“Space Race” of the 1960’s - please grade/give feedback

[gmat_prep]

ESSAY QUESTION:The following appeared in a science magazine:

“The “Space Race” of the 1960’s between the USA and Russia was very expensive but it yielded a tremendous number of technological advances. These advances have provided many economic and humanitarian benefits. The benefits have more than paid for the effort and money spent during the Space Race and therefore the government should make allowances within the budget to pay for a manned Mars landing by 2020.”

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The author cites a historical example of the technological advances during the "space race" of the 1960's and extrapolates it to conclude the budget spending of the future. The argument presented is full of gaps and is without a plan to achieve the desired results. Furthermore, the author's conclusion is based on some unwarranted assumptions that render his argument weak.

Firstly, making allowances to pay for a manned Mars landing does not ensure that there will be technological advances that will give economic and humanitarian benefits. The argument lacks the information on the benefits it claims to achieve with the mission of the manned Mars landing. In fact, it seems more likely that there will be a negative economic impact due to the spending on this mission.

Secondly, the author says that the allowances should be made by 2020. He does not detail any plan to achieve the intended target by this date.

In conclusion, the author has extrapolated some historical achievements to make supererogatory conclusions for the future without basing it on any plans. Had the author detailed out the benefits that are tried to be achieved with these spendings and the plan to the achieve them in the specific time frame, the arguemnt would been much stronger.