Mankind has always been curious, from discovering new countries back in time to searching the ocean below the earth. Now through advancements in technology, our curiosity has taken control and the void of space has peaked our interests. This has brought some arguments as to whether it is worth the cost and the risk to human life to explore and understand space. Are there benefits to ordinary people on earth? Should this money put into space programs be used for things on earth like reducing poverty and hunger? Is it worth the risks? Space programs still go ahead despite these risks and we as a human race are now looking to go to the moon. After this, the next step is to travel to mars and even populate it. How does this all benefit us?
Pros
Space exploration helps us on earth in many ways as well as expand our knowledge of the universe. New technologies are created as well as medicines to and further cures to illnesses on earth. Jobs are created from this area and it inspires new generations to explore the sky above. Many innovations from space can even protect earth from extinction level events like meteors striking the planet.
Much of the research obtained was from NASA’s official site so the data is reliable. Some of it is recent projects that have occurred, some is from future projects that will occur, and the rest is from past projects that have been successful and helped us on earth.
Exploration into space benefits us on earth. Satellites in the atmosphere allow us to communicate with people across the globe and ask for help anywhere at any time. Satellites can also monitor weather and extreme weather events to help in the future to prevent more deaths and help more people. These satellites need international cooperation to create and maintain which brings mankind closer together. Jobs are created from the line of work which help people on earth, and it helps the countries’ economies as well. Satellites can also monitor asteroids to see if they will hit earth and if they do, they can divert it. (Space X has thought of a satellite that might be able to protect earth from these large rocks. Exploring space can help us find alternative means of energy other than fossil fuels. The sun can be explored further so that we might be able to harness its’ solar energy more efficiently. Space exploration can give us a perspective on the earth and that we need to protect it. We can monitor greenhouse gases and try to reduce the effects of global warming. New technologies are created from the exploration of space and we can learn more about the earth and the universe around us. We could discover the meaning of our existence.
An example of way space innovation can help protect earth is to redirect asteroids from crashing into earth and causing devasting effects. DART, the double asteroid redirection test, will be the first ever method of trying to redirect an asteroid that is on its way to crash into earth. DART will launch in 2021 and crash into asteroid 65803 Didymos’ small moon in 2022. This will change the orbital period of the moon by 4.2 minutes which we will be able to measure and record the effects on earth through telescopes. If this works, it will tell us that a dangerous asteroid comes close to earth, we will be able to redirect by a small collision.
Another way that technology created for space is benefitting us here on earth is that the Galileo satellite constellation is not only providing GPS, but it is also being used to relay SOS calls to first responder. This saves roughly 2000 lives a year and in the future all satellites could have this ability to save many more lives. SOS calls could be relayed from anywhere even without places with signal.
Plant powered sensors have also been developed that send signals to space to satellites. This could help provide sustainable energy, although the plants don’t create a lot of energy now. This could therefore reduce the effects of climate change. For farms in remote places, devices can be connected and allows them to send and receive data from satellites. This can tell farmers how well their crops are doing and report on weather. This can help farmers produce the greatest yield possible and inform retailers about potential harvest. This will therefore improve quality of life of people in remote places and businesses.
Cons
Space may be an interesting place to explore but it is very dangerous and hostile. There is a high risk of death when entering space from rockets malfunctioning to the deadly radiation in outer space. Is this risk worth the reward?
If aliens do exist, our recent presence into space could alert aliens to our presence. They could be more advanced and want our natural resources. We might not be able to stop them. The ventures into space are very costly and could be used to improve life on earth like building new infrastructure and solving poverty and hunger. A lot of fuel is consumed in the process of launching and maintaining spaceships which can potentially create a lot of greenhouse gases and use up precious finite resources on earth. This creates big environmental costs. It is easier to get satellites up into space than to take them down so to get rid of them, satellites just burn up in space. The debris then stays in the upper atmosphere, creating a shield of space rubbish around the world. This travels at very high speeds and can cause serious damage if collisions occur. If this rubbish builds up too much, it can trap us in the earth and never allow us to escape. If we move planets it will leave a lot of litter behind. There are no agreements for the precious resources in space so when we explore further into space and find these resources, wars could break out between countries for these resources and potentially see an end to humanity. We could also bring back harmful resources that could destroy the planet. Many of these disadvantages are theoretical as they may not happen, and others are rare like rockets exploding. The chance of these disadvantages happening are rare but is the effect of these happening worth it?
Not all space launches are successful. Some (although rarely) do explode when launching off into space from malfunctions or errors. This causes death to the astronauts on board which is the greatest risk for going up into space. The slightest errors can cause these events so everything must be exact for the rocket to be successful. The fatality rate of going up into to space is 3.2% is which seems low but not many people have been up into space. If more people go up into space, the rate could jump up. During space flights, 15 astronauts and 4 cosmonauts have died. Also, 11 astronauts, test pilots, and other people have died during tests and training. There has also been many near misses that have occurred that could’ve led to death
Conclusion
Overall, from the research obtained, the benefits outweigh the risks for space travel, and it seems like the next step in human advancement. The argument that we should focus on earth and not other planets is a valid point, but the technology created from space travel benefits humanity as well as advances our understanding of the universe. The costs involved are a small price to pay for the advancement to mankind and the new knowledge we could obtain about us and the universe. Space travel is constantly changing and advancing, and we will be able to go deeper into space every decade. The next step is moon then mars. New colonies will be created, and humans can advance and maybe one day colonise planets outside our solar system. Advancements in space travel protect earth and benefit everyone on it. Space travel gives us humans the drive to expand our knowledge and technology faster than ever before and it seems to give us purpose to explore the unknown. It can help us understand why we are here.