Our Place in the Stars: An Argument for the Continuance of Space Exploration
The idea of space travel has fired the imaginations of people for hundreds of years. From the publication of Jules Verne’s book, From the Earth to the Moon, in 1865 to the recent release of the movie, The Martian, space travel has held a special place in the hearts of human beings. However, unlike so many other fictional sciences, modern humans actually have the capability to travel through space! Unfortunately, some skeptics say that space exploration is a futile waste, and that programs like NASA are throwing away money that should be spent on more useful things. These naysayers would put to death one of the greatest undertakings in human history without considering …show more content…
Because of the diverse sciences that space travel brings under its wing, research for space travel facilitates advances in all areas of science. Renowned heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey, who worked with NASA to create the artificial heart pump mentioned previously, said that while NASA’s main goal is to explore space, “To do so, you’ve got to do all kinds of research – biological research, physical research and so on” (qtd. in Wilson). Thus, because of all the components needed to keep humans alive for sustained periods in space, space travel must advance all scientific disciplines in order to accomplish its goal of exploration. Similarly, observations of other planets and celestial bodies will provide valuable information to all areas of science. Geologists observe the makeup of asteroids and planets, Biologists search for new life, Chemists study new chemical compounds, and Physicists learn about the complexities of astrophysics. Space exploration offers such incredible opportunities for all scientific disciplines that it would be a travesty not to take advantage of them. These scientific advances are one of the most important incentives for continued space …show more content…
A large asteroid that collided with the earth would cause irreparable damage to wherever it made contact. In 1908, one asteroid about fifty meters wide devastated an area of more than 1,300 square miles (McBrian). Since 1995 the U.S. government has tasked NASA with researching into methods of detecting asteroids from great distances and ways of deflecting or destroying an asteroid on a collision path with the earth (McBrian). For skeptics seeking practicality from space exploration, asteroid research is a viable incentive. An asteroid collision like the one that caused the dinosaurs extinction has the potential to wipe out all life on earth. In the event of an earth-threatening asteroid, space travel and its affiliated technologies suddenly become very
The idea of space travel has fired the imaginations of people for hundreds of years. From the publication of Jules Verne’s book, From the Earth to the Moon, in 1865 to the recent release of the movie, The Martian, space travel has held a special place in the hearts of human beings. However, unlike so many other fictional sciences, modern humans actually have the capability to travel through space! Unfortunately, some skeptics say that space exploration is a futile waste, and that programs like NASA are throwing away money that should be spent on more useful things. These naysayers would put to death one of the greatest undertakings in human history without considering …show more content…
Because of the diverse sciences that space travel brings under its wing, research for space travel facilitates advances in all areas of science. Renowned heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey, who worked with NASA to create the artificial heart pump mentioned previously, said that while NASA’s main goal is to explore space, “To do so, you’ve got to do all kinds of research – biological research, physical research and so on” (qtd. in Wilson). Thus, because of all the components needed to keep humans alive for sustained periods in space, space travel must advance all scientific disciplines in order to accomplish its goal of exploration. Similarly, observations of other planets and celestial bodies will provide valuable information to all areas of science. Geologists observe the makeup of asteroids and planets, Biologists search for new life, Chemists study new chemical compounds, and Physicists learn about the complexities of astrophysics. Space exploration offers such incredible opportunities for all scientific disciplines that it would be a travesty not to take advantage of them. These scientific advances are one of the most important incentives for continued space …show more content…
A large asteroid that collided with the earth would cause irreparable damage to wherever it made contact. In 1908, one asteroid about fifty meters wide devastated an area of more than 1,300 square miles (McBrian). Since 1995 the U.S. government has tasked NASA with researching into methods of detecting asteroids from great distances and ways of deflecting or destroying an asteroid on a collision path with the earth (McBrian). For skeptics seeking practicality from space exploration, asteroid research is a viable incentive. An asteroid collision like the one that caused the dinosaurs extinction has the potential to wipe out all life on earth. In the event of an earth-threatening asteroid, space travel and its affiliated technologies suddenly become very