Funding Mars ExplorationFunding Mars Exploration

Can We Afford It?Can We Afford It?

PovertyPoverty

HomelessnessHomelessness

UnemploymentUnemployment

Gas PricesGas Prices

Where Is Our Time and Money Where Is Our Time and Money Going?Going?

America is spending America is spending billions of dollars billions of dollars exploring Mars.exploring Mars.

Thousands of man-Thousands of man-hours have been put hours have been put forth for this project.forth for this project.

Is this expense Is this expense worth it?worth it?

In order to determine if exploration is worth the In order to determine if exploration is worth the manpower or cost, we will consider the following manpower or cost, we will consider the following questions:questions:

What explorations have been conducted?What explorations have been conducted? What is the cost?What is the cost? What have we learned and what do we hope to What have we learned and what do we hope to

learn?learn? What is the effect on Florida’s economy and job What is the effect on Florida’s economy and job

market?market?

Should We Continue the Mars Should We Continue the Mars Exploration Program?Exploration Program?

Mars Exploration and CostMars Exploration and CostInformationInformation ProPro ConConBegan exploring Began exploring Mars in 1960Mars in 1960

54 orbiters and 54 orbiters and landers have been landers have been sent to Marssent to Mars

Spirit and Orbiter (the 51Spirit and Orbiter (the 51stst and and 5252ndnd missions) are currently missions) are currently exploring Mars and have exploring Mars and have worked worked 16 times longer than 16 times longer than planned and have driven 20 planned and have driven 20 times farther than expected.times farther than expected.

50%50% success rate overall. success rate overall.

Of eleven missions that were to Of eleven missions that were to land on the surface of Mars, only land on the surface of Mars, only six actually transmitted any data six actually transmitted any data after landing.after landing.

Reasons for Reasons for failuresfailures

Sometimes miscalculationsSometimes miscalculations

Often reasons are unknownOften reasons are unknown

$4.2 billion has $4.2 billion has been spent on Mars been spent on Mars exploration to dateexploration to date

NASA has pumped billions of NASA has pumped billions of dollars into Florida’s economy dollars into Florida’s economy for over four decades. for over four decades.

The switch from the shuttle The switch from the shuttle program to the new exploration program to the new exploration initiatives (Mars included) could initiatives (Mars included) could mean fewer jobs over the next mean fewer jobs over the next several years.several years.

Summary of Exploration and Cost Summary of Exploration and Cost

We see a mission failure rate of 50%, We see a mission failure rate of 50%, often for unknown reasons, at a cost of 4.2 often for unknown reasons, at a cost of 4.2 billion dollars coupled with a falling need billion dollars coupled with a falling need for personnel in the job market for personnel in the job market as as evidence that we should not support evidence that we should not support continued missions to Marscontinued missions to Mars. .

What Have We Learned?What Have We Learned?

Mars is the fourth planet Mars is the fourth planet from the sun, our from the sun, our neighboring planet.neighboring planet.

It has a similar amount of It has a similar amount of land mass to Earth.land mass to Earth.

The length of a day on The length of a day on Mars is similar to Earth, Mars is similar to Earth, while a year is twice as while a year is twice as long. long.

EarthEarth

Solar DaySolar Day

Martian Martian Solar DaySolar Day

23 hrs.23 hrs.

56 min.56 min.

24 hrs.24 hrs.

39 min.39 min.

EarthEarth

YearYear

Martian Martian YearYear

365.2365.2solar dayssolar days

685685

solar dayssolar days

What Have We Learned?What Have We Learned?

Geologic ActivityGeologic Activity An orbiter unintentionally captured video evidence of an An orbiter unintentionally captured video evidence of an avalanche on Mars, so scientists definitely feel that avalanche on Mars, so scientists definitely feel that there is still geological activity on Mars.there is still geological activity on Mars.

Presence of WaterPresence of Water In September 2007, a NASA orbiter captured images of In September 2007, a NASA orbiter captured images of gullies and other landforms in which water may have gullies and other landforms in which water may have traveled on Mars. traveled on Mars.

Deposits of minerals such as salt have been found on Deposits of minerals such as salt have been found on the surface of Mars where water was thought to have the surface of Mars where water was thought to have once evaporated from these areas.once evaporated from these areas.

The Loss of the Martian The Loss of the Martian AtmosphereAtmosphere

Scientists are not exactly sure how Mars lost its Scientists are not exactly sure how Mars lost its atmosphere, but they hypothesize that Mars did indeed atmosphere, but they hypothesize that Mars did indeed have an atmosphere at one point in its history since have an atmosphere at one point in its history since liquid water cannot exist without some level of liquid water cannot exist without some level of atmosphere.atmosphere.

