Congressman Wants NASA to Sell AD Space in Outer Space

As the NASA budget flirts with bankruptcy, a California congressman suggests a way to stir up cash for the struggling agency, sell ads. Ken Calvert, the governments ranking Member in the Subcommittee on Space & Aeronautics, has been searching for ways to get the public enthusiatic about space exploration again. Selling ad space to companies would bolster up funds, something the agency has been lacking.

Currently NASA is a publicly-funded organization so It cannot sell ads, something reserved for business. But Congressman Ken Calvert has introduced a bill that would change that, allowing the space agency to sell the blank spaces on its kit to sponsors. To spur increased public interest in space, the politician's legislation can stimulate creative space advertising concepts. His legislation to be introduced to the U.S. Congress will call for a commission to study space advertising ideas, as well as propose a trust fund that foots the bill for space prizes.

The recent budget cuts into NASA's science program has numbered over $4 Billion in the past few years. These cuts jeopardize the future of many groundbreaking missions such as a manned Mars and moon landing. Another member of the committee recently remarked in a congressional hearing yesterday that "NASA has had extraordinary successes over the last decade from its challenging, ambitious science missions that produce stunning science return," he told the panel. "In 10 to 15 years as we look back, will we be able to make the same statement? I am concerned that we are on a track that will preclude such a positive outcome."

The recent commotion of this seemingly outlandish ploy has stirred commotion amongst independent space program JP Aerospace. The company sells ad space to fund its own space technology program. Their president said in statement "We're worried about an immediate impact. A cusomter could decide to wait and see what NASA has to offer."

So the government is selling itself to fund unpopular programs now. The next logical step must be advertisements on weapons our troops use in Iraq.

http://www.floridatoday.com/floridatoday/blogs/spaceteam/2007/05/nasa-science-could-be-disrupted-by.html

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