How much is space exploration really worth to human society? Does it outweigh the costs? What are the benefits and what are our limitations?

Questions to be answered in paragraph form:

1.  In your own words, discuss the various costs and benefits of space exploration.

2.  Make suggestions for three different approaches to space exploration:  sending humans to the moon or another planet, doing only Earth-based research, and one other opinion/suggestion for possible space exploration.

3.  What are the benefits and drawbacks of each of these approaches.

4.  Imagine that you are a member of Congress (government), who has to vote on a new budget (money to be spent).  There is a fixed amount of money to spend, so you have to decide which needs to your country is the most important.  Discuss the top five to ten priority areas (such as medical research, health, transportation systems, roadways, education, science studies, etc...).  Give back-up or your reasonings for your decision. Which would get the most funding (money)?  Where do you think space exploration should be in your prioritized list? 

                    Space exploration is expensive. It is also dangerous. It puts the lives of those who attempt it at stake. Is space exploration really worth the cost? Imagine, you're going to be the first teacher to leave our planet, you've spent immense time training, it’s the day of your launch, you are blasting out of our atmosphere, and because of the weather, condensation forms on the main fuel tank by the rocket boosters. The boosters are about to detach, you are so close to your dream! As the rocket boosters detach.... BANG! The shuttle goes up in flames killing everyone inside in an instant. This might be how it felt to be in the challenger disaster. This is an example of the cost of space exploration. Expensive, dangerous, and risky, I don't know that it’s worth it.

            First, consider how expensive space exploration is. Even if the first things that pop into mind are fuel, construction, etc. You also have to consider research. Launching a rocket takes a ton of cash; you have to consider materials, construction, and fuel. Think about how much fuel it must take to launch a huge hunk of metal up against gravity out of our atmosphere. Research is expensive too, to run tests and experiment to find the best technology needs funding. You also need money for supplies. NASA spent a ton of money making the Hubble space telescope. After launch they realized that Hubble’s primary mirror was incorrectly made, the shape was not correct and as a result everything observed by it was blurry and out of focus. Thus the first servicing mission was born, meaning that a crew had to fly up and replace the mirror. One wrong move and the telescope would be crippled.        

            Imagine, you are returning from a successful mission. When reentering the atmosphere, some of the tiles on the bottom of the shuttle burn off, in a matter of seconds heat flares into the main cabin incinerating everyone and everything in the cabin. The danger of going up in space is known, all astronauts are aware of it. The problem with going up in space is you can only hope to come back. If you think about it, soooooooo many things could go wrong. Even with a lot of training, there are some things that cannot be prevented from happening, in the end you have to ask yourself if it’s really worth the risk. Think about this for a moment, if going into space is risking your life, how your friends and family would feel like if something happened to you. I’d bet that some of the family of those who get to go up into space are thinking only of the amazing pros and not about the serious cons. Maybe it would be better if we finished learning about our planet before trying to find another like it. Maybe we would be better off if we just worked with what we had.

            Funding for programs like NASA is hard, not everyone will agree on a set budget. Some feel that the dangers of space exploration make it not worth putting a ton of money into; others want nothing more than more discoveries and exploration to be done. It is especially hard now specially now, when in terms of economical status, the whole world isn’t doing too hot. The budget for America’s space program NASA is being cut further and further back. When building something like the Hubble space telescope for example, it takes a ton of money and time, and the product itself is delicate, it could; be broken when repairing or when they make a trip for maintenance, just not work, or a part could be defunct rendering it useless.

            In conclusion, space exploration may not be worth the cost. This is because of expense, danger, and financial risk. It seems even the most governments aren’t sure about it. Things to take into consideration are expense, hazard to health and safety, and funding being no help to defective equipment when deciding if space exploration is worth the cost. So the next time someone asks you if you would be an astronaut, maybe you should think it over very carefully. 

Bibliography (APA format)

Challenger Shuttle Disaster- Raw Uncut Footage [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from 
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd7dxmBLg48&feature=related 






Cockpit Last moments Shuttle Columbia Accident + Cockpit Communication [Video file]. (n.d.). 
     Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIJiW8d_c68&feature=related