Space and the Budget

Space exploration should not be viewed as an expense, but rather an investment. NASA’s annual budget is less than 1% of the total annual federal budget, or about 15 cents per day for the average citizen. Space technology advances have created countless industries, spawned millions of jobs and generated billions of dollars into the economy – an immeasurable return on America’s investment. If the United States is to maintain a healthy economy, we must continue to invest in leading-edge research and exploration. Today’s indulgent culture spends and risks far more for a far less return. Exploration and its results have an impact on everyone in this country, and will for generations to come.

Cost - NASA’s budget is .7 of 1% of the federal budget. Divided equally among the U.S. population, it costs around $1 per person, per week. During the height of Project Apollo, NASA’s share of the budget was about 4%. In a recent Gallup poll (August 2006), almost two-thirds (63%) of American adults surveyed think NASA’s budget should remain at present levels or be increased. NASA’s budget increased only a modest 5% for 2005 and is scheduled to increase only 2.4% in FY06. "Our economy can certainly afford an effort of this magnitude, but the public must believe the benefits to society deserve the investment." Neil Armstrong in Houston on March 12, 2004.

Return - In 2002, the commercial space industry contributed more than $95 billion in U.S. economic activity, $23.5 billion in employee earnings, and employed 576,000 people – a 16% increase in jobs from three years earlier (FAA, March 2004).

Linking Space and the Budget

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