NASAs budget to
allow for better weather predictions.
Putting money towards preparation would save more money than not investing. Douglas
Cobb states, For the amount of money which the U.S. government allocates it in yearly budgets,
NASA has paid back society in inventions alone, such as memory foam, anticorrosion coating,
ArterioVision [technology that helps detect and treat heart disease and strokes], cochlear
implants, scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses, and many others (NASA and the Federal
Government Waste Taxpayer Money). Though these technologies do not help us prepare for
weather prediction, Cobbs statement shows that investments in space exploration have brought
about more technologies that save people money. Anticorrosion coatings allow for longer lives
of metals, ArterioVision helps save money on health fees, and scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses

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allow for longer lasting eyeglasses. Hurricanes can cause billions of dollars worth of damage. If
we invested in prediction, we could better prepare for weather damages, and know where we do
and dont need to prepare. Nelson Bridwell explains, We should therefore minimize the risk that
our future could be jeopardized by warfare, diseases or natural disasters (Humanity Should
Begin Planning for Interstellar Space Travel). If we have the option to save money, and
additionally save lives, it is obvious that we should do what we can and invest in NASA to
engage in these efforts. As Bridwell also argues, Today we live in a culture that is so overly
obsessed with the current moment that we are reluctant to think beyond the next few months or
years (Humanity Should Begin Planning for Interstellar Space Travel). It is important to
understand that there are immediate concerns that we should devote our resources into. However,
if we continue to ignore future problems, we will continue to live in a state of conflict and
recession.
Not only does investment in NASA save money, it saves lives. Jeff Foust explains, The
world evolves, humanity evolves, our capabilities evolve (Ruth, Privatized Space Exploration
Has Disadvantages and Benefits). Investing in research evolves humanity. By improving our
ability to predict, our species evolves into a more smart and safe existential state. We can create
less false alarms, and doing this will cause people to take weather warnings more seriously due
to a more accurate analysis of these storms. When people take warnings more seriously, they
cooperate and make their way to safety at a relatively early time. As explained in the article, The
United States Should Reignite the Space Race, We go to space for purposes of scientific
discovery, economic benefit and national security (Wallace). National security includes
weather prediction and preparation. These particular NASA missions are designed to help protect

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United States citizens, and this results in a better country. Wallace also explains, We are today
the descendants of people who survived by outperforming others (The United States Should
Reignite the Space Race). People dont approve of a budget increase because they dont want to
break traditional ways. When we refuse to outdo our predecessors, we dont advance. When we
dont advance, we remain in a obsolete position that puts ourselves in a treacherous state of
being. We could put ourselves a step ahead by investing in a more predictable, and cautious
future. By doing so, we can save countless amounts of lives.
Lastly, an investment towards better weather prediction builds a better life for future
generations. Douglass Cobbs explains in his article, NASA and the Federal Government Waste
Taxpayer Money, In 2011 alone, NASA spent $43 million in taxpayers' money to maintain
more than 33 underutilized infrastructure facilities, according to an audit by the office of the
inspector general. Research can be expensive. However, research will continue to be expensive
if we remain ignorant. With every experiment, NASA works to find ways to save money, and
find ways to make research a less costly task. Putting this burden on future generations is selfish
and foolish when it can easily be solved. Cobbs also asserts that NASA is either underutilizing
these structures, or is not using them at all, but they continue to be a drain on the pocketbooks of
American taxpayers (NASA and the Federal Government Waste Taxpayer Money). Taxpayers
are putting money towards something that isnt doing anything. The reason NASA is having
difficulty applying its funding is because it isnt getting enough to properly execute its missions.
Future taxpayers will continue to put money away, but serve no purpose if this money isnt
properly distributed. If NASA is to continue its ways, future generations will have to suffer when
another disaster strikes the coasts. Family after family will be torn apart, and this unfortunate

