If we have problems here on Earth, then why explore outer space?
Earth, the seemingly beautiful blue planet amidst the vast emptiness of space. Zoom in and we find out that it is filled with problems. Issues such as climate change, poverty, racism, gender inequality, and much, much more. The obvious question that comes to mind is that if we have all these devastating problems on Earth, why are we exploring space?
Space exploration doesn’t cost as much as you think
There is a common misconception that space exploration costs too much money. NASA’s 2019 budget was $19.9 Billion of the $4.45 Trillion national US budget. That is less than half a percent of the budget! What is the return on investment? $7–8 for every $1 spent.
Spinoff Technologies
That return on investment usually comes in the form of spinoff technologies. The Technology Utilization Plan, established in 1962 by NASA, allows their technology to be available commercially. Technologies such as the water filter, memory foam, computer mouse, air purifier, and the cellphone camera account for just a tiny fraction of what NASA has indirectly given back to the world. While an entire article can be written just on spinoff technologies, let’s keep this short!
Fulfillment of Human Curiosity
We humans have survived for over a millennium because of our curiosity and constant need for growth/survival. You are here reading this article in the comfort of your home because of this very reason. We genuinely want to explore, so doesn’t it just make the most sense? The question isn’t why you should explore space, it is why you shouldn’t. Not exploring outer space will just become a massive regret for ALL of us. If there are things out there, we need to find them. It’s as simple as that.
Space is Violent
What’s much more complex is the fact that space is violent. Stars exploding every moment, giant rocks traveling at massive speeds waiting to collide with planets, heck, even our own Milky Way is on a collision course with another galaxy. Our chances of survival bump up to 99.99% if we become a multi-planetary species. That is the entire purpose behind the mission of Elon Musk and his SpaceX. While we are far from living on Mars, it is necessary to start now.
We need a steady progression in all fields
Earth’s problems cannot be tackled one by one. It’s not feasible to have billions of people working towards finding a solution for a single thing. Humans have their unique passions and interests that they apply to different industries. These industries end up bouncing ideas and technologies off of each other, enabling steady growth for all. Think about it this way, a progression in one field is a progression in all others.
All of these ideas apply to not only space exploration, but any field. They all make up what humanity is today, and they have many indirect benefits that are often overlooked. No matter how big or small, we have to explore everything. The day we stop exploring is the day we stop growing.
