Currently, NASA allows or direct donations however, as you can see in the next link, it is complicated to figure out to whom make the check out and mail to.
I think we should campaign to get NASA listed on a great site called Pay.gov. Pay.gov allows everyday people to donate directly to United States government agencies. One example is to help pay down the national debt. <via NPR>
By making it easier for citizens to donate to NASA, we won’t raise enough funds for a mission to Mars, but even if a conservative estimate of 1% of working Americans (134.8 million people according to wolfram alpha) donate just 10 each, we would have we would have 134,800,000 * 1% * $10 = $13.48 million dollars. That’s not a lot compared to the cost of a space mission, but it is a small help to a struggling agency that should be the jewel in the crown of America. NASA has generated a good return for investment in the past and there is no question that investment in science and technology helps strengthen our nation’s economy and morale which is needed in this time of economic uncertainty.
Moreover, an investment in NASA is an investment in the future of our nation in terms of future engineers and scientists. NASA has achieved some of the greatest feats ever accomplished in the history of mankind. Landing men on the moon, as well as increasing our understanding of our place in the universe with missions like the Mars rovers, a multitude of space telescopes, and planetary probes have all served as inspiration for people who strive to be the best the world has to offer. They are inspired to pursue man’s long passion for exploration and curiosity.
NASA has helped develop technologies that improve and even save lives every day such as MRI machines, and many other fantastic technologies. This neat site lists a new innovation from NASA every time you refresh the page. NASA has a positive impact on the world as a whole. It should be funded as such.
Lets get NASA listed on Pay.gov, not because it is easy, but because it is worth the effort! The way to do it is to get this post seen by someone who knows someone in charge at NASA who can suggest it to them.
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Well this is just a terrible idea because NASA is not deserving of your donation. You can find better uses for your money investing in private spaceflight, or giving your money to societies and organizations that do their own space missions and lobby for NASA funding increases.
That is a strong opinion. But yes, donations shouldn’t be limited to NASA, you can also donate to NIST and NSF as well as many other agencies which still work to advance science in general.
134 million americans is about 30% of US population. 1% being 134 million would mean that the USA has a population of 13 billion. Problem?
Wolfram Alpha gave me the number of working americans (others are either too young, too old, or unemployed) as being 134 million people. My calculation is only counting 1% of these people. I wasn’t trying to say that 134million was 1% of America’s population.
Why not start a petition for this on https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/?
NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) for deposit in the Gifts and Donations Trust Fund
(80X8980).
Mailing Address:
NASA Shared Services Center
Building 1111, C Road
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529