Many ask, what is the point of space exploration? It costs a lot of time and resources, to do just what? Look at stars? Why venture up there, when we have so many problems down here? Why dedicate such a monumental amount of money that could be spent on the poor? It just doesnt make sense.
But space exploration represents so much: the future of the species. We human have spent our history toiling, warring, and innovating to make life on our planet better. But we often forget the immense size and scale of the actual universe and that even on the scale of our solar system, we are living on an insignificant speck of dust.
Morbidly enough, it would not take very much to wipe us out erasing everything we worked so hard to build. Take a meteor, for instance: In one fell swoop, one wiped out the dinosaurs just one of many cosmic bullets that could eliminate life on Earth. The age-old saying, Dont put all of your eggs in one basket applies here. Moving on to other planets branches us out and plants humanitys literal footprint in the infinite. We can prevail, if our home planet suffers a major extinction event.
SHARED DESTINY
The future often envisions human colonization of other planets, because sci-fi writers and scientists alike realize that space is, indeed, our future. There is a unique desire in the hearts of all of us, to go out and explore. In the endearing words of President John F. Kennedy, Why climb the highest mountain? Why, 50 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Simply, because we are a remarkably ambitious species, in that our desire to explore takes us far from home. We are destined to depart in pursuit of knowledge, to advance our story and establish our legacy in the cosmos.
Also, space is a remarkable unifying force. The need to explore is not limited to any one nationality, religion, or ideology. Its a constant in our shared history. When Columbus set sail to the new world, curiosity drove him. When Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay became the first to summit Everest, the spirit of adventure soared. Just as when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to leave boot marks on the moon. When Apollo 11 landed on the moon (amidst the U.S.-U.S.S.R. cold war) the world did not say an American or Neil and Buzz landed on the moon, it said WE landed on the moon! A collective human triumph had occurred.
Further travel to the stars is vastly expensive; our pursuit of Mars requires help from all quarters. For instance, the life support for those future astronauts is provided by the ESA (European Space Agency), not NASA. The current International Space Station is was a herculean effort with help from many nations, and as a result, all countries are welcome.
COUNTLESS BENEFITS
Spaceflight takes place far above where borders are recognizable, mostly to conduct research that benefits everyone. One orbiting Earth satellite uses reflected light to accurately measure soil around the world and predict droughts, to prevent food shortages. The data is open to use, in order to benefit humanity. Likewise, Hubble, Kepler, Gaia, Voyager and countless other probes provide knowledge for all citizens, not just Americans.
Dont forget the spillover technologies. Do you need glasses? Well, NASA developed the material for modern lenses, for use in the Space Shuttles windows. Have you ever used a handheld (cordless) drill? NASA created the first one for use on the lunar surface. The list goes on and on.
If doubting exploration in light of so many earthly problems, realize these same questions have been asked throughout history. Those who sailed the seas invented the compass; the sextant was created in 1731 to navigate the vast ocean separating Europe and the new world. Without exploration, the United States wouldnt even exist. Nobody truly knows what untold fortunes, nations, technologies and histories may lie ahead for us, in space.
Finally, when we feel inspired, we look up up to our future, our possibilities not down to the ground. Our future is not where we have been, it is where we are going. Its as if some force is trying to show us the way. The stars are not mere specks of light in the sky, but invitations to come see what they have to offer. For the sake of all who have come before us, and all who will come after, it is time to unify, collaborate, innovate and establish our permanent footprint in the sky for the benefit of all.Were on the brink of something truly magnificent, where humanity dances among the stars we have gazed upon, in awe, for so many centuries.
