IDS

Cornerstone – Summer 2010Group Research Project

Presented by:Norah AzoulaiCallie Gaines

Joxavier JacksonElizabeth Smith

Megan VunkKetryn WallaceWilliam Ware

Group One

How will the overhaul of the NASA space shuttle program affect

Central Florida?

• The space program, in its beginnings, set us apart as a nation. Countless people have benefited both directly and indirectly, from the space program.

• Besides the people the space program has directly employed, it has made possible such breakthroughs as the development of the artificial heart pump, the building of safer school bus chassis, and the formation of a space suit which was able to be modified to help heal burn victims(Garber & Launius).

• This list of universally positive and important indirect benefits is truly immense, and the tens of thousands of jobs the space program has created in both the aerospace and tourism industries makes it directly impact Central Floridians.

Justificatio

n

• As the economy has declined, there has been much debate as to whether or not the space program’s funding should be reduced or even cut off altogether or if it is important enough to Central Florida to justify its cost.

• If we were to explore this topic from strictly an economic standpoint, much perspective would be lost.

• To fully understand the effects of losing this program, it requires each area impacted to be researched and understood in a larger context in order to justify any potential solutions.

This controversy benefits from an interdisciplinary perspective because many disciplines are involved in the funding, management, and fate of the space program. These disciplines are intertwined. For instance, the Constellation program has the potential to find a cure for cancer and its closing could end up being an economic disadvantage in the long run. The National Cancer Institute’s budget was $4.83 billion in 2008 maintained. (National Cancer Institute, 2010).

Clearly an interdisciplinary perspective is essential in understanding complex issues such as this. While the space program’s budget is indeed staggering, lawmakers may not take into account the billions spent in healthcare, or any other industry that may be positively affected by the continuation of this program.

The space program has developed a bioscan system, now used in the detection of breast cancer. This is yet one more example of why it is paramount that we view this controversy from a varying research perspective, all disciplines considered and the larger context maintained. (National Cancer Institute, 2010)

• Understanding the effects of a potential overhaul in the NASA Constellation program cannot be examined without understanding and integrating the many disciplines it involves.

• There are many varying factors which could benefit or impair the Central Florida area in a direct and tangible manner.

• Without an interdisciplinary approach examining the economic, scientific, and political aspects together, one cannot truly appreciate the potential outcomes involved with this research.

Scientific Research

Economic

s

Tourism

Politics

Disciplines

Map

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Research Question

How will the overhaul of the NASA space shuttle program affect Central Florida??

What disciplines are potentially relevant and what is their stake

in the controversy?

Economics - Jobs and opportunities for our community

Finance - Relevance of funds spent

Science – Research & Development of new products

Political Science – Reliance on foreign countries for space travel and additional research developments.

What are the assumptions of each discipline?

Economics - The space shuttle program creates jobs and boosts tourism.

Finance - The space shuttle program is an expensive venture with little monetary return.

Science - Great scientific and medical discoveries are a direct result of the space shuttle program.

Political Science - Without the space shuttle program, the US will not be able to compete with other countries technological advances.

What are the perspectives of each discipline on the problem?

Economics - Sees the impact the space program has on the job market and tourism.

Finance - Sees the financial obligations to the program.

Science - Sees the scientific benefits of the program

Political Science - Sees the role of the U.S. vs. rest of the international world as a result of the program

What are the controversies or problems to be analyzed?

Economics – Is this the only space program capable of sustaining these employment numbers?

Finance – How can the government tax funds be spent more gainfully?

Science – Is this the most adept way for the space program to contribute to research, development and scientific knowledge?

Political Science – How will our international alliances affect our space program?

Finance- The conflict from this standpoint would be those companies concerned with a revenue loss or even potential loss of their livelihood from the ending of the space program. Their rate of income and employee gain/loss is their argument.

Tourism- The conflict would be in keeping the program up and running so that tourists coming to the area would continue visiting the area, supporting local businesses, purchasing charter to and from the launch events, and generally ensuring that the tourism industry remains strong.

Conflicts

Politics-This conflict is certainly the most complex, as it must take into account many factors, such as economics, public opinion, local economies, and even the scientific perspective. The Political conflict therefore lends itself to interdisciplinarity. It could be said that this research project is similar to an analysis of the Political conflict, albeit with less of an emphasis of public opinion.

Scientific Research- The conflict from the scientific perspective stems from the fear that a reduction in research and exploration will result in a decrease in important advancements and potential breakthroughs. At its purest, science is concerned only with research, discovery and advancement without much regard for economics or other mitigating factors. The scientific perspective is almost entirely one sided in favor of continuing and even expanding the program.

Common

Ground

Costs, financing or money are the common ground in our research. All four of our disciplines share this common ground in the decision making process.

Extension is the integrative technique of choice. In extending the concept of financing throughout the disciplines, we can evaluate its significance in each discipline’s decision making and how this overlaps and integrates with all of the disciplines.

Profit, income, and budget sourcing are all imperative and affect each decision process for each discipline. Both NASA and the White House have stated that funding for the program was under consideration because of the costs and the benefits of those costs involved. Tourism experts and economists have all considered the financial impacts of ending this program, as well as starting up a new program. And scientific discoveries are based on costs and outcomes. The commonality and integrative technique of extension for this research topic is clearly finances. The analysis presentation portrays the elements of our controversy and its affiliation to our disciplines: Economics/Finance, Tourism, Political Science, and Science by identifying the conflict and extending the disciplinary concepts. The common ground approach of concepts implemented with the technique of extension addresses the conflicts between our disciplines, thus forging a common ground. Financial woes appear to be the commonality relative to the demise of the space shuttle program. Although Finance is only one aspect, conflict within this discipline significantly affects the multitudes, creating an instant commonality between all four disciplines.

