Space Exploration
...made using 1970's technology (Ritter). The problem with this is that in order to make real progress in space travel the program needs a completely different spacecraft. This is where costs come into play. Would it be more efficient to repair and upgrade today’s shuttles, or should we invest in researching an entirely new way to travel? The shuttles cost around 200 million dollars per launch; there has got to be a better way to do things. The shuttles being used by the United States right now are, as it’s been stated, using old technology. During liftoff the shuttle burns tons of heavy, bulky fuel, propelling it into space. After the external fuel tanks have fallen away and the shuttle is long gone in outer space there is only one thing it uses to keep moving. That driving force would be its momentum. Imagine if you had to do that same thing on your way to work. You would give it all the gas you could until you ran out, then you just tried to coast the rest of the way (Thanh Ha). There is however an alternative that is not yet being utilized. Nuclear power could be the definite way to go when dealing with space travel. Using nuclear power, an amount of Uranium the size of a soda is able to contain the amount of energy equal to 100 of the current shuttles external propellant tanks. This would allow fuel to be kept on board in the shuttle and this could enable a constant propulsion through space, no more coasting on momentum. There are many adversaries to the space program, NASA is very underfunded. For good reason, many important things are in need of monetary supplements. Imminent war and terrorist threats are very important and need to be dealt with in orde...