It has been only eleven years since the launch of the first piece of the International Space Station in 1998 (Walker). Since then it has developed into a sophisticated structure that orbits Earth. Only time will tell just how much bigger the Space Station will get and whether it will ever be able to leave Earth’s orbit into deep space. It all depends on technology and how quickly scientists can discover new inventions to aid in the new space race. Envision a few years from now when average people travel on space planes to outer space for work. People will travel to space hotels for tourism and even other planets to start a new life. No longer will people be limited to the resources available inside Earth’s atmosphere when there is an entire universe to be explored.
Some may argue that NASA and space exploration are a waste of time and money that could be used to help the poor here on Earth. However, some contend that NASA’s budget is only 0.5 percent of federal funds which is insignificant when compared to healthcare and social security which consume 22 and 19 percent respectively (“Reach for the stars”). Exploration may be a gamble but history has proven that investing in this sort of thing can have great rewards. If past European powers had not invested in exploration, then they would have never discovered the new technologies that lead them to the New World. Even still, can one really put on a price on discovering new life forms and habitable planets? This sort of discovery would change the universe as we know it.
Works Cited:
Walker, Charles D. "International Space Station." Space Sciences. Ed. Pat Dasch. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. Science Resource Center. Gale. 12 November 2009 http://ezp.tccd.edu:2055/servlet/SciRC?ste=1&docNum=CV2643750166
"Reach for the stars. but we can still make life better for underprivileged people back on earth." Editorial New Scientist, Sept 8, 2007 v195 i2620 p5(1). Science Resource Center. Gale. 05 November 2009 http://ezp.tccd.edu:2055/servlet/SciRC?ste=1&docNum=A169023119
Photo Credit:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0801/M31_hallas.jpg
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