Unit 9: Space & Art

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html

First, it is important to note how influential space has been in our everyday lives. Post WW2,  people all over the world have been fascinated by space. It is not an art or science that is solely enjoyed by scientists and engineers; space sparks innovation and excitement in everyday people. Several popular culture outlets have made millions of dollars by creating content on space because people love the inspiration and imagination it brings.

http://www.socialitelife.com/zenon-brink-and-halloweentown-disney-channel-original-movies-flashback-01-2013

For example, “Little Einsteins” is a television show catered to toddlers. The beginning of the sing-along theme song reads, “We’re going on a trip in our favorite rocketship / zooming through the sky… Climb aboard, get ready to explore / There’s so much to find” (Youtube). In 1999, pre-teens were dazzled by the thought of living on a spacecraft like the Disney movie “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century”. Everyday, millions of people pass through “Tomorrowland” at Disneyland to catch of glimpse of “otherworldly wonders, embark on fantastic voyages, and witness the pioneering of the human spirit” (Disney). The 2013 film “Gravity” made over $700 million dollars on telling the story of an engineer and an astronaut's survival in space without a space shuttle (Hollywood Reporter).  

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/11/vintage-walt-disney-world-taking-a-spin-through-tomorrowland/

Thus, popular culture has done an incredible job with the futuristic portrayals of space. It has kept our world engaged since the 1960’s.  However, the new millennium needs new material. Space scientists and engineers are desperate for new research, developments and technologies. But there are a few things inhibiting space scientists from making huge advancements.

Space exploration has lacked proper plans for nearly 50 years. President Eisenhower was the last to create a year-by-year plan that included frequent visits to space by robots, to be followed by astronauts (Forbes). The plan was not successfully fulfilled. The shrinking budgets and rising costs of space exploration have discouraged NASA from making any recent advancements. However, the proposed 2014 federal budget gives $17.7 billion to NASA (Space). Even though the allotted money “represents less than 0.5% of federal spending for 2013”, NASA is determined to stretch the funds (Space). NASA is currently planning to send rover instruments to Mars in 2020 (NASA).

http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasas-journey-to-mars

Citations:

"Little Einsteins Theme Song." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web.

Malik, Tariq. "NASA's 2014 Budget: Space Exploration Luminaries React." Space.com, n.d. Web.

"NASA Announces Mars 2020 Rover Payload to Explore the Red Planet as Never Before." NASA. NASA, n.d. Web.

"Sandra Bullock to Make $70 Million (At Least) for 'Gravity' (Exclusive)."The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 May 2015.

"The Cost Of Space Exploration." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web.

"Tomorrowland." Disney.com.au. N.p., n.d. Web.

Wall, Mike. "Space Exploration Still US Priority, NASA Says." Space.com, n.d. Web.