OPINION
(Photo courtesy hubblesite.org)
NASA Thrives in Troubled Times, Job Market Space exploration continues to grow despite the economic downturn. BY ELLIE SCHWARTZ CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In need of 14 new astronauts, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration received 18,300 applications for the spots, according to the Washington Post. That’s a .08 percent acceptance rate. Looking at its future agenda, it’s easy to see why so many want on board. In today’s storm of partisan politics, constant war, tanking economies and global ecological collapse, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an unstoppable ray of sunshine. With new, unparalleled projects in sight through 2030, genuine excitement regarding its competitors and a corner on the future generation’s jobs and
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BY TONI MATHIS REPORTER
Google has surpassed the biggest company in the world, while Apple has started to slowly drift away. Apple reported numbers for its fourth quarter with $96.88 and investors were not pleased. A week later, Google reported its numbers with $724.59 and the investors couldn’t get enough of it, according to forbes. com. Forbes reported that everyone was impressed with the coming clean on how Google makes and spends its money. Google, also known as Alphabet, is gaining ground economically, while Apple is losing its ground. According to Yahoo, Google will continue to grow as long as internet is around. Google is the company to proceed with, not Apple. Google is progressive for advertising, gaining ground on Apple and is run by a forward-thinking CFO. LE JOURNAL March 2016
possibilities truly limitless. Even as countless agencies lobby to the government for more funding and attention, NASA is perfectly happy with its miniscule share of the federal budget, according to Layton. Its share, down from an alltime high of approximately 5 percent of the national budget, now sits at at $18.5 billion, just .04 percent, in 2015, according to the NASA fiscal year budget request. The association expects Congress to maintain its funding into the foreseeable future as its value is established by NASA and supported. Furthermore, even as private companies such as MarsOne enter into the space travel market, NASA welcomes them, its own competition, into the field. NASA puts the future of space travel before its individual progress. Even as competitors move into the market, NASA will likely retain its
proactive corner on the job market. It is already recruiting the next generation of bright minds through increased social media and outreach, according to Layton. It sees potential in the millennial generation that is often described as self-interested and lazy and looks forward to new ideas instead of pining for the past. So, as young people enter the job market, NASA should be first on their list of opportunities, even if they are not scientists or potential astronauts. NASA needs lawyers, physicians and analysts as the company pursues its ever-changing agenda. With longterm settlements on Mars and more breakthroughs to come, NASA looks pretty great in today’s cutthroat job market. Looking at today’s storm of political and economic turmoil, it’s easy to let it consume the future. Instead, look forward to the stars and see the brighter future NASA offers.
Apple has continued to fall ever since the death of Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. Apple’s economic climate is even rough, according to Time. Google makes 90 percent of their money through ads, according to vox. com. The ads can cost up to about $50 per individual click. As we all may know, television ads are not going anywhere. The advertising industry has been rapidly changing. Digital Signage Today shows that there will be only more internet ads in the future. It’s clear to see that this means even more growth for Google. On the other hand, Apple makes money off of iPhones, but most of the people around the world who can afford to buy an iPhone already have one. According to express.com, it is even predicted that iPhone sales will decline for the first time in history in the next quarter of the year. If you own an iPhone, you know that the device has not been making many changes. The only big difference of the iPhone 5 and 6 is, sadly, the size. In 2014, Google paid Apple $1 billion to have Google the default search engine on every iPhone, also
according to vox.com. This reveals the lengths Google goes to keep people using its search engine on mobile devices like the iPhone, according to bloomberg.com. In short, Google will continue to profit with every iPhone sold, which makes it more difficult for Apple to gain ground. Google’s CFO Ruth Porat, a forward-thinker, is an important part of the company’s historic growth. Porat is 58-years-old and came from Sale, United Kingdom. According to Business Insider, Porat has a work ethic that puts most employees to shame. Before Google, she was known for leading fundings of eBay, Priceline, and Amazon. When she started working for Google, most people were questioning her abilities since she is a female, according to Business Insider. Porat challenged the status quo successfully and built up Google despite others’ doubts. Also according to Business Insider and Forbes, she is now one of the most powerful women in the country. Porat sets an example for modern CEOs and women in business because she is known for answering questions simply, making Google’s revenue
more transparent and pursuing new acquisition opportunities, according to Forbes. Despite her great success, she is known for being available to her coworkers, according to Business Insider. With Porat at its head, Google will likely continue to grow as it has under her leadership so far. Google has also stepped up with the help of running YouTube and DoubleClick, while Apple has Beats and AuthenTec. Youtube has become so popular that it is even more popular than Google.com, according to The Telegraph. Youtube has been increasing each year by 60 percent. Google has more control over industries while Apple is losing. Google has a hold on Netflix, streaming and news. On the other hand, Apple is making their customers pay for music and streaming, which is making the people move onto free services. More companies should follow Google’s lead because with its new CFO, recent growth and smart partner companies, it will only continue to grow. In the meantime, Apple needs something bigger than the iPhone to catch back up with Google.
gle Overcomes Apple
Google has taken over as the biggest company in the world, while Apple has started to slowly drift away.
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fascination, NASA offers what few other organizations or government agencies can or do: real progress and optimism. While Congress struggles to pass laws here on earth, and social progress seems to move at sluggish rates, NASA is moving forward with a clear plan and plenty of funding, according to NASA contracting representative and longtime employee Jennifer Layton. Two main projects define its agenda through 2030. The first will capture an asteroid and send it back to space in a new orbital path, and the second, through the Orion capsule, will send humans to Mars for the first time in history (hence the new astronauts). Because NASA’s past missions have led to groundbreaking research in water purification, crop growth and its efficiency in nations struggling with food disparities and earth’s climate, these missions will likely lead to similar breakthroughs, making their
