Why Is Space Exploration Worth The Cost?

As humans, we are born with a natural desire to learn and discover. With space exploration, we are able to do just that. In an online essay called “Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost”, Dr. Joan Vernikos,

Since humans started populating the Earth, exploration has always been on their minds. Before the 19th century, expansion was kept within Earth’s atmosphere, but as of the 20th-century exploration has expanded onto the whole galaxy. In 1961, Russia sent their first human outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, thus initiating the space race. The space race’s first goal was to get a human from and to the moon, alive and well nurtured. Unlike pre-19th century expansion, this exploration would not bring back any goods or materialistic value. Even though the Space Race may have helped those who lived in Russia and America, to others it was seen as a waste of money because of the lack of materialistic value; money that could be spent otherwise. Their motivation fueled

Although space exploration is now being emphasized on and invested in, what does this do to benefit earth or even every individual who lives on Earth? Many writers, engineers, mathematicians, and chemists can agree that space exploration is going to provide more research for medicine and environmental factors. Others may also argue that the risks of exploring another planet will be too damaging because the life or atmosphere as it is will not be the same after humans have made their print on it.

But American presence in space is not just a power play; the scientific and technological benefits of space exploration remain its most invaluable quality. In the past, space initiatives have yielded countless meteorological benefits, including the prediction and management of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Surveillance, mass banking and communication, military intelligence, and environmental studies are all areas expanded through American space presence (Dubner n.p.). Not to mention the medical advances: Joan Vernikos, a member of the Space Studies Board of the National Academy and former director of NASA’s Life Sciences Division, notes, “Studying humans living in the microgravity of space has expanded our understanding of osteoporosis and balance disorders, and has led to new treatments” (Dubner 13). Space travel has also aided in the invention of medical technology. The beneficiaries of instrumentation such as digital mammography, outpatient breast biopsy procedures, and the application of telemedicine to emergency care can thank manned space missions for their current implementation. For every dollar we spend on the space program, the U.S. economy receives about $8 of economic benefit, according to Hubbard, who also believes space travel “serves as a stimulus for children to enter the fields of science and engineering” (Dubner).

When I was ten, my best friend and I found a twenty dollar bill on the ground. We argued over how to spend it for an hour. I wanted to buy a pizza; my friend thought we should spend it playing Mortal Kombat at the arcade. A similar passionate controversy exists over money spent on exploration. Some propose that government spend its money on exploration of the earth’s oceans, while others think exploration of space is more important. While space exploration is a nice idea and captures the imagination, advocates of ocean exploration are right. Exploring our earth’s oceans will have immediate benefits, it is relatively inexpensive, and it is a matter of survival.

First of all, the discoveries that we make can be exceptionally beneficial for the people by building our knowledge about the universe, construct new ideas, and illuminate the world around us. According to the passage, “Remarks at the Dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center, lines 33-36

Since the first space exploration in 1958, many controversial disputes have arisen questioning the necessity of space exploration. Some claim that space travel is simply not worth the risks regarding astronaut safety and economic costs. Others claim that the stars are a bridge for all nations, allowing us to solve problems, build wealth, and enhance life for people on Earth. Although space exploration has made a broad impact on the world we know today, I strongly believe that it is unnecessary to continue to fund programs involving space exploration when considering the extraordinary costs, unsafe conditions, and contamination problems which could potentially endanger us. Initially, manned exploration missions to space involved a greater amount

Although, it is dangerous for the humans that go and explore space, as there are many things that can go wrong and there many dangers for astronauts in space, space exploration and the space program has lead to many advances in science, technology and more. In fact, the article “Benefits Stemming from Space Exploration” stated “Overcoming the challenges of working in space has led to many technological and scientific advances that have provided benefits to society on Earth in areas including health and medicine, transportation, public safety, consumer goods, energy and environment, information technology, and industrial productivity.” The technological and scientific advances that have come out through the space program have greatly helped society in many ways. One way that the space program has helped people is in the area of health and medicine, because of the space program inventions such as artificial limbs, and infrared ear thermometers have benefitted people all over the world. Next, In the article, “Technologies Benefit Our Lives”, it says, “NASA’s continued funding, coupled with its collective innovations in robotics and shock-absorption/comfort materials are inspiring and enabling the private sector to create new and better solutions for animal and human prostheses. Advancements such as Environmental Robots Inc.’s development of artificial muscle systems with robotic sensing and actuation capabilities for use in NASA space robotic and extravehicular activities are

As humans, a necessary part of our psyche is exploration. However, numerous trials are confronted when it comes to space exploration. While it remains vital that humans explore this great expansion, one must consider the issues that occur. After all, what is more important, space exploration, or our continued existence?

Unable to be in full health whether be sick with a disease/ sickness or with a disability, can result in a poor quality life. New methods of curing diseases and new medicine techniques have already been made from space exploration and more breakthroughs are occurring benefiting the aesthetic part of society. Health and medicine have extensive impacts on the lives of everyone and research done by NASA and other space companies could improve the medicine and health we currently have. “Even as you read these words, there’s a world of research going on high over our heads- approximately 200-215 miles up. The international space station (ISS), which has been taking shape for much of the past decade, is an orbiting laboratory for many types of research” (“Space The New Medical Frontier”). Medical research has been going on in space since man has step foot into the atmosphere. The results of the on going research has brought the society new, better, more advanced medical field in which bring us a better healthier life. Currently, research has been ongoing for a few months and is going to continue for an entire year. This experiment, called the twin study, is going to see the effects of being in space for long periods of time. The twins Mark and Scott Kelly are going to be studied for the differences in molecular,

Why should we spend money on NASA for space exploration when there are so many issues here on Earth that need to be solved? The human exploration of space has been debated across the globe since the launching of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. Many people argue that space exploration is diverting attention and funds from more important matters humanity has at hand; but, yet space exploration has a multitude of benefits which could prove worthwhile to countries that invest in it. Space exploration would be a great opportunity to expand our territory and colonize. Space exploration is not only beneficial, it is inevitable. It affords us the ability to expand throughout the galaxy and beyond, as well as redundancy should the earth be damaged at

Space exploration provides the ability for humans to gain more knowledge about space and the phenomena that occur in the solar system and the universe. When determining the ability to have frequent space exploration, it is necessary to consider the effects to the health of people and the ability to fund the planned endeavors for space travel.

Since we’ve sent men and women out of this world we have increased our knowledge of space and increased our technology. This has created many benefits for the human race, The direct benefits of

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.

The mysterious vastness beyond Earth has allured many scientists to explore and contribute much of their effort to the understanding of space. Although humans have been looking up at space for thousands of years, the physical exploration of this frontier has been only going on for the past few decades. Our current understanding of space is unparalleled to any time before in our history, but we still only know a small fraction of what there is to learn. Governments around the world spend about $40 billion dollars a year (Rockefeller, 2010) hoping to undertake tasks such as “human exploration of the solar system” to discovering the origins of life itself (Tatarewicz, 2009, p. 531). Recently, the private sector has also shown interest in space exploration in order to engage in profitable activities such as harnessing minerals from asteroids. Although it is easy to debate about the benefits and negatives of space exploration in its entirety, it is simpler focus on one aspect of it - the direct effect it has to those down on Earth. Rather than trying to decide whether or not going to other planets is worth it, this paper will argue about the value of the terrestrial benefits of space exploration. It is an important topic to think about as programs such as space exploration change lives and help acquire knowledge. Despite the large costs associated with space exploration, the multitude of discoveries in the past few decades has greatly improved daily life on Earth, the jobs the