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The importance of space exploration
The importance of space exploration
The importance of space exploration
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“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” is a phrase immediately associated with space exploration. Throughout the history or the Space Race, The United States and Russia have competed to put mankind in space and establish themselves as the frontiersmen of space, but why? Why do so many people have a fixation with space and traveling to outer space? Here on Earth, there are so many country-wide and global issues that time could be better spent focusing on. Some people may feel that traveling to outer space will give humans another planet to inhabit or give humans a place to better get along, but, according to David Livingston(Source A), a commentator about space exploration, they are incorrect. When contemplating space exploration, …show more content…
The cost to launch a rocket or spacecraft, man it from Earth, pay workers and astronauts, build a spacecraft, and ensure it is safe is tremendous. As well said by Russell Roberts of Source H, “As much as I like space and the idea of people on Mars, I don’t see the care for using taxpayer money to get it done. Don’t tell me about all of the spin-off technologies… Leave the money here on Earth”. The cost of space travel is boundless; Roberts introduces the idea that the money could be better spent on Earth. This is important to consider because of all the issues currently on Earth; there are health crises, wars, droughts, and food shortages. Because of these problems on Earth, the cost of space exploration needs to be considered most important because there are other uses for the money. According to Source C, a breakdown of federal spending, six percent of the federal budget goes to “all others”, which includes space travel. That money could be spent in other fields, like the health budget. The “health field” is currently saving lives of people with AIDS, those who have suffered strokes, and developing cures for diseases, as stated by Source D. So the question posed is if the cost of space exploration is worth it when there are other uses for this budget. Because of this question, the financial cost of spaces exploration should be weighed as one of the most important influences when making decisions about the space
Space exploration needs advancing scientific research, more machineries and equipments which means that it would cost us a lot of
In making decisions concerning space exploration, there are many issues and planning that need to be addressed. Space exploration is a serious thing and there needs to be a thorough thinking process on what is going to occur and backup plans in case anything happens. Leaving earth requires a good amount of work and expense, but in today's time we need to start thinking about these issues since on earth we are having serious problems such as the disappearance of the rainforest, the pollution of the oceans, an increase in desertification in some areas, and major climate changes. Now space exploration is a necessity.
The world we live in continues to diminish, from global warming and natural disasters to disease and poverty. Therefore, space exploration is vital in order to discover new ways to save our planet, while looking into other possibilities for our future as human beings.
“Space, the final frontier….” These are the words that stirred the imaginations of millions of men, women and children with the debut of “Star Trek” in 1966. The show has arguably one of the most loyal followings of any production, and has inspired scores of people to consider the stars and wonder if we as a people will ever travel outside of our own solar system. The idea of space travel and exploration was not new when “Star Trek” hit the airwaves though. The United States was at odds with the Soviet Union, and both powers were locked in a battle that would come to be known as “The Space Race” during the height of the cold war. It was in 1961 that President John Kennedy made his famous appeal to the American people, challenging us as a nation to put a man on the moon before the decade was out. On July 20, 1969, that challenge was achieved when the astronauts of Apollo 11 made the first manned landing on the moon, and returned safely to earth. This, the highest achievement in the United States space program, will turn 45 years old this year. After 45 years, and a technological explosion over the past 25 years, the greatest achievement in the space program has been a manned lunar landing. Countless billions of American tax payer dollars have been spent on the space program over the decades, and there have been no achievements to match that of the moon landings. Though the budget for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is but a tiny fraction of the entire annual budget for the country, many of those billions that are allotted in the NASA budget for space exploration would better serve the country if they were re-directed to other areas. De-funding the space exploration portion of the NASA programs could create a “...
These are the reasons why I believe there should be more investment in space research and technology. It would be a time consuming and financially draining quest, but the pay off in new technology, applications, resources, and expansion opportunities make it a goal to strive for. As our rate of consumption of Earth’s natural resources continues to increase, it is imperative that we invest in the research of outer space as a possible solution to sustaining the human race.
