Alright, I believe you are one of those wondering and asking “Is NASA a government Agency”? Well, it’s a good question giving the size and modus operandi of the agency. However, when things regarding space program are mentioned, NASA is one of the few agencies that come to mind.
Now, here is the answer to the question.
Yes, NASA is a government agency and has always been. And for the records, the full meaning of NASA is National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The agency belongs to the United States Government and was established in 1958. It was established to manage aeronautics research and space explorations. And being a government agency, funds the industry gets comes from the coffers of the government, too.
So, that’s the answer to the question. You can read further to get more useful information.
Nasa: What Does The Agency Do?
I use to think I knew all about what NASA does. Until lately, I discovered they are not only into space travel missions and aeronautics. NASA has been directly involved in many projects.
One of such projects is relating to global warming. But their primary mission from time immemorial is to learn more about our dear planet, earth. However, I would like you to know that NASA does a lot of things. Not one, not two! I will say the agency is all-encompassing. But really, they are doing a great job with regards to the various contributions they have made to better our lives thus far.
Alright, I hope you know that astronauts present in orbit are there for a reason? Yes, they are! I say this because most people believe the reason the U.S sends space ships into outer space is to show off their technological and military might. But that is not the case.
Those astronauts you see in orbit are there to carry out scientific research. With satellites, scientists can learn and understand more about our dear planet. Space probes also help to study and acquire more knowledge of the solar system, including other things.
And yes, their findings help to improve a lot of things. It can help to boost air travels, including other areas of flights. So, NASA is involved in a lot of things. I will like to break it to you that the agency is currently working on a couple of new projects.
What Are NASA’s New Projects?
Well, let me break it down this way for better understand. It is Elon Musk’s wish to colonize Mars, the red planet. And as you know, Elon Musk’s SpaceX and NASA, a government agency, are working hand-in-hand, with regards to space exploration projects.
NASA’s new project is to send humans to outer space. The agency wants to figure out if humans can live in Mars. The current president, Donald Trump, has also instructed the agency to speed up things and take humans to Mars in 2020.
And this is a mission I think NASA can accomplish given the enormous resources, technology and workforce the agency currently has.
Now let’s go back to what NASA does. Like I said earlier, NASA is involved in the space exploration program. The agency has been involved in such projects for many years now. But in addition to these major missions, the agency also does a couple of other things.
First, NASA is not stingy with their discoveries. They don’t hide anything from the public or companies that want to use their information. The agency shares whatever it learns during research and has one aim; to share information that will make life on earth better for everyone.
Companies can even use discoveries made by NASA to develop new products without facing any legal battle. That’s how open the agency can be. We also use these inventions every day of our life. And the funny thing is that most of us don’t know the discoveries we are benefiting from came from NASA.
Does NASA Prepare Students For A Brighter Future?
Yes, they do! I must confess that their discoveries are changing lives and motivating people to embark on their researches. NASA helps teachers in diverse ways. In addition to providing educating materials, they prepare students for the future.
Most of these students end up being scientists, engineers, astronauts and even work for the agency in the future. They end up becoming the adventurers that will keep the universe and solar system exploration activities on, and make eyes-popping discoveries.
One way NASA helps students is via motivation. They keep them in the know regarding their missions, to keep them motivated to study harder and become useful to society. With knowledge of the various eyes-popping discoveries, and the great works scientists at NASA are doing, students will undoubtedly be pushed to work hard.
The agency also trains teachers to become better in the discharge of their duties. They educate those that are teaching science, engineering, technology and mathematical subjects, on the best ways to explain the various subjects
NASA And SPACE Exploration: How We Have Benefitted From The International Space Station
There have been a series of mixed reaction regarding space exploration activities. But now, we can all see how much benefits we have had from these activities. Astronauts living and spending time working at the International Space Station is helping NASA to learn new things.
Most of them include more robust communication technologies, what it entails to develop and test various crucial systems, and better way to protect humans for the trip to Mars.
So, without wasting too much time, let’s go over the diverse ways we are benefiting from activities at the International Space Station and space exploration projects.
1. Support for water purification around the globe
Hundreds of people around the world die of cholera each year. And as you know, cholera is a disease related to drinking contaminated water. I mean, water contaminated by Vibrio cholerae, a bacterium that is highly poisonous.
Cholera isn’t rampant in the U.S. It is common in tropics, such as in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and India. But even though it is not common in the U.S, making drinkable water available is a major project that concerns everyone.
The truth is access to drinkable water is still an issue around the world. But things have improved massively, thanks to space exploration activities. With the technology built for scientists working at the space station, areas lacking drinkable water around the globe can turn their situations around. This high tech water filtration and purification system can help to make water safe for drinking.
So, we have seen how this space-bound technology has helped to make life easy for people in areas destroyed by natural disasters. NASA, in conjunction with aid organizations, are the ones making this expensive technology available to individuals in these areas.
Today, this water processing technology from NASA is available in many areas, particularly in rural communities around the globe. People can now have access to drinkable water whenever they want.
2. Success with inoperable surgery
Most surgeries are inoperable. A couple of them exist. But technology from space exploration has given doctors and scientists a clue that has made the impossible possible.
The touch that removed the egg-shaped tumor from the brain of Paige Nickason is one of them. The surgical operation was a success, thanks to the robotic arm, the first of its kind for such operations.
It was the first robot in the world developed to perform surgeries in a magnetic resonance machine. And, since the success recorded in Nickason’s brain surgery, the neuroArm has been used on over 35 patients. Their cases were also inoperable. So, it was a huge breakthrough recorded in science and medicine.
3. Using exercise and diet to prevent bone loss
Space travels also takes a toll on astronauts, one way or the other. In addition to spending days in a spaceship, astronauts have also recorded a loss in bone mass density monthly.
But the good thing is that research gave scientists answers to this problem. They were able to figure out the mechanism controlling bones, particularly at the cellular level. The clue the scientists got was that resistance exercises (high intensity), vitamin D dietary supplements, and intake of specific calories, can revert loss of bone mass that astronauts where suffering.
However, this research applies to earth. Older adults have a high chance of suffering such a condition. But using the process mentioned above, they can avert this condition to a certain degree.
Conclusion
So, that is it for the question, “Is NASA a Government Agency”? As I said, they are a government agency and are controlled by the U.S government. Even the administrator for this agency is appointed by the president of the United States of America. The Senate also has to vote to give their stamp on the appointment too. But the main thing here is, being a government agency does not limit NASA in any way. They share their findings with the world. And they are also helping to make the world better with their various research and findings.
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