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Benefits of Space Exploration

Kaydn Brown

PHYS 1040 Elementary Astronomy

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Imagine one day waking up on the surface of Mars, think of all the technology

that would make that possible, all the manpower and effort that would have to be put

towards it. Many people today believe that space exploration is a waste of time and

money but it has consistently proven beneficial for life on earth. Take your cell phone for

example, it wouldn't exist if it weren't for the scientific achievements of NASA, or

advances in medical screenings or lightweight materials or more efficient water

purification. The list goes on and on but I will focus on five subjects, first how space

exploration benefits climate change, how it creates jobs, new technologies, increases

our understanding of the human body, and can provide means to tackle global

challenges.

Today climate change is a rampant problem, we've learned over the past few

decades, in part due to NASA, that our climate can change dramatically in the span of a

human life. Space exploration affects climate change positively due to the satellites we

put out. Every satellite shoved into the orbit of earth looks down on us twenty four seven

and can help monitor Earth. They can help show and monitor disaster areas and

provide crucial information for rescue teams. These observations can also help affect

policy makers make crucial decisions. Today NASA invests over a billion dollars a year

doing Earth sciences.This includes protecting various ecosystems, as they can monitor

the land and provide information such as various water resources. NASA is also

interested in construction biospheres on earth to preserve lands. They did a test 1991 in
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Arizona and although this test proved ineffective the continuation of these tests could

provide the breakthroughs we would need to begin space colonization. Many people

also believe that to reach other planets we must first be able to heal our own planet.

While there are many benefits to the planet, there are also more jobs being created.

NASA is a large government agency with many working cogs. They employ around

17,000 people which does not include all the government contractors they bring on. In

2010 NASA generated $1.3 billion economic stimulation. Today this is occurring with

SLS and Orion launch and re-entry systems. These companies are helping to drive

further exploration and development in space and once we are able to colonize different

bodies their workforces will increase exponentially. Many people still claim though that

NASA costs more than it benefits but this simply isn't true. NASA costs less than one

percent of federal spending and has a return, this return is estimated to be between $7

and $14 for every dollar spent. This is generated through licensing spinoffs and other

investments. Spinoffs are an important part of NASA. These spin offs include memory

foam, freeze drying, and prosthetics. These come from the NASA spinoff program, this

program was created as a way to show congress NASA’s advancements. NASA also

works with a variety of companies to enhance many fields. One of these being better

software, they work with Google to make vast amounts of data more accessible and

usable whilst working with companies such as Intersense to improve virtual reality,

image enhancement and simulation training. Cell phones, the internet, and computers

today as we know them wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the scientific advances
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NASA made in the space age. Specifically the satellites that are constantly orbiting the

world and bouncing cell phone signals.

NASA also has helped us understand the complexities of the human body. The

international space station helps create a unique environment in which tests and

procedures that couldn be conducted on earth can be done. These results have shown

how to mitigate bone loss, improved our understanding of bacterial behavior and

nutrition and cell behavior. Research has allowed for innovations in robotics and

medicine which go hand in hand. With these new methods we can perform surgeries in

MRI machines, which makes brain tumor surgeries easier and easier. Since scientist

living on the ISS live in zero gravity, they experience bone loss like many elderly people

in the world. Simply by living on the station they have shown that an active lifestyle and

a low sodium diet are key components to stop bone loss. They are even in the

development of a scanning procedure that will enable early detection. NASA also uses

machines made to correct motor disturbances in weightlessness to treat strokes, spinal

cord issues, and motor decline due to ageing.Their research on the ISS also extended

to our food source, specifically in microbiology. These microorganisms affect our

everyday life and populate our world. They can affect nutrient cycling, greenhouse

gasses and pollution control. The study of gravity on plants helped create and air

scrubber, which cleanses the air of mold, bacteria, etc. These scrubbers are used in

food delivery trucks, supermarkets, and much more. With all these advancements many

countries are pulled together as space exploration is an expensive and difficult problem

to tackle. Space exploration acts as a catalyst for countries around the globe to band
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together in the face of something bigger than they have ever really faced. A prime

example of this is the ISS or International Space Station. At its launch, nearly thirty

years ago, fifteen nations signed on, this cooperation has expanded over the years and

now rests at 68 nations. The ISS demonstrates the political aspect of space exploration

as many countries together must overcome to succeed and share a space unlike any

other.

There are innumerable benefits of exploration in space. These few that I have

listed are ones that I feel are the most vital in the face of our current challenges, global

warming being the foremost. I believe we should put more funding overall into space

exploration and am excited to see what the new generation of scientists bring forth into

the world.
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Bibliography

International Space Exploration Coordination Group. “Benefits Stemming From Space

Exploration.” ​Benefits Stemming From Space Exploration​, NASA, Sept. 2013,

www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/Benefits-Stemming-from-Space-Exploration-2013-

TAGGED.pdf​.

Petersen, Carolyn Collins. “From Space to You: Space Tech's Effects on Earth.”

ThoughtCo,​ ThoughtCo, 3 July 2019,

www.thoughtco.com/space-spinoff-technology-works-on-earth-too-4118179​.

Rainey, Kristine. “Human Health.” ​NASA​, NASA, 19 Nov. 2015,

www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/benefits/human_health_benefits​.

Howell, Elizabeth. “What Are The Benefits Of Space Exploration?” ​Universe Today​,

Universe Today, 23 Dec. 2015,

www.universetoday.com/37079/benefits-of-space-exploration/​.

Bartels, Meghan. “How Space Exploration Can Teach Us to Preserve All Life on Earth.”

Space.com,​ Space, 13 Sept. 2018,

www.space.com/41818-earth-biodiversity-conservation-lessons-from-space.html​.

Logsdon, David. “Space Exploration Is Good for American Jobs.” ​TheHill​, 6 Feb. 2018,

https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/372392-space-exploration-is-good-for-american-jo

bs​.

Petersen, Carolyn Collins. “Exploring Space Has Earth-Bound Spinoffs.” ​ThoughtCo​,

ThoughtCo, 3 July 2019,

www.thoughtco.com/how-does-space-exploration-benefit-you-4082538.
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https://www.space.com/41818-earth-biodiversity-conservation-lessons-from-space.html

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/everyday-lives/environment.asp

https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/372392-space-exploration-is-good-for-american-jo

bs