Kaku, Michio. "The Cost Of Space Exploration." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 16 July 2009. Web. 8
It is within man’s blood and nature to explore, and space is our next New World. Man’s first achievement in space travel was the launch of the Sputnik on October 4, 1957. For the next decades, space travel was roaring like a rocket, fueled by man’s desire to explore, man’s desire for knowledge, and man’s desire to beat his enemies. However, these impulses have died out as the well of government funding has been diverted to wars and debts, and the interest of the American people has been diverted to wars and debts. Amidst all these issues it is debated as to whether or not space travel is worth the money and the attention of scientists, particularly since humanity faces so many issues on earth currently. However, because of the past inventions, current services, and future benefits, space travel is indeed worth the money and attention of governments and people. It is within our hands to control man’s advancement, and space travel is the next venue to do so.
NASA’s research and innovation looked promising, but it came at a cost. Money, resources, and spacecraft accidents, most famously Apollo 13 all hindered NASA’s research. In the 21st century, the debate over funding for NASA is at its peak since the birth of the organization in 1958, especially when there are numerous problems throughout the world. Is the money spent on space exploration worth the advantages and advances it contributes to society? When considering this topic, one might ask themselves, why explore space?
The main argument against space travel is that the money used could be better put on other matters. This is, in fact, very untrue. Looking at NASA’s 2015 budget of $17.5 billion, it may seem like a lot, until you realize that the US military budget for 2014 was $581 billion (5). Furthermore, it was estimated that each dollar in NASA’s budget was equivalent to 8 – 10 dollars of economic benefit (6). If an organization can bring about economic value at 10 folds the original budget, it would be logical to continue funding it, if not increasing the funds.
In America, space travel is a controversial issue that many discuss. Although exciting, some people find it unnecessary and a waste of money. There are also many risks associated with space travel and many issues are more important than space travel that should be focused on. There are ethical, diplomatic, and economic issues that need to be considered before making decisions about space exploration.
Mankind has always been fascinated with exploring the unknown. From sailing to distant lands to someday setting foot on other planets, the spirit of exploration is the same. Bur now with the current economic situation and the high cost of sending people to space, NASA is being looked at as a way to free up some much needed funds. Although, there is many problems here on planet Earth that need addressing, the benefits of space exploration far out weight the disadvantages. Space exploration has given us more advanced technology, advances in the medical field, and a boost to the economy and these facts cannot be disputed.
Why are we spending money up there when we need it down here? That is a question I hear: on social media, television, and in real life about space exploration. One day, our planet is going to cease to exist; that is a fact that is undisputed. Space exploration is important not only for the continuation of our species, but it is a driving force for technology and our economy. The need for NASA and advancements in space exploration is as important now, as it was during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s
Most people think that the costly downside to funding space exploration is a reason to avoid spending money on sciences and instead spend it on problems here on earth, but such funding for space exploration actually promotes economical as well as scientific benefits. Space exploration is an important expenditure for the high cost because of the potential for numerous benefits such as the possibility to find useful resources to cultivate, space exploration and satellites produce many thousands of jobs in our economy, and it creates and discovers newer and better technologies through research and development.
An Astronomy topic that has always been intriguing is space travel. The ability to rocket into space, look down on Earth, and “…explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before” (IMDB) is an adventure that people dream of experiencing. On July 20, 1969, an estimated six million people watched Neil Armstrong become the first man to walk on the Moon (Nixon Library). Presently, people are paying Virgin Galactic $250,000 to reserve a seat on a spaceship that is expected to tour suborbital space in the near future (Virgin Galactic). Although space travel continues to be of interest, there is also some controversy. Controversies include: the allocation of government resources for space exploration, government verses commercial spacecrafts, and the need to colonize other planets for the survival of humanity. The intrigue and the controversy of space travel are the reasons for this Astronomy conversation.
Space exploration is very beneficial to humankind because it creates new technologies, it brings different countries together, and gives people a better understanding of our Earth.