It is often debated whether or not the Space Race was necessary. People have viewed it as a waste of time, money, and resources. America spent over $25 billion on the space program, equivalent to $100 billion today. Many believed that there were far more pressing matters on Earth, and that they should not explore space. Those people only saw the disadvantages that it had (Biddle, 2009). However, the Space Race was beneficial to humanity in various ways. Today Americans can use the knowledge obtained during the Space Race for countless purposes including commercial and military applications (Rabinowitch, 1963).The Space Race changed the face of science, international politics, and technology forever (Schefter 2005). The Space Race was not …show more content…
The greatest number of advances in exploration and discovery were made during the Space Race (Rabinowitch, 1963). The Space Race supplied vital knowledge about space to curious minds, and allowed Americans to better comprehend the expanse of the area beyond Earth. With new satellites, such as the Transit Satellites, Americans could now receive warnings of hurricanes and storms, as well as view forest fires and icebergs. The Space Race also brought the establishment of NASA in 1958 to oversee the space program and to ensure America won the Space Race (Young, Silcock, & Dunn, 1969). Since then, NASA has made many discoveries, advancing our scientific knowledge, and currently employs about 18,000 Americans. The knowledge that the Space Race provided helped accomplish many historical feats and eventually allowed a man to visit the moon (Cadbury, 2007). The discoveries that were founded during the Space Race resulted in new ideas about galaxies, solar systems, and the universe (Rabinowitch, …show more content…
During the Space Race, the first orbital satellites were sent to outer space. Today, Americans can communicate, predict the weather, and study geodetics because of the satellites that first orbited in space.All satellites and space probes carry specialized radios receiving and transmitting equipment for guidance and control purposes as well as relaying data from space to Earth. Without the first satellite transmission of a human voice in 1958, communication would not be as efficient (Rabinowitch, 1963).
Another way Americans utilize satellites is for meteorology. The satellites monitor major storms and help meteorologists more accurately predict the weather. Satellites are able to capture photographs of the Earth and other planets. This ability allows scientists and researchers to constantly obtain more information about space and the
The Space Race was invoked by the growing technologies of the United States and Soviet Union’s space programs during the Cold War. The starting point of the Space Race was the launch of Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Union. The Space Race has impacted society greatly politcally, socially, and economically. The Space Race was a very tense period of time in history because both the United States and Soviet Union improved their technology to such a degree that the two countries have both made it to space multiple times.
Satellites, are perhaps one of the biggest reasons why we know so much about the surface of our earth today. They give us a view of our entire Earth as we know it from the depths of space. But satellites have done more than just give us a beautiful view of our planet, they have allowed us to study oceans, the atmosphere, clouds, weather, rain forests, deserts, cities, farmlands, ice sheets, and just about everything else on—and even in—Earth.
The United Sates federal government is planning on cutting federal funding for space exploration and NASA towards the end of the year. The “Space Race” began in the 1950’s and 1960’s when Russia sent up the first successful, unmanned satellite named Sputnik in into outer space. The U.S. response was the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. During this time, the Soviets sent the first man in to orbit, Yuri Gagarin. Then, in July of 1969, the U.S. took the lead in the race by sending the first men to the moon on Apollo 11(“Space Exploration 1). Ever since then, space exploration has lead to the discovery of much beneficial information that has allowed us to invent some of the greatest devices we now use today. The
Since the launch of the first satellite Sputnik 1 in 1957, space flight has transitioned from being centered on politics to being focused on more scientific and commercial applications. Nowadays, satellites play an integral role in our daily lives providing us with services like weather forecasts, navigation, communication and television. Satellites make significant contributions to scientific research as well. One of many such examples is the Hubble Space Telescope, which has helped to make many important discoveries about deep space. Valuable in terms of their contributions to science and our everyday lives, satellites are also quite expensive. The International Space
One main contributions to today’s advanced technology is the satellite. Though the first satellite was sent to space in 1957, people were not able to pick up a satellite connection to their home televisions until 1980. Today, 96.7 percent of Americans have a television in their household, which means 96.7 percent of Americans are using satellite connection ("Ownership of TV 1). Though people may not even think twice about it, satellites play a huge role in today’s society. When someone uses their navigator to figure out how to get to the closest Wal-Mart? They are using a satellite. When troops are searching for enemy troops and predicting missile attacks? They are using a satellite. When someone is watching the weather broadcast? They are
Space exploration by the United States has been going on since the early nineteen hundreds. The impacts of space exploration can vary from being the first country ever to land on the moon, to having satellites orbit our planet. Despite the achievements space exploration has given to this country, there are many issues—with money, extraterrestrial threats, and the lack of a reason for funding—at hand that should be addressed to make decisions about the future of space exploration in the United States.
