Policy Debate: space topic 2011-2012

----Plan illegal, doesn’t use DOT Beckley 98(NASA Administrator, http://www.faa.gov..., accessed on Oct. 11, 2011, AL) The National Space Transportation Policy (NSTC-4, August 5, 1994) designates NASA as “lead Agency for technology development and demonstration for next generation reusable space Transportation systems.” NSTC-4 also directs the Department of Transportation (FAA) to “License, facilitate, and promote commercial launch operations as set forth in the Commercial Space Launch Act, as amended, and Executive Order 12465.” The Commercial Space Act of 1998, P.L. 105-303, granted regulatory authority to the DOT for commercial reentry activities. ----“The” Means all parts Encata 09 (World English Dictionary, “The”, http://encarta.msn.com..., accessed Dec. 1, 2011, AL) 2. Indicating generic class: used to refer to aperson orthing considered generically or universally ----U.S. is the 3 branches, where in the 3 braches is NASA. Thefreedictionary.com 11 (http://www.thefreedictionary.com..., accessed Dec. 4, 2011, AL) United States - the executive and legislative and judicial branches of the federal government of the United States ----NASA doesn’t work efficiently McMillan 10 (Graeme, McMillan, Journalist, written Aug. 2010,http://io9.com..., accessed Nov. 21, 2011, AL) How badly is NASA being run? According a US Governmentreport, worse than you may think, with more than 50% of programs over-budget and past-deadline... and some of the others having no deadline at all. According to New Scientist, a new report from the Government Accountability Office looked at 18 separate NASA programs, and found that five of those were operating without any deadline whatsoever, and only three of those with deadlines had managed to meet them and stay within budget. Amongst those ruining NASA's reputation, the Mars Science Laboratory is running 25 months behind schedule and 26% over original cost estimates, and the Glory climate satellite is a staggering 53% over budget. ---NASA overspends Hecht 09 (Jeff Hecht, contributor to Newsscience.com, written March 3, 2009, http://www.newscientist.com..., accessed Nov. 21, 2011, AL) Veteran reporters have come to expect big NASA spacecraft to be delivered behind schedule and over budget. Cost and schedule overruns are standard problems in military and civilian aerospace projects, but NASA - at the insistence of Congress - has been trying to clean up its act. How well is NASA doing? So far, not very well, says the Government Accountability Office in a new report covering 18 NASA programs. Each is big - projected to cost more than $250 million - and collectively, the projects are expected to amount to more than $50 billion ----Space debris causes Kessler Syndrome Dutt 11 (Varun Dutt,Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Social and Decision Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University,http://www.mydigitalfc.com..., written Oct. 10, 2011, accessed Nov. 28, 2011, AL) According to a recent NASA report, the space around earth is home to over 135 million small pieces of junk; another 300,000 medium size pieces (between 1 and 10 centimeters); and over 22,000 significant pieces of trash (over 10 centimeters across). Over 30 per cent of the debris can be attributed to the US alone, reports NASA. In 2009, a US Iridium commercial satellite and an inoperative Russian satellite collided, spreading debris everywhere. A report by the US National Research Council (NRC) says that the problem of space debris is getting worse and has passed a “tipping point.” According to the NRC report, we are currently reaching a critical capacity, known as the “Kessler Syndrome” (named after former head of NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office, Donald Kessler), in which debris collisions create more debris, which, in turn, is more likely to hit other objects ----Radiation causes health defects. NASA 08(http://radbelts.gsfc.nasa.gov... accessed on Oct. 10, 2011, About Space Radiation, AL) Ionizing radiation travels through living tissues, depositing energy that causes structural damage to DNA and alters many cellular processes. Current research sponsored by NASA seeks an understanding of DNA structural and functional changes caused by radiation, basic metabolic controls known to be modulated by radiation; genomic instability; changes to tissue structure; and “bystander” or non-targeted effects. NASA has identified the following health concerns as its highest research priorities. Risk of Radiation Carcinogenesis from Space Radiation – increased risk of cancers. Risk of Acute or Late Central Nervous System Effects from Space Radiation – changes in motor function and behavior or neurological disorders. Risk of Degenerative Tissue or Other Health Effects from Space Radiation – other degenerative tissue defects such as cataracts, circulatory diseases, and digestive diseases. Acute Radiation Risks from Space Radiation – prodromal risks, significant skin injury, or death from a major solar event or combination solar/galactic cosmic ray event that jeopardizes crew and mission survival. ---Microgravity causes bone loss. Odom 05 (Jason Odom, web designer and writer for the NASA website, Weak in the Knees - The Quest for a Cure, http://weboflife.nasa.gov..., accessed online Oct. 10, 2011, AL) Space biomedical researchers have found that exposure to the microgravity environment of space causes men and women of all ages to lose up to 1% of their bone mass per month due to disuse atrophy, a condition similar to osteoporosis.It is not yet clear whether losses in bone mass will continue as long as a person remains in the microgravity environment or le----Radiation causes cancer