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Privatization of the Space Flight Program

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Submitted By bakesale
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Over the last 60 years, the United States Space Program has brought to life things that, as late as the 1950’s, were once believed to be impossible. As a little boy, I remember watching TV in the library at school as the latest space shuttle was going to blast off from its launch pad en route to its destiny in space exploration. As I’ve grown, so too has my never ending curiosity of what lies beyond our own planet and solar system. We have been to the moon, seen unbelievable, up close photos of planets like Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and just when it looked like we’re about to make a leap into exploring beyond our solar system or possibly sending a manned mission to Mars, it all stops. Along with millions of other people who grew up dreaming of one day going into outer space or visiting a faraway planet, we all watched in horror as the United States Space Program has all but been eliminated by decisions made by members of Congress and President Barak Obama to drastically overhaul funding for NASA and the United States Space Program. In 2010, the President announced dramatic changes including the abandonment of the Constellation program and the Ares Rocket which was supposed to replace the newly retired space shuttle program, as well as outlining the development of commercializing elements of the industry which has forced NASA to re-evaluate the overall direction of its program and establish new, long-term initiatives. Will the commercialization and privatization of the space flight program enable NASA and the Unites States Space Program to close the spaceflight gap fast enough to continue to be the world leader in space exploration or will the delay in spaceflight capability and reliance on foreign countries like Russia to transport goods and astronauts to the International Space Station set the United States back behind already established and ever growing space

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