Watchly Safety Review

Is NASA a waste of money?

Mark Rober

7:40 · 24.1M views · February 14, 2018

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Minor FlagsReviewed June 2026

1Minor Flag

3No Issues

This video is safe and genuinely enriching for older kids and teens, offering a well-reasoned, evidence-based defense of NASA's budget and space exploration. The presenter draws on real professional experience at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to explain how space science directly benefits life on Earth, making it both credible and inspiring. There are no content concerns whatsoever — this is exactly the kind of thoughtful, curiosity-driven content that can spark a lifelong interest in science.

Content Breakdown · 4 Categories

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentNot present

Music credits are transparently disclosed in the description; no undisclosed sponsorships or hidden product promotions are present. SpaceX and Blue Origin are mentioned analytically, not promotionally.

See evidence (1)

“Music credits openly listed in description for multiple artists”

Realistic Violence, Threats & WeaponsNot present

The only reference to anything resembling violence is a brief, scientific mention of a spacecraft intentionally colliding with an asteroid (the DART mission) as a planetary defense test — this is purely educational and carries no threatening or harmful framing.

See evidence (1)

“In October 2022, for the first time, they will test crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid to see if it can deflect it — the DART mission.”

Parasocial & Emotional ManipulationNot present

The closing line ('the first person to land on Mars may be watching this video — it could be you') is mildly aspirational and audience-directed, but it reads as genuine inspiration rather than manufactured emotional dependence or guilt-tripping.

See evidence (1)

“The first person to land on Mars is alive today — they may be a middle or high school student, and they might be watching this video right now. It could be you.”

Geopolitical Commentary & AdvocacyA little

The video advocates for maintaining or increasing NASA's budget, which is a mild policy position, but it is presented with factual evidence and balanced reasoning rather than partisan rhetoric; no election content or hot-button political framing is used.

See evidence (2)

“1 in 4 Americans thinks NASA's budget should be reduced — I believe this stems from misunderstandings about how much NASA actually receives.”

“Why should the government fund these programs? Why not leave innovation to private companies?”

What Parents Need to Know

This Arabic-language educational video makes a compelling, data-driven case for why NASA's funding is worthwhile, covering five key arguments including Earth science missions like the SMAP satellite, asteroid defense, the economic value of NASA spending, spin-off technologies, and the inspirational power of space exploration. The presenter is a former NASA engineer who worked on the Curiosity rover, lending the video genuine credibility. Kids will learn how satellite technology helps predict droughts and crop yields in developing countries, how NASA's budget compares to other government spending, and why long-term investment in research outperforms short-term aid. There is nothing inappropriate here — no violence, no language concerns, and no advertising. The only mild note is that the video presents one side of a policy debate, so it's a great opportunity to discuss how to evaluate persuasive arguments.

Talk to Your Kids About

1The video says NASA gets less than half a cent of every dollar the US government spends — did that surprise you? Why do you think so many people overestimate it?
2The SMAP satellite helps predict droughts and crop harvests in Africa for free. Do you think that counts as helping people on Earth, even though it's a space mission?
3The presenter argues that investing in research is better than one-time charity. What do you think — is it better to give food directly to people who are hungry, or to invest in technology that helps them grow more food themselves?
4The video says the first person to walk on Mars might be a teenager watching right now. Does space exploration inspire you? What would you want to explore if you could?

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

5 reasons NASA is da best. My five reasons: 1) Makes Earth a better place 2) Extinction prevention 3) Offshoot technology 4) Economy 5) Exploration and Imagination MUSIC- 0:04- Berlin- Andrew Applepie- http://andrewapplepie.com/ 0:56- Ceral Killa- Blue Wednesday - https://soundcloud.com/bluewednesday/ 2:39- Sweet Tomorrow- Andrew Applepie- http://andrewapplepie.com/ 2:35- Q- Blue Wednesday - https://soundcloud.com/bluewednesday/ 5:06- Almost Original- Joakim Karud- https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud 6:17- Bottles- A Shell in the Pit- Check him out on Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HIiXblDOFPXxkuI35wOMx Summary: 1 in 4 Americans thinks NASA's budget should be reduced. I feel this stems from misunderstandings like how much NASA actually gets in the first place. I tried to shed some light on some of the work NASA does from my personal experience to make a case for why NASA is one of the best investments we make with our tax dollars. MERCH- By popular demand I have shirts now! I picked the super soft, high quality shirts and make $0 on all items which is why they are priced so handsomely :) https://teespring.com/stores/markrober PLEASE CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-Sub **************************************** I make videos like this once a month all year long while supplies last: CHECK OUT MY CHANNEL: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-YouTube FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTube TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/MarkRober INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/markrober/

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

This video is recommended for ages 10 and up. The concepts — government budgets, satellite technology, asteroid defense, and philosophical arguments about exploration — are best appreciated by older children and teens who can follow a structured persuasive argument.

Is there any inappropriate content in this video?

No, there is nothing inappropriate in this video. It contains no bad language, violence, sexual content, or advertising, and scores near zero across all safety categories.

Is this video educational?

Yes, it is highly educational. It covers real NASA missions, explains how satellite data helps with food security and disaster prediction, discusses the economics of government spending, and introduces the concept of spin-off technologies — all grounded in the presenter's firsthand experience as a NASA engineer.

Does the video present a balanced view or is it one-sided?

The video is intentionally persuasive — it argues in favor of NASA funding and presents five reasons to support that position. It does briefly acknowledge the counterargument about private space companies, but parents should note it is advocacy content, making it a good conversation starter about evaluating arguments critically.

Is this video suitable for a school project or classroom?

Yes, this video is well-suited for classroom use or school projects related to science, space, government spending, or critical thinking. The presenter uses real data, personal experience, and logical structure, making it a strong model of evidence-based argumentation.

Will this video inspire kids to be interested in science or space?

Very likely yes. The presenter speaks directly to young viewers, noting that the first person to walk on Mars may be a teenager watching today. The tone is enthusiastic and hopeful without being preachy, and the real-world applications of space science are explained in accessible, relatable terms.