WHY WE EXPLORE SPACE

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 doesn’t 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, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket” applies here. Moving on to other planets branches us out and plants humanity’s 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. It’s 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.

Don’t forget the spillover technologies. Do you need glasses? Well, NASA developed the material for modern lenses, for use in the Space Shuttle’s 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 wouldn’t 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. It’s 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.
We’re on the brink of something truly magnificent, where humanity dances among the stars we have gazed upon, in awe, for so many centuries.