Reasons to explore space

Did you know, Philip, there is a robot that drives on the surface of Mars and collects data? Isn’t that cool? Nah… Robots are cool, but what’s so special about sending things to space? Why do people even do that? Don’t be silly, Philip, there are plenty of good reasons!

For centuries, our ancestors had the urge to explore the unknown, to see what lay beyond the next mountain, across the sea, or up in the sky. They reached further and further, pushing the limits of our knowledge and understanding. Satisfying our curiosity is one reason that drives us to explore space today. But it’s not the only one. We also explore space because the resources on our own planet are limited.

We are at risk of running out of raw materials, fuel, food and land at some point. Space offers new possibilities for finding resources: land, precious metals, rare chemical elements, other raw materials, and new sources of energy. Another reason to explore space is to demonstrate capability and power… Let's think for a second about some of the most famous moments in space exploration — launching the first satellite, the first human in space, the moon landing. All these happened in the second half of the 1900s, when the United States was competing with the Soviet Union in the so-called Space Race. By reaching space, both countries wanted to prove they were more advanced and more powerful than their competitor.

However, in more recent years, exploring space has become less about displaying military might, and more about scientific discovery. Learning about other planets and stars, for example, helps us figure out how our own planet was formed, and how Earth might change in the future. Space exploration also helps scientists better understand different natural processes that occur both on Earth and elsewhere in the universe. There is also a practical aspect to space exploration! To collect data about space, scientists need tools — telescopes, satellites, computers, detectors.

Many of these tools and solutions invented for the purpose of space exploration now play an important role in our daily lives! Things like camera phones, LED lights, solar cells, and even freeze dried fruit, might never have been invented if it weren’t for us exploring space. Accurate weather forecasts, navigation, and live streams are only possible because of investment in space exploration, and the thousands of satellites orbiting our planet. Space exploration is also an industry that creates many jobs and improves the economy. Some of the jobs are created directly in the space exploration industry — jobs for scientists, researchers, engineers, programmers, astronauts.

But many jobs are created within services and industries that are indirectly related to space exploration, such as telecommunication, manufacturing, construction, sales, and education. Space exploration can even create new industries that will provide even more jobs, for example space tourism! People who work these jobs earn money, pay taxes, and buy things, which helps other businesses. This in turn helps the whole economy. Wow, so space exploration can actually make money, help us learn new things and lead to the invention of new technology.

You’re right, Kim, that is pretty cool.