The US House of Representatives has recently
announced that its budget for NASA space development for 2015 will be in the region of US $17.9 billion.
A large part of NASA's current focus is on exploring Mars using the explorer 'Curiosity' which is examining the landscape for organic, carbon-containing compounds.
While Curiosity can't actually detect the presence of living organisms, scientists hope to learn from the US$2.5 billion, nuclear-powered mission whether Mars has or ever had what it takes to nurture microbial life.
The craft has a weather station for updates on Martian temperature, humidity and wind, as well as a radiation detector that will be especially useful for planning human expeditions. Curiosity will be the largest and most complex piece of equipment ever placed on the surface of another planet.
The Planetary Society report that funding for the coming year is " $435 million above the President's 2015 request and $250 million above its 2014 level".
While space technology has its supporters there are also critics who claim that spending money on space exploration takes funding away from other causes such as hunger and poverty. The space budget could potentially go a long way to addressing many of the shortfalls in today's society, especially in the current economic climate, thus improving life for everyone.
What do you think? Keep spending closer to home or explore new frontiers?
Image :
i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02445/mars_2445397b.jpg
It is proposed that funding for space exploration should be reduced to allow money to be spent solving problems here on Earth.