Can the Curiosity Rover Sway the 2012 Election?

Published Tue, Aug 7th, 2012   Wall Street Daily Research

 

While Obama and Romney focus on tax policies to win the election, some voters might base their final decisions on the nominees’ stances on space exploration.

That’s because NASA’s Curiosity rover has now successfully landed on Mars – which is sure to get Americans thinking about something other than the economy.

According to White House Science Advisor, John Holdren, “landing [the rover] on the surface of the Red Planet was by any measure the most challenging mission ever attempted in the history of robotic planetary exploration.” He believes that the success of the landing shows United States’ commitment to space exploration.

NASA’s budget tells a different story, though. NASA was able to pull off the $2.5 billion mission despite cutbacks to the program.

Although, according to The Wall Street Journal, “NASA chief Charles Bolden has said that NASA is determined to pursue less-expensive unmanned exploration plans for Mars and the rest of the solar system,” even that might not be possible if the government keeps cutting NASA funds.