Space exploration
Back in the 1960’s the earth was introduced something new, something different, something that no man thought could be possible. On April 12, 1961, machine and man successfully reached and made it into space (Russell). This produced a huge interest in many scientists around the world. For the U.S. it sparked many new ideas and created an agency called the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA. NASA was originally created for national defense. While the U.S. and the Soviet Union were taking part in the Cold War, new technologies led to space exploration experiments. This time period became known as the “race to space”. The “race to space” was a competition between the U.S. and the Soviets to prove that one country had more advances in technology than the other, making one country more superior. As the years progressed NASA was able to master and successfully take part in creating missions for space exploration. The most well known missions came from the Apollo program. Starting on October 11, 1968 the Apollo program accomplished eleven different crewed missions to space. These Apollo mission took the first humans to the moon and orbited the earth for the first time ever (“Launching NASA”).
From the first man into space back in the 60’s to present day, space exploration has evolved a lot. NASA has done over a hundred successful missions to space, improved safety for the space shuttles, created reusable space shuttles, created the International Space Station, and have set 3000 satellites in space that orbit the earth. Today space exploration has taken the U.S. to a new level in technology. Today, the biggest controversy with space exploration is that space exploration is quite expensive (Space Shuttle). Although pricy, space exploration has crucial benefits. Space exploration has assisted in major advances in the military, the medical field, and energy systems. The three benefits listed clearly prove that space exploration should be continued.
Space exploration has helped the military advance in many ways. The military developed the Military Space Program. Through the Military space program, the military has set up satellites in space that are used for weather, GPS, navigation, and warnings. Without these technologies, The U.S. military wouldn’t be the one of the most powerful militaries in the world that they are today (Moorman). Having the ability to detect weather and weather patterns has helped greatly. To know when a blizzard is coming or a 115 degree day is coming up allows the military to prepare the troops in advance so that they are ready for whatever climate changes the troops may face. The abilitiy to have GPS and navigation is crucial in directing military missions. Using GPS to guide a missile from hundreds of miles away and hit the target with precision, or to command a platoon to an exact location for battle or, to escape danger. Last to receive warnings from satellites helps in the U.S. national protection. These satellites can detect un know planes, vehicles, ships, missiles or any other dangers that may try and intrude the U.S. borders (GPS: A military perspective).
Opposers against space exploration say that though military advances are needed and national protection is needed; the space missions to set up the satellites are far too expensive (Hauck). The people against it say it’s not worth the millions of dollars to fly a space shuttle to space if the U.S. already has satellites in place. The average cost of a space mission is nearly 450 million dollars. There for the issue with the cost causes some discussion if space exploration is really worth it, when the U.S. could be spending that money to help the poor and ill.
Though people against space exploration have some honest points, there are just as many stronger points to prove space exploration is still needed. Space mission may be a little on the costly side but on the contrary, the entire process to prepare and plan the mission creates jobs for people. From simply welding the frame to the shuttle, painting the shuttle, organizing and planning launch times or to even be one of the astronauts going to space, there are hundreds of jobs needed to be completed. This help out the economy and leaving less people out of a job or poverty. Another great point is plain out to just have national protection. Who wouldn’t want to know when a devastating missile from another country is heading right your way? The military can detect a missile from miles away and destroy the missile before it ever gets close enough to cause harm to the U.S. (GPS: A military perspective). Clearly the missions to set up satellites for the military are well worth the cost.
