Privatization Of Space Exploration Essay

(C) Social Benefits of the Privatization of Space Exploration

Historians have distinguished three great ages of exploration, the age of discover in the 15th and 16th centuries, which are associated with Prince Henry, Columbus, and Magellan. The second age taking place in the 18th and 19th centuries characterized by further geographical discoveries and driven by the scientific revolution. Now the third age taking place now, with the beginning of the International Geophysical Year and Sputnik to carry on into our exploration of space. With time we as a culture have turned our eyes up towards the sky and have decided that we need to explore beyond our grasp. With society having turned its mind towards the stars it is time for others to join, with the vast majority of enterprises considering turning to the stars it would usher in a new great age.
In 2009 a survey found that 50% of the internationally renowned scientists who published in the prestigious journal Nature had been inspired by Apollo to become scientists; 89% of the respondents also agreed that human space flight inspires younger generations to study science. Today with scientist from NASA helping students conduct their investigations aboard the ISS (International Space Station) has caused a large attraction to the research of NASA and research areas of natural sciences and space itself.

If private organizations and corporations were to create their own space agencies more interest would be driven towards space and sciences as more opportunities become available for the general public.
Space exploration serves as a cultural and inspirational purpose by fulfilling a deep need to understand the world, addressing questions about the origins of life and nature of the universe much of what religion tries to encompass as well.

Every day, space exploration missions fulfill people’s curiosity, producing fresh data about the solar system and the universe, bringing us closer to answering profound questions such as, “Is there life elsewhere? What is the nature of the Universe?” With private companies gaining access to space exploration the amount of curiosity would increase as more outlets are fueling

answers.
Social benefits from space exploration can also be reached within the lives of everyday people. Some benefits that space exploration can lead to are the predictions of natural calamities such as floods, storms, hurricanes and even wild fires with satellites from companies and space agencies. With private companies able to send satellites into space there will be a greater chance that there will be a higher rate of prediction with natural disasters that can warn multiple populations before they take place, saving lives.
Dr. Michael DeBakery has stated “NASA is engaged in very active research. It has as its goal to explore space. But to do so, you’ve got to do all kinds of research – biological, physical and so on. Any time you have any type of intensive research organization or activity going on, new knowledge is going to flow.” As we have seen with the past within NASA, the amount of research derived from the program that was able to benefit society was enormous. With private companies being able to privatize space the amount of research that will be made to accomplish a successful mission is going to be very beneficial. The sub derivatives such as spin off inventions, one example is Teflon-coated fiberglass which is now being used as roofing material. The list goes on to breathing apparatuses, and many forms of transportation. With private companies gaining ground and joining the space race much of society will benefit from the amount of new technologies that can and will improve everyday life.
The challenges that are faced in missions to explore space require solutions that will provide benefits on Earth even before being employed in orbit. Some of them include the development of highly reliable human and robotic systems interacting with each other in Earth and space with limited maintenance. Operations in extremely hostile environments, autonomous operations with limited communication and logistical supplies from Earth. These solutions that have been brought forth from the multiple space agencies located around the world have created multiple tools that benefit society today. When private companies begin to explore space the amount of benefits that are going to be created out of the solutions to issues faced will benefit society.
Many benefits of today’s space programs include fueling future discoveries; addressing global challenges in space and on Earth through the use of innovative technology; creating global partnerships by sharing challenging and peaceful goals; inspiring society and especially the younger generations through collective and individual efforts. As seen in the past countries and people of different nationalities have had to work together in order to achieve the mission at hand. It shows that global relations can reach a level of friendship and unity over exploration. With private companies from different nations working together the level of social unity between many different people will increase.
On 29 January, 1998 fifteen nations signed the international agreement that established the partnership framework, and cooperation has expanded over the years, resulting in 68 nations to date that have participated in ISS activities. This ISS partnership has demonstrated the international cooperation in space as it enables partnership with the levels of investments that allow for access to its libratory. To achieve such a feat the partnerships that have been made have overcome vast political and economic difficulties. This has shown the value of international relations within space. International partnerships and the technical capabilities for space exploration have contributed to developing new options for finding solutions for global challenges. It has shown with various missions that diplomatic relations have become increasingly friendly between nations with space agencies because they must work together. With only adding additional space agencies run by the private sector will we see such an increase in diplomatic relations as multiple nations will begin to work together to forge new friendships.
(D) Social Harm Caused by the Privatization of Space Exploration
1 February 2003 was a day that NASA experienced one of the worst disasters in modern space flight. Every year NASA’s Day of Remembrance gives tribute to Columbia’s loss, as well as the loss of several other space-bound crews. That date is marked in late January or early February because, coincidentally, the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia crews were all lost in that calendar week. As with the past space missions stated above, the tragedy of losing all members of the crew in each space vehicle was a detrimental loss to society. In the near future if private companies are able to privatize space and create space craft there’s going to come a time when a manned mission is going to be necessary. With every mission the risk of failure is always present, and if so, the loss of life becomes a reality. As with these disasters it was a loss for the families of the astronauts, except also to the space agencies, and to society as well. With each loss of life there is a hole in societies moral that is created due to the loss of life. With multiple companies beginning to explore space it will be expected that the risk of life will be at an all time high and deaths may become apparent.