Why We Need To Explore Space

[chad_tukes]

---

i just found this good article online.

Space: a vast, dark wilderness, a wasteland that is of no value to explore, and will cost in excess of $18.6 billion dollars in 2010. That money could be spent on worthy causes like health care, education and social development projects. It is an often repeated argument, and it ignores the fundamental reasons behind space exploration, reasons that transcend squabbles about budget deficits and national debts. With manned missions to the moon and to Mars being discussed, we are nearing a point where mankind will travel farther than ever before. We are set to discover things that were unknown, perhaps fundamentally changing our understanding of Earth, science and even ourselves. Here are six of the arguments that explain why we need to continue space exploration.

Bigger than budgets

There have been numerous criticisms of NASA as a fiduciary black hole. However, simply examining this through a financial prism ignores the fundamental purpose of NASA, and any other space exploration. It is not about being financially lucrative as virtually every nationalized industry, anywhere in the world, spends more money than it makes. Space exploration is about knowledge, about expanding our horizons and answering questions that we haven’t even thought of asking yet. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble cause, and anything that might help us to know more is a valuable exercise and should be cherished. This same pioneering spirit has seen major developments in medicine, food production and myriad other technologies.

We can’t appreciate its true impact just yet

When Christopher Columbus wanted to sail west to reach the Indies, he trawled Europe for patronage. At the time, it was considered a fool’s errand. Eventually people realized that Columbus had transformed the course of human history. Space exploration is similar, inasmuch as some people think it's futile. It may only be in the future that people appreciate what a huge impact it's had on society. Who knows what incredible discoveries are just around the corner, what revolutionary new technologies may appear as a result of space exploration?

To maintain tradition

While physical exploration of space has only existed for around 50 years or so, it has become firmly entrenched as part of human tradition. It taps into a long line of observers and discoverers, such as Copernicus, Keppler and Hubble. It's a way of not only bringing people together, but of holding on to a link with our past and a time when merely gazing at the stars was a great adventure. For centuries, men have yearned to know what secrets the universe holds. Now we have the opportunity to go and find out; an opportunity we should grasp with both hands.

We can’t stay on earth forever

Eventually, our sun will die, swallowing the earth as it turns into a giant red giant. With that in mind, humans cannot remain on earth forever. Space exploration gives us an opportunity to discover new, habitable worlds, which would allow our species to survive beyond the lifespan of this planet. It may seem a long way off, but this need may be expedited by population growth and limited food supplies. Being able to send half the human race to a different planet could make all the difference.

It unites humanity

When Neil Armstrong took those first steps on the moon, it was an epoch-defining moment that captured the imagination like almost nothing before or since. It was yet another example of how far human ingenuity can extend. It brought people together in a way that only great moments like this can. These historic moments are rare, and should be cherished by anyone who is privileged enough to witness them. For a fleeting moment, humanity was united in a moment of wonder and awe, amazed by the great things we are capable of. These shared moments are so precious, they should never be dismissed.

Men need to explore

To borrow a cliché, men have always sought to go boldly where no man has gone before. In the past, this may have manifested itself in the first bands of humans to cross the Pacific Ocean to discover Polynesia. The voyages of discovery, by intrepid explorers like Columbus and Magellan, were based on this spirit of adventure and thirst for knowledge. The first men to reach the North Pole, or to scale Everest, displayed a similar need to discover. We are no different now to how we were then. We have the technology to broaden our horizons, and looking into the infinite darkness of the universe is an obvious way to quench this thirst for knowledge. The need to explore to discover and to understand is an innate facet of mankind -- it's a major part of what makes us human. To deny this is to deny our humanity.

[miyay]

so that we would realize how small and fragile our planet is. it is awe-inspiring to see the blue ball floating in the black space. as well as terrifying coz at the rate our technology is going, we might not be able to have something at hand to transport us to some other livable planet if we destroy this one.

[rodsky]

While I'm indeed a proponent of space travel and space exploration, the current monetary-based societies we live in discourage such exploits due to the fact that it "costs" much in terms of the current economic structures of wealthy countries that have been erected since the 1800's. Yes, we have the technology and (believe it or not) we also have the resources and materials to do space exploration attempts on smaller scales, but human beings as a whole, at the moment, lack the social maturity to understand why space is important, and thus the current money-based societies see it as something that can only happen if they can PROFIT from it. If there is no profit from going to space, the current world economies would see no reason to go into space. That is the sad truth.

Only a true economic revolution, a revolution that will eliminate the need to PROFIT monetarily, will make man break free from the confines of earth.

-RODION

[grovestreet]

so that we would realize how small and fragile our planet is. it is awe-inspiring to see the blue ball floating in the black space. as well as terrifying coz at the rate our technology is going, we might not be able to have something at hand to transport us to some other livable planet if we destroy this one.

the pale blue dot.... the further we explore space and search for other habitable worlds, the more we appreciate our own little blue planet...