Continued here:
WHY WE EXPLORE SPACE - The Advocate
- Moon Man (Paul Dougherty - A Tribute to Newt Gingrich) - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- The MOON Colonization Program Documentary. - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Moon Colonization - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Newt Gingrich Moon Colonization-Chris Christie Disrespects Civil Rights Movement-Truth About 2012 - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Pennies for NASA: Small change to help bolster our underfunded space program [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Moon Colonization Minecraft Model - Space [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2012]
- Ben W's Space and Place Movie - Video [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2012]
- Live video from Mars [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Former astronaut Chris Hadfield gives Stephen Hawking insights on space [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Former astronaut Chris Hadfield predicts humans will establish moon colony within 30-40 years [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Poptropica Cheats for Lunar Colony [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Moon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Colonization of the Moon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Fort Bliss Officer competes to live on Mars [Last Updated On: December 21st, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 21st, 2013]
- Moon in fiction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Moonbase Lunar Colony Simulator - Colonization [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Poptropica Cheats for Lunar Colony Island [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2013]
- This House would colonize the moon | idebate.org [Last Updated On: December 28th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 28th, 2013]
- American Hustle and the Art of the Homage [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2013]
- Canadian woman ‘giddy’ about possible one-way trip to Mars [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2014]
- Edmonton woman ‘giddy’ about possible one-way trip to Mars [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2014]
- Mount Holyoke's Darby Dyar Heads for Outer Space--Virtually [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2014]
- Space Colonization Basics [Last Updated On: January 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 16th, 2014]
- 10 Pros (and Cons) of Colonizing the Moon : Discovery Channel [Last Updated On: January 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 16th, 2014]
- Colonization of the Moon - Space Colonization Wiki [Last Updated On: January 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 16th, 2014]
- Colonize The Moon [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2014]
- Navy reveals next big project [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2014]
- Penn State alumnus turns art into science and vice versa [Last Updated On: January 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 24th, 2014]
- Facilities first, and fly fishing on Mars [Last Updated On: January 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 26th, 2014]
- FOGEL: One giant leap of faith [Last Updated On: January 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 26th, 2014]
- Slouching Towards Sirte: NATO’s War on Libya and Africa – Book Review [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2014]
- Minecraft Tekkit Gameplay: Part 7 "Jedi's Castle" - Video [Last Updated On: January 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 30th, 2014]
- The Landscapes Of Suburbia Are The Real Science Fiction [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2014]
- Chris Hadfield touches down in Langley [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2014]
- Gameng exhibit shows Ilocos way of life, inabel art [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2014]
- Europe's largest badger study finds rare long-distance movements [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2014]
- Space Colonization - Carl Sagan [HD] - Video [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2014]
- Louisiana State Parks May 2014 Calendar of Events [Last Updated On: March 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 15th, 2014]
- SpaceX prepares to take the biggest step towards affordable space travel: Soft landing the Falcon 9 rocket (Updated) [Last Updated On: March 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 15th, 2014]
- Obama Set for Trilateral Talks With Japan, S. Korea [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2014]
- The Nigerian Joke By P. Chuka Nwafor, PhD [Last Updated On: March 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 26th, 2014]
- Moon Universalis A EU4 mod look at - Video [Last Updated On: March 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 27th, 2014]
- Moon colonization? - Yahoo Answers [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2014]
- What Is the Fermi Paradox? [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2014]
- Rwanda marks 20 years since genocide with emotional memorial [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2014]
- Rwandans mark 20 years since genocide [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2014]
- Amid sorrowful wails, Rwanda marks 20th anniversary of genocide [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2014]
- Wails, sobs: Rwanda marks 20 years since start of genocide [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2014]
- Rwandans Reflect On 'Never Again' 20 Years After Geneocide [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2014]
- Rwandans Reflect On 'Never Again' 20 Years After Genocide [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2014]
- Wails, sobs: Rwanda marks 20 years since genocide [Last Updated On: April 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 7th, 2014]
- Renewal replaces ghosts, guns in Rwanda [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2014]
- Washington View: Shuttle-less U.S. losing ground in space race [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2014]
- We Pay Tribute [Last Updated On: April 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 10th, 2014]
- Hot spots for future manned space missions: Humanity's bucket list [Last Updated On: April 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 10th, 2014]
- It's a mistake to rely on Russia's space shuttle [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2014]
- Research suggests scale of disruptive behaviour in schools is underestimated [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2014]
- Americans predict what the future looks like for technology [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2014]
- Purdue U. students outline plan for colony on moon [Last Updated On: April 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2014]
- Students' $550B moon colony [Last Updated On: April 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2014]
- NASA Chief Tells the Critics of Exploration Plan: 'Get Over It' [Last Updated On: April 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2014]
- Moon colonization? - Yahoo [Last Updated On: May 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 5th, 2014]
- NASA Wants to Send Plant Life to Mars in 2020 [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- Reducaed to hitchhikers [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2014]
- Mars colonization a suicide mission, says Canadian astronaut [Last Updated On: May 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 10th, 2014]
- Russia Plans to Colonize the Moon in 2030 - Video [Last Updated On: May 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 10th, 2014]
- Reports: Russia Is Planning To Establish A Manned Moon Base By 2030 [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2014]
- Russia to Begin Moon Colonization in 2030 Report [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2014]
- Public-Private Partnerships Key to US Spaceflight Future, Experts Say [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2014]
- Russia's Plans to Colonize Moon - Video [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2014]
- The Fermi Paradox: Where the Hell Are the Other Earths? [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2014]
- Better space plan needed [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2014]
- Regulating Asteroid Mining [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2014]
- COLONIZATION OF THE MOON - Articles On Moon Colonization ... [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2014]
- Russia will begin Moon colonization in 2030 - draft space ... [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2014]
- GARNiDELiA Performs Gundam: Reconguista in G's Opening Song [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2014]
- 8 Things We Can Do Now to Build a Space Colony This Century [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2014]
- Forget Mars. Here's Where We Should Build Our First Off-World Colonies [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2014]
- Boeing, SpaceX share $6.8 billion crew contract [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2014]
- Boeing, SpaceX to team with NASA on space taxis [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2014]