Keith Sanchez

Neil deGrasse Tyson, a famous astrophysicist, said, “The day we stop exploring is the day we commit ourselves to live in a stagnant world, devoid of curiosity, empty of dreams.” We as human beings need to explore, curiosity is in our nature. What better thing to explore than outer space. Every person at one point in their life has looked up at the night sky, at all the stars, and wondered to themselves what lies beyond this planet. Space exploration is necessary because it allows us to expand not only our knowledge but make new discoveries that can benefit mankind.

There are some, however, who do not think that space exploration is necessary. To them it is not as important as other needs or issues going on in the world. Space exploration can cost a lot of money. According to brandongaille.com, “In 2016, the budget for NASA was $19.3 billion… According to figures released by the United Nations, it would only take $30 billion to end world hunger globally each year.” Not only does space exploration hurt the finances of countries, it also affects the planets.

According to brandongaille.com states, “To reach the stars, we must consume fossil fuels. More than 3.8 million pounds of fuel and propellants were used for the space shuttle program in the United States. The cost for a single load of fuel for the SpaceX Dragon is estimated to be high as $300,000 per launch.” These fossil fuels can damage the atmosphere and the oceans when all the leftover metals fall into it.

Another big issue that comes with space exploration is what it can do to people. Space exploration can be used for unethical purposes just as much as it can for good. Countries can you satellites and probes to spy on and gather information about their enemies and those they believe to be suspicious. According to Time magazine, “A pair of Russian satellites are tailing multibillion-dollar U.S. spy satellite hundreds of miles above Earth’s surface.” This can lead to countries building tension with each other and can eventually lead to bigger problems.

Another problem with space exploration is the risk that it poses for the astronauts themselves. Astronauts are putting their minds and bodies on the line when they go into space. According to an article on nasa.gov, space radiation can really mess up the human body. The article states, “It can damage your central nervous system, with both acute effects and later consequences, manifesting itself as altered cognitive function, reduced motor function, and behavioral changes. Space radiation can also cause radiation sickness that results in nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and fatigue.” Space exploration is not something that can or should be taken lightly, it comes with many risks.

While the observation does make very good and important points, the benefits of exploring our solar system greatly outweigh the negatives. Space exploration allows us to improve our already advanced technologies. Space exploration allows us to see what the universe has in plan for us. In January NASA was able to find its 1^st Earth-size Habitable-zone World. According to nasa.gov, “Future missions may be able to identify whether the planets have atmosphere and, if so, even determine their compositions.”

According to greengarbageblog.org, “We are now able to use satellites to monitor the weather, atmosphere and discover new things which are applied in our daily lives. These satellites suspended in outer space let meteorologists gather data they can use to predict the weather. And at times of hurricanes and typhoons, these satellites are used to monitor their movement and identify their coverage.” This is extremely helpful because it can help local governments and people prepare for national disasters. Not all disasters have to happen on planet Earth. Satellites allow scientists to track the movements of asteroids and meteors. It’s all fun and games until an unexpected meteor shower is entering Earth’s atmosphere. Thanks to space exploration, we can see what is out in space and what is coming so we can predict and prepare ourselves.

Another benefit of space exploration is the jobs that it creates. NASA just does not employ astronauts. They need engineers, scientists, designers, and administrative personnel to make things work. These can help generate thousands of jobs for just a single project and can people cement a legacy. With the help of these peoples they are able to conduct and operate different programs and divisions to help NASA run smoothly and efficiently. The hours may be long and gruesome, but the rewards will be immensely satisfying.  

Space exploration is extremely important and is necessary in today’s world. We need to be able to know what lies beyond Earth and what can come to it. Space exploration creates opportunities for people to not only be employed but expand their knowledge and creativity. When it comes to exploring space, the sky isn’t the limit. We can go beyond that.