[tripwire]

One of the reasons why they send Cassini Equinox Mission.

I had to sit down and watch the movie presentation of Cassini Mission in Adler Planetarium in Washington, DC. few years back.

[vern]

First off, I am all for space exploration, but I'm going to be playing the devil's advocate here asking totally legitimate questions on each of these points you present.

Bigger than budgets

There have been numerous criticisms of NASA as a fiduciary black hole. However, simply examining this through a financial prism ignores the fundamental purpose of NASA, and any other space exploration. It is not about being financially lucrative as virtually every nationalized industry, anywhere in the world, spends more money than it makes. Space exploration is about knowledge, about expanding our horizons and answering questions that we haven’t even thought of asking yet. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble cause, and anything that might help us to know more is a valuable exercise and should be cherished. This same pioneering spirit has seen major developments in medicine, food production and myriad other technologies.

The pursuit of knowledge doesn't necesarrily have to equal space travel. Many, many sciences ... many ADVANCED sciences can be explored and studied without space exploration. True space exploration might lead to many advances ... but there are other human pursuits that do the same thing ... such as war (hah).

We can’t appreciate its true impact just yet

When Christopher Columbus wanted to sail west to reach the Indies, he trawled Europe for patronage. At the time, it was considered a fool’s errand. Eventually people realized that Columbus had transformed the course of human history. Space exploration is similar, inasmuch as some people think it's futile. It may only be in the future that people appreciate what a huge impact it's had on society. Who knows what incredible discoveries are just around the corner, what revolutionary new technologies may appear as a result of space exploration?

The distances between any meaningful space exploration is so much greater than the distance across the Atlantic that this analogy is in all honesty ... laughable. Even after getting to a different planet such as Mars, there are no green jungles and native people to conquer.

To maintain tradition

While physical exploration of space has only existed for around 50 years or so, it has become firmly entrenched as part of human tradition. It taps into a long line of observers and discoverers, such as Copernicus, Keppler and Hubble. It's a way of not only bringing people together, but of holding on to a link with our past and a time when merely gazing at the stars was a great adventure. For centuries, men have yearned to know what secrets the universe holds. Now we have the opportunity to go and find out; an opportunity we should grasp with both hands.

Tradition is not a reason to continue doing anything. Human sacrifice was a tradition. Thank God that stopped. Of course it is unfair to compare human sacrifice to space exploration ... but that's besides the point.

We can’t stay on earth forever

Eventually, our sun will die, swallowing the earth as it turns into a giant red giant. With that in mind, humans cannot remain on earth forever. Space exploration gives us an opportunity to discover new, habitable worlds, which would allow our species to survive beyond the lifespan of this planet. It may seem a long way off, but this need may be expedited by population growth and limited food supplies. Being able to send half the human race to a different planet could make all the difference.

Irrelevant. If we survived billions of years of existence, there is no doubt that we would have figured out this space exploration "problem". So why the hurry? If we wanted to last billions of years on the planet, wouldn't it be more worth while at this point in time to make sure that we get to a point of civilization where we don't annihilate ourselves by way of environment, nuclear, etc ... first?

It unites humanity

When Neil Armstrong took those first steps on the moon, it was an epoch-defining moment that captured the imagination like almost nothing before or since. It was yet another example of how far human ingenuity can extend. It brought people together in a way that only great moments like this can. These historic moments are rare, and should be cherished by anyone who is privileged enough to witness them. For a fleeting moment, humanity was united in a moment of wonder and awe, amazed by the great things we are capable of. These shared moments are so precious, they should never be dismissed.

The cold war initiated the boom in space exploration in the 20th century. It did not unite humanity ... just divided it more. Space exploration did not end the cold war ... economic reality did.

Men need to explore

To borrow a cliché, men have always sought to go boldly where no man has gone before. In the past, this may have manifested itself in the first bands of humans to cross the Pacific Ocean to discover Polynesia. The voyages of discovery, by intrepid explorers like Columbus and Magellan, were based on this spirit of adventure and thirst for knowledge. The first men to reach the North Pole, or to scale Everest, displayed a similar need to discover. We are no different now to how we were then. We have the technology to broaden our horizons, and looking into the infinite darkness of the universe is an obvious way to quench this thirst for knowledge. The need to explore to discover and to understand is an innate facet of mankind -- it's a major part of what makes us human. To deny this is to deny our humanity.

Again, comparing space exploration to other conquests of humanity is unrealistic. Space exploration is expensive and without short-term ... even long term benefit for most of the population at this moment in time. This is not exploration that anyone can participate in. It is a sport for the rich, the privileged and the gifted. Much of humanity, at least in the decades to come ... perhaps centuries will never experience or know space exploration.

Only a true economic revolution, a revolution that will eliminate the need to PROFIT monetarily, will make man break free from the confines of earth.

