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The hefty price tag that comes with space exploration is not worth it, especially on those occasions when NASA's efforts fail. Unsuccessful space missions can cost the country billions of dollars. For example, while attempting to launch a climate satellite named Glory in 2011, NASA's Taurus
XL rocket malfunctioned, causing the satellite to plummet back to Earth.
At the time, the financial loss was estimated at 424 million dollars.
Moreover, the losses of the NASA space program are not just counted in dollars and cents. In 2003, the space shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry to Earth. Not only did this disaster cost the country 13 billion dollars, it also claimed the lives of seven astronauts. The Columbia catastrophe recalls a similar loss that occurred with the explosion during takeoff of the space shuttle
Challenger in 1986. This accident cost the nation more than 5 billion dollars and seven astronauts their lives. These losses come on top of NASA's yearly budget of approximately 18 billion dollars per year, a major part of the total yearly spending on scientific research in the United States.
Select the evidence that the author provides for the following supporting claim: NASA's failures cost the government too much money.
A. NASA has been unable to control costs in the past.
B. Funds lost when NASA fails could be directed toward research in other areas.
C. The accident involving the space shuttle Columbia cost 13 billion dollars.
D. Many scientific advances resulted from NASA's research.
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