What Have We Learned?What Have We Learned? The temperature differences on both planets are The temperature differences on both planets are drasticdrastic

(average temperature is -67 F on Mars).(average temperature is -67 F on Mars).

There is There is no atmosphereno atmosphere on Mars. on Mars.

The weather patterns on Mars are The weather patterns on Mars are severesevere at times (wind at times (wind storms, avalanches, etc.)storms, avalanches, etc.)

There is evidence of water having once been on Mars, There is evidence of water having once been on Mars, but but none foundnone found to date to date..

No lifeNo life has been found on Mars. has been found on Mars.

What have we learned that is What have we learned that is of any benefit?of any benefit?

What Do We Hope To Learn?What Do We Hope To Learn?

According to scientists at NASA, future According to scientists at NASA, future Mars explorations are aimed at learning:Mars explorations are aimed at learning:How the planets formedHow the planets formedComposition differences/similaritiesComposition differences/similaritiesWhether Mars has ever/could ever sustain lifeWhether Mars has ever/could ever sustain lifeWhether Earth could ever evolve into the type Whether Earth could ever evolve into the type

of planet that Mars has become?of planet that Mars has become?

Will finding answers to these questions Will finding answers to these questions really help us as humans on really help us as humans on thisthis planet? planet?

Summary of What We’ve Learned Summary of What We’ve Learned or Hope to Learnor Hope to Learn

With initial explorations proving that there is no With initial explorations proving that there is no life, no way to support human life, and no water life, no way to support human life, and no water to support agriculture, we conclude that to support agriculture, we conclude that exploring Mars is not producing knowledge or exploring Mars is not producing knowledge or opportunities that benefit Earth.opportunities that benefit Earth.

While scientific discovery is a worthy pursuit, While scientific discovery is a worthy pursuit, using our science resources here on Earth to using our science resources here on Earth to feed the hungry and cure disease has much feed the hungry and cure disease has much greater benefit to mankind.greater benefit to mankind.

What Does This Say About Us?What Does This Say About Us?

"Our Mars program is the envy of the world.""Our Mars program is the envy of the world."

Alan Stern, associate administrator of Alan Stern, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Washington.

Do these children envy our Mars program?Do these children envy our Mars program?

Is it Is it really?really?

ConclusionConclusion We have outlined the costs and the lack of We have outlined the costs and the lack of

benefits that we feel make a compelling case for benefits that we feel make a compelling case for not supporting future missions to Mars.not supporting future missions to Mars.

Learning about our nearest planet neighbor may Learning about our nearest planet neighbor may be interesting, but our own planet’s problems be interesting, but our own planet’s problems and needs are so great, our resources should be and needs are so great, our resources should be aimed there.aimed there.

Let’s be the envy of the world by Let’s be the envy of the world by solving problems here on Earthsolving problems here on Earth

ResourcesResources Mars Exploration – NASAMars Exploration – NASA

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/ Mars Rover Mission – NASAMars Rover Mission – NASA

http://marsrover.nasa.gov/home/index.htmlhttp://marsrover.nasa.gov/home/index.html Timeline of Mars ExplorationTimeline of Mars Exploration

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_of_Mars#Timeline_of_Mhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_of_Mars#Timeline_of_Mars_explorationars_exploration

Budget for Mars Exploration - NASABudget for Mars Exploration - NASA www.nasa.gov/pdf/1991main_mars.pdfwww.nasa.gov/pdf/1991main_mars.pdf

Resources, cont.Resources, cont. Mars Exploration Rover Mission, Press Release, Mars Exploration Rover Mission, Press Release,

February 2008 – NASAFebruary 2008 – NASA http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/

20080215a.html20080215a.html Future Missions – NASAFuture Missions – NASA

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/future/futureMissions.htmlhttp://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/future/futureMissions.html Florida’s Economy and the Space ProgramFlorida’s Economy and the Space Program

http://www.floridatrend.com/data_article.asp?cName=Floridahttp://www.floridatrend.com/data_article.asp?cName=Florida%20Data&rName=Economic%20Data&rName=Economic%20Yearbook&whatID=2&aID=42460518.5455171.601354.454%20Yearbook&whatID=2&aID=42460518.5455171.601354.4549214.4908078.528&aID2=462499214.4908078.528&aID2=46249

Cost of Mars Science Lab – Aviation WeekCost of Mars Science Lab – Aviation Week http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?

channel=space&id=news/mars022108.xmlchannel=space&id=news/mars022108.xml