Why Space Exploration Actually Matters

By: Stella Kim

Did you know that the Milky Way smells like rum and raspberries? While the ocean is still mysterious, space exploration has already helped us predict weather, track climate change, and develop technologies we use every day. We couldn’t have figured out any of those amazing space facts if we had not continued and developed space exploration. This is why space exploration plays a critical role in our everyday lives. Stopping space exploration would halt crucial advancements in technology, communication, and climate monitoring, causing significant stagnation in economic growth and scientific knowledge. Thus, we must prioritize space exploration over ocean exploration as it ensures survival, allows technological innovation, and advances scientific understanding

One of the most important reasons we must prioritize space exploration is that it ensures the survival and future of humanity by opening opportunities to discover other habitats and search for alien life. According to NASA, space exploration allows us to “advance new technologies that benefit life on Earth” and helps humanity “understand the universe and our place in it” (NASA, 26). By studying other planets and celestial bodies, scientists can learn about the conditions necessary to sustain life and identify planets that may support human colonization in the future. For example, researching Mars’ atmosphere and potential water sources has already provided insights into how humans might adapt to live on another planet other than the Earth. This demonstrates that space exploration is not merely about curiosity, but it’s a vital strategy to ensure that humanity can survive long-term threats such as climate change, asteroid impact, or overpopulation on Earth. Without continued exploration, we risk limiting our knowledge and ability to secure a future beyond our planet.

In addition to securing our future, space exploration drives rapid technological innovation and economic growth far more than any other form of exploration. Space programs have led to the development of “every technology all around us” including advancements in communication, medical devices, and materials (NASA, 26). Just by looking at our daily life, we see how space exploration is being used in GPS systems, weather forecasting, and global communication networks. These innovations not only improve our daily life, but also open up new industries and job opportunities, ultimately boosting our economy. This all proves that space exploration innovates the world beyond the level of other exploration.

Lastly, space exploration significantly advances scientific understanding of our world beyond current limits. According to the American Public University, studying space helps scientists better understand Earth’s systems, including climate patterns and environmental changes (APU, 24). Just like how we can have better understanding when we take a step back, by observing Earth from space, researchers can exceed the level of human understanding nowadays for a more advanced world. Additionally, the planetary society explains that studying the cosmos allows us to answer fundamental questions about how the universe and life itself began. Space exploration will ensure deeper understanding not only to satisfy human curiosity but also provide critical knowledge that can be applied to problems on the Earth. Without space exploration, the human population would remain limited, and will stay in the comfort zone instead of understanding both our planet and the universe. 

Ultimately, it is evident that the impacts of space exploration clearly outweighs the impacts of ocean exploration. As demonstrated, space exploration ensures the survival of humanity, allows rapid technology innovation, and advances the Earth and the universe's understanding which ocean exploration doesn’t specifically provide. Space exploration would ensure our Earth to step out of the current comfort zone for more advancements and improvements to expand beyond for the future generation. Thus, we should keep encouraging society to prioritize space exploration over any other form of exploration.

Authors Note:

I am Stella Kim, a high school student and writer of  “Why Space Exploration Actually Matters” where I wrote about why humanity must prioritize space exploration over any other form of exploration. Through my article, I hope readers get aware of the hidden benefits space exploration brings into our society and humanity’s future.

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Work Cited:

https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/why-go-to-space/#:~:text=We%20advance%20new%20technologies%20that,everyday%20technologies%20all%20around%20us.

https://www.apu.apus.edu/area-of-study/math-and-science/resources/why-should-we-explore-space/#:~:text=Space%20Exploration%20Advances%20Scientific%20Understanding,support%20life%20beyond%20our%20planet.

https://www.planetary.org/articles/space-exploration-is-always-worthwhile#:~:text=Studying%20the%20cosmos%20gives%20us,astronaut%20will%20get%20that%20opportunity.