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outcome could be avoided if we manage our tax-dollars more effectively. The development of
this technology will not happen overnight (Bridwell, Humanity Should Begin Planning for
Interstellar Space Travel). When another storm does happen, it will be too late to complete a
reliable device to help prepare against it. The future generations will continue to suffer because
of these delays. It seems like we have more than enough time to complete this research, but at a
certain point, this attitude will result in more preventable losses. This consequence is
inconsiderate to people we bring into this world.
In short, the United States government should increase NASAs budget to allow for better
weather prediction. Doing this would save money, because greater prediction allows for better
use of time and resources. Additionally, increasing NASAs budget for better weather prediction
would save lives. This is accomplished because of a more detailed and accurate prediction in
which more people can understand and follow through with. Finally, the investment of NASAs
weather prediction missions builds a better life for future generations. A slight investment could
change our fate as Americans, and this investment clearly should be increased.

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David Helmenstine
Mrs. DeBock
English IV Honors
1 November 2016
Works Cited
Bridwell, Nelson. "Humanity Should Begin Planning for Interstellar Space Travel." Space
Exploration. Ed. Michael Ruth. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Op-Ed: To Be or Not To Be? Mankind's Exodus to the Stars."
Spacenews.com. 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

Cobb, Douglas. "NASA and the Federal Government Waste Taxpayer Money." Space
Exploration. Ed. Michael Ruth. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "NASA Wastes $43 Million to Maintain Underused Facilities but
Is Congress Really to Blame?" Guardianlv.com. 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Web. 27 Oct. 2016.
"Privatized Space Exploration Has Disadvantages and Benefits." Space Exploration. Ed. Michael
Ruth. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from
"Neil Armstrong Had Little Confidence in Privatized Space Travel." 2012. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

Wallace, Erin. "The United States Should Reignite the Space Race." Space Exploration. Ed.
Michael Ruth. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints.

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Rpt. from "OpinionWallace: US Must Reinvigorate Space Exploration."

Dailytoreador.com (11 Nov. 2014). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

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David Helmenstine
Mrs. DeBock
English IV Honors
26 October 2016
Essential Question: How are NASA missions beneficial to the public?
Working Thesis Statement: NASA missions contribute to severe weather predictions that can
prevent injuries, financial devastation, and deaths.
Refined Thesis Statement: The United States government should increase NASAs budget to
allow for better weather predictions.
Annotated Bibliography
Bridwell, Nelson. "Humanity Should Begin Planning for Interstellar Space Travel." Space
Exploration. Ed. Michael Ruth. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Op-Ed: To Be or Not To Be? Mankind's Exodus to the Stars."
Spacenews.com. 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.
This article specifies the complications that can occur if we do not continue exploring
space. These complications include the suns expansion,

Cobb, Douglas. "NASA and the Federal Government Waste Taxpayer Money." Space
Exploration. Ed. Michael Ruth. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "NASA Wastes $43 Million to Maintain Underused Facilities but
Is Congress Really to Blame?" Guardianlv.com. 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

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Krauthammer, Charles. "Space Exploration Should Focus on Mars and the Colonization of Other
Worlds." Space Exploration. Ed. Daniel A. Leone. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005.
At Issue. Rpt. from "On to Mars." Weekly Standard (31 Jan. 2000): 23-27. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

Miozzi, CJ. "NASA Should Continue to Receive Funding." Space Exploration. Ed. Michael
Ruth. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from
"Is NASA Worth Funding?" 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

"Privatized Space Exploration Has Disadvantages and Benefits." Space Exploration. Ed. Michael
Ruth. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from
"Neil Armstrong Had Little Confidence in Privatized Space Travel." 2012. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

Wallace, Erin. "The United States Should Reignite the Space Race." Space Exploration. Ed.
Michael Ruth. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints.
Rpt. from "OpinionWallace: US Must Reinvigorate Space Exploration."
Dailytoreador.com (11 Nov. 2014). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.

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