It is the wrong approach to blame society for non-action when what you say we need is basically sitting on a pedestal looking at the rest of the world who don't know better. It is unrealistic and is worse than what you describe to be the problem because it is so unrealistic. Space exploration needs to be done in a way that take the real world into account ... that is the only way it CAN and WILL be done ... not dreaming of a utopia. People say that it is man's destiny to go into space ... yet human nature and incentive is part of being human. All of that has to be brought with humanity to it's destiny.

[edoy]

well said vern !!!!

[rodsky]

It is the wrong approach to blame society for non-action when what you say we need is basically sitting on a pedestal looking at the rest of the world who don't know better. It is unrealistic and is worse than what you describe to be the problem because it is so unrealistic. Space exploration needs to be done in a way that take the real world into account ... that is the only way it CAN and WILL be done ... not dreaming of a utopia. People say that it is man's destiny to go into space ... yet human nature and incentive is part of being human. All of that has to be brought with humanity to it's destiny.

When, many many years ago, religion was king on this planet, people said the exact same thing--that if people didn't take religion/faith into account, then their plans and goals were "unrealistic" or doomed to fail. However, humankind seemed to hurdle that, and thus now, armed with the results of the scientific method, and technology, societies have progressed without being dictated by institutions of faith. So in essence, there was a certain "revolution" of thought that occurred, and thus catapulted societies to the 20th century.

I therefore believe that, it's not the end of the evolution of societal maturity--I am one of those who believe that humans can still evolve to a point where how you perceive "human nature" and "incentive" would have morphed into something that even you cannot comprehend nor have thought about, and that yet another type of revolution is set to occur in the future (it may be a near future, or still far future, but nonetheless, it's bound to happen).

As to the possibility of non-comprehension, just think--put yourself in the shoes of Jose Rizal, walking around in Berlin in the late 1800's. He wanted to talk to his mother back in the Philippines, but he knows he can ONLY do it via snail mail and wait for her response months later. He couldn't possibly have predicted that one day, one can just reach into his/her pocket and dial his/her mother's cellphone. This same type of inability to predict is what we have at the moment, and thus we cannot really put the nail on the coffin of the idea that "humans are permanently stuck" in a world that would be purely dependent on a monetary cycle, and that the current human nature and need for incentive will ALWAYS be around. I still think it will change. I don't care if it doesn't happen in my lifetime, but I'm ever-hopeful.

I don't think I'm blaming society as a whole. I think I'm only blaming a chosen few. The rest of humanity is just sheep. And everyone knows you can't blame sheep for being sheep.

-RODION

[diatabz]

Ah, but it is also human nature that compels us to go boldly where no man has gone before. Man lusts after knowledge of the unknown, whether it be crossing the Atlantic or going to the moon. Space travel is only a matter of time, even without NASA. Already the private sector is making it's move, as to whether this is good or not is another discussion.

[vern]

When, many many years ago, religion was king on this planet, people said the exact same thing--that if people didn't take religion/faith into account, then their plans and goals were "unrealistic" or doomed to fail. However, humankind seemed to hurdle that, and thus now, armed with the results of the scientific method, and technology, societies have progressed without being dictated by institutions of faith. So in essence, there was a certain "revolution" of thought that occurred, and thus catapulted societies to the 20th century.

You really need to step away from analogies that don't really fit. Religion IS not, WAS not, NEVER something everyone had in common. Religion was NEVER a single entity that required conquering in order to proceed and today ... it has yet to be overcome ... yet we have come so far. You on the other hand propose a total 360 change for anything any real change to happen. That is a pipe dream ... and frankly ... a dismal view of the future.

Chocking it up to "we don't know what will happen" is a fallacy and unrealistic. We cannot prepare and manage for space travel in the future if we do not know the short-term future ... the long term is irrelevant. You cannot skip to it. A journey starts with a single step.

You say we will never break the confines of Earth without an economic revolution. You are hopeful for space exploration but require the human race to change our behavior that contradicts the way we've acted for thousands of years. Our economic system today when you boil it down to the essentials ... is something even cavemen did. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. That is being human. There is no true altruistic motive. That is not going to change anytime soon and waiting for that to change is sad. We might indeed need the five billion years the TS speaks of before we can begin real space exploration.

You cannot blame the few who run the world without blaming humanity. People with power have always paved the path of humanity. Again, trying to change that is unrealistic. Rizal may have not been able to phantom taking out a cellphone and calling family in the Philippines while walking through Germany, but I can assure you, the Pharaohs of Egypt knew exactly how power worked ... and still works. Rizal, a hero in the Philippines ... ultimately isn't even a blip in paving the human road to the future.



You are a dreamer. Perhaps dreaming while still being grounded to reality is more productive in advancing space exploration. You require a revolution in society, economics, and human nature. Getting to Mars is easier than that.