Since the historic journey into outer space by Yuri Gagarin, manned spaceflight and space exploration have generated and motivated astounding inventions and innovations. These discoveries and developments affect every single person on Earth, and have improved a wide range of fields including health, food, technology, entertainment, automobile, dental, medical, safety, sports, and many more industries.
The ability to observe Earth from outer space dramatically improved weather models. As a result, weather forecasts are more accurate. Satellites also play a critical role in global telecommunications. The conveniences of satellite radio, satellite television, and Global Positioning Systems (GPSs) are all made possible by spacecraft.
These satellites help to monitor and give warnings of dangerous weather, allowing for increased time for evacuation and further preparation. Without such data we obtain from satellites hundreds of thousands more would die in natural disasters such as hurricanes.
Looking down the road, space exploration and the benefits it yields - in medicine and information technology - should not be overlooked,” said former Congressmen Bob Barr in regards to the importance of NASA. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been a fantastic asset to the country since the Cold War, when it began to develop satellites for reconnaissance against the Soviets. In the many years after the Cold War, NASA’s science had helped mainly in the military, but now in other areas of life as well. The United States government should prioritize NASA because of technological advancements, economics benefits, enhancement of foreign relations, and human expansion.
Different companies and organizations around the globe use communication satellites. Governments, commercial entities, and individuals use satellite services. For example, we have satellite television from companies like DirecTV, satellite phone service, global positioning systems, imaging, and internet services. To have the ability to access the satellites and services available requires specialized equipment to interact with the satellites. The most important piece of equipment for any satellite service is an antenna, you must have an uplink antenna to send anything to a satellite and a downlink antenna to receive anything.
Satellites and spacecrafts have been launched for various purposes. The atmosphere in space is used for television programmes, radio broadcasts, telecommunication, etc. Satellites provide advanced disaster warning and help to forecast the weather. Distance educational programmes, natural resources management, etc. are controlled by satellites. Space research can help us to find the origin of the
Technology is a part of daily life and Space exploration continues to be the catalyst for advancement. Satellite technology is one example. After many years of satellite use for space exploration, satellite television was introduced. “In 1978, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) introduced Public Television Satellite Service” (Advances in Satellite TV: Changing the Way We Watch Television). Shortly after, direct to home receivers were created (Advances in Satellite TV: Changing the Way We Watch Television). Satellite broadcasting allowed television to be streamed all over the world with stronger more reliable signals. Today most of the global population watches television. Satellites provide the GPS system, which is mainly used as a system of navigation. GPS technology is evolving today enabling things such as autonomous vehicles. These ideas used to be seen as futuristic, but not anymore. In the near future we could see people driving places on what amounts to auto-pilot.. The equipment company John Deere is already close to producing accurate self driving farming equipment. During the
When put into the context of the entirety of human history, space exploration is a very recent development. However, how recent the development is does not hamper the vital importance of space exploration, both within the current climate of society and within the future of humanity. Unfortunately, lack of proper planning on the part of the American federal government has left NASA, the federal agency for space exploration, tragically under supported. Without the proper allocation of funding, NASA struggles to simply survive, much less thrive, within the highly advanced space exploration industry. The space exploration agency cannot hinge on NASA for success given the current state of the
As it was wisely stated by the author Andrew Smith “People fear what they don't understand and hate what they can't conquer” (2016). It explains very well why so many people complain about the money invested in space programs. Among the complaints, it is possible to identify the idea that efforts made in space exploration are a complete waste of time and resources. Some of those contrary to