Discipline Theory Assumption Insight

Economics

Theory of the firm (specifically-Financial Economics)

Profit Maximization – or value for the costs. Income would be funding (from taxes, donations, tourism); costs would be payroll, research, technology; production or benefits would be education or knowledge, additional scientific and technological developments.The theory of the firm suggests that the shuttle program should continue to a point where the costs equal the benefits.

Thousands of employees across the country, including those on the space coast, will be put out of work as a result of ending the Constellation program.The US needs a capable scientific & technological workforce to remain economically competitive.

Science

Systems Research and Behavioral Science Theory: an international scientific journal for theory and research in the fields of systems sciences (which is an interdisciplinary field of science that studies the nature of complex systems in nature, society, and science.)

Conducting research to obtain information for producing something for either commercial or practical use; discovering new facts about or testing theories regarding natural phenomena; and observing astronomical phenomena to increase knowledge.

NASA initiates new programs for the purpose of transforming

state of the art space technologies.

Tourism

Comparative Market theory, especially the aspect of supply and demand and how it relates to the tourism industry for providing buses to see shuttle launches.

Assessing and analyzing the impact of changes in supply and demand on a market of buyers or consumers and sellers or producers, using comparative analysis or comparative market.

The amount of tourists coming into Central Florida should not be affected as a result of the ending of Constellation.

Politics

Science, Technology and International Relations Theory (How science and technology impact the global health, business, environment, technology, and development)

Analysis of policies and strategies which have promoted space activities, in regard to exploration and innovation, militarization, colonization and commercialization. The theoretical perspective of these policies and strategies engages in a discourse of space activities, space strategies, and the effects of space policies.

When initially implementing the space exploration program, the goal was never for it to be long-term or indefinite.

Works

Cited

Anonymous. (2010, July 3). (N. Azoulai, Interviewer)Block, R. (2010, June 9). Is NASA's surprise order the death knell for Constellation program? Orlando Sentinel .Block, R., & Matthews, M. K. (2010, June 20). NASA boss investigated for possible conflict of interest on biofuel project. Orlando Sentinel .Block, R., & Matthews, M. K. (2010, January 27). Obama aims to ax moon mission. Orlando Sentinel .Borenstein, S., & Werner, E. (2010, April 15). Obama Lays Out Future Of American Space Exploration: Key Details . The Huffington Post .Callmers, W. N. (2008). Space Policy and Exploration. Nova Science Publishers, Inc.CNN. (2009, November 13). CNN.com. Retrieved 2010, from http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/11/13/water.moon.nasa/index.htmlCNN. (2009, November 13). CNN.com. Retrieved 2010, from http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/11/13/water.moon.nasa/index.htmlFoxNews.com. (2010, January 29). Fox News.com. Retrieved 2010, from Obama to End NASA Constellation Program: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/27/obama-budget-drop-nasa-constellation-program/Garber, S., & Launius, R. (n.d.). NASA: A Brief History of Nasa. Retrieved 2010, from http://history.nasa.gov/factsheet.htmHouston Chronicle. (2010, May 29). Chron. Retrieved 2010, from http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/7028527.htmlJansen, B. (2010, January 29). Bill Nelson.com. Retrieved 2010, from NASA's course raises concerns : http://billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=321936&Johnson-Freese, J., & Handberg, R. (1997). Space, The Dormant Frontier: Changing the Paradigm for the 21st Century. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.Kosmas, S. (2010, July 2). (N. Azoulai, Interviewer)Malik, T. (2010, March 01). Space.com. Retrieved 2010, from www.space.com/scienceastronomy/water-moon-north-pole-100301.htmlMalik, T. (2010, March 1). Space.com. Retrieved 2010, from http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/water-moon-north-pole-100301.htmlMarsh, R. (2010, July 3). (N. Azoulai, Interviewer)Matthews, M. (2010, June 23). Congress touts Constellation, wants heavy-lift rocket now . Orlando Sentinel .Matthews, M. K. (2010, July 1). NASA delays end of shuttle program until next February. Orlando Sentinel .Matthews, M. (2010, June 22). Shelby named ‘porker’ for protecting Constellation . Orlando Sentinel .Mirelson, D. (2010, June 28). Nasa.com. Retrieved 2010, from http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jun/HQ_10-156_Space_Policy.htmlModine, A. (2010, February 1). The Register. Retrieved 2010, from http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/01/white_house_2011_budget_nasa_constellation/National Cancer Institute. (2010, July 13). Cancer Research Funding. Retrieved 2010, from National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/research-fundingNelson, B. (2010, July 2). Globalleadership. (N. Azoulai, Interviewer)Powers, S. (2010, June 4). Task force considers slim choices for shuttle workers. Orlando Sentinel .Sietzen, F. J. (2001, March 18). SpaceRef.com. Retrieved from http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=301Space Politics. (2007, November 20). Retrieved 2010, from http://www.spacepolitics.com/2007/11/20/obama-cut-constellation-to-pay-for-education/Sutter, J. D. (2010, March 15). CNN.com. Retrieved 2010, from http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/space/02/01/nasa.budget.moon/index.htmlThomas, M. (2010, June 13). More cash for NASA? That's one giant misstep. Orlando Sentinel .Workforce Central Florida. (2010, May 21). Central Florida Unemployment Rate 11.4%. Retrieved 2010, from Workforce Watch: http://www.enewsbuilder.net/wcf/e_article001761579.cfm?x=b11,0,w

The End

Crews from missions aboard Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavor.

Special Thanks to those who have risked and even given their lives

to further our research.