In Search of Life in the Universe: NASA Needs a New Exciting Vision



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  July 21, 1969: The American astronaut Edwin Aldrin is photographed by his colleague Neil Armstrong during his first steps on the moon.

21. July 1969: The American astronaut Edwin Aldrin is photographed by his colleague Neil Armstrong who takes his first steps on the moon (Photo: picture alliance / NASA / NASA / dpa)

Sunday, July 29, 2018 [19659005] NASA sent people to the moon and sounded the solar system and helped build the ISS. Now, the US Space Agency is 60 years old and needs some exciting new projects like those on Mars or the alien search.

The astrophysicist John O 'Meara does not need to wait long for the outstanding achievements of the NASA think NASA space agency. "It can not be ignored that NASA brought people to the moon." The landing on the Moon on July 21, 1969 was "a triumph for NASA and the spirit of humanity," a "key moment," says the scientist of St. Michael's College , Vermont, who has worked several times with the space agency. "The world came together for a brief moment and rejoiced together – we needed a lot more."

  President Dwight D. Eisenhower (center) with Thomas Keith Glennan, head of NASA (r.) And dr. Hugh L. Dryden (Vice President of NASA) in 1958 in Washington on the occasion of the founding of NASA.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower (center) with Thomas Keith Glennan, NASA leader (R. Hugh L. Dryden (NASA Vice President) in 1958 in Washington on the occasion of the founding from NASA (Photo: imago stock & people)

The moon landing was successful at the beginning of NASA's history.On July 29, 1958, exactly 60 years ago, the president American Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the law on aeronautics and space and founded NASA, which began operating a few weeks later.During this time, the Washington Space Agency, With a budget of several billion, has more than 17,000 employees across the US In addition to the moon landing, NASA has extensively explored the planetary system including our Earth with many probes, immersed in the 39 immensity behind our solar system with space telescopes and built the ISS with other countries, an av Permanent ant-position of humanity in the world. all.

NASA informs people around the world about the universe, whether with museums and in classrooms or with an award-winning online strategy. The live broadcast of the Cassini spacecraft, which sank to Saturn last September, has just been nominated for Emmy, America's biggest televised award.

Events and Celebrations for the 60th Anniversary

According to the authorities, many events and celebrations are planned for the 60th anniversary of NASA. "NASA is still a great authority, with great people who have great skills, but it has lost momentum and is focused on achieving the impossible," says scientist O. Meara. "In many ways, it's not NASA's fault itself, it's because its budget needs to be redefined each year by Congress."

Of course, this is not fundamentally wrong, but it often brings new politicians to decide and nobody wants to commit to it in the long run. "The fact that we have not yet sent people to Mars is because it is very expensive and time consuming, nobody in politics really wants to support it, because It is very unlikely that this will happen in their own term and "

" Feeling that Trump Nasa is not doing much "

The inauguration of US President Donald Trump did not Changed a lot for NASA, says O. Meara With the exception of Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, who has been encouraging research on the Earth and climate, you have to worry about it. I have the impression that Trump does not really care about NASA. "The authority still has to fight for its budget. NASA boss Jim Bridenstine, who has been hired by Trump and criticized as inexperienced by many Democrats, has not yet done anything "disastrous", says O. Meara. "At first I was very skeptical vis-à-vis -vis Bridenstine, but in the short span of time he is in power, he has done very well. "

The moon landing, the big" moment "NASA's key, date of almost 50 years ago – and he urgently needs new moments," OA Meara asks. To achieve this, NASA must master enormous challenges. First, astronauts with US spacecraft should be launched urgently to end the current dependence on Russian Soyuz capsules. NASA has announced this, but so far nothing has happened

. And then the space agency needs an inspiring vision again, asks O Meara. For example: people on Mars – or on the moon of Jupiter in Europe. "We can do it, if NASA wants to go on the very tiring path." Also the solution of one of the most exciting riddles of humanity is within the reach of NASA. "It's in our power, if NASA wants, over the next 20 years, to definitely find out there's another life in the universe apart from us." If NASA is facing very complicated technological challenges, we can fix that. "

Source: n-tv.de

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