Is Money Spent on Space Exploration a Waste? (Essay Sample)

Is Money Spent on Space Exploration a Waste?
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Is Money Spent on Space Exploration a Waste?
Space exploration is one of the major scientific achievements that focuses on unchartered territories, and how to conquer new environments in space. Scientific curiosity is the foundation of all the technology man depends on heavily today. The debate over the need for space exploration is based on the economic benefits that are directly derived from exploration. The need to know what space has to offer will always fuel space exploration. Evaluation of the benefits man has derived from space exploration, it is evident that space exploration should be considered as an investment rather than an expense to civilization.
Basic knowledge, like the sun rising from the east and setting in the west, helped primitive civilizations navigate their terrain. Explorers used position of stars to find their way in times that GPRS did not exist. Scientists today have advanced this knowledge of space and used the satellite system for transfer of information. Satellites in space are used for transmission of signals used in the telecommunication industry (Doeden, 2012). The presence of satellites in space has helped fast track globalization making communication cheaper and faster. Navigation systems used in the transport industry today depend largely on the investments made in space exploration.
Science helps come up with solutions for existing problems or problems that man may encounter in the future. Meteors are a constant threat to Earth and being able to predict their path is a safe way to avoid destruction. Blasting large meteors and reducing their size ensures that their impact on planet earth is less devastating. Exploration of other planets for signs of life may hold crucial knowledge on survival under harsh climate (Flowers, 2000). Research into surviving under extreme environmental conditions may be the only hope for the survival of mankind. Weather patterns can be monitored using the satellite system to ensure that people living in the danger zone are warned early.
Technology made for space exploration also has a civilian application (Furniss, 2003). The production, sale and repair of these technologies helps deal with the problem of unemployment on the planet. The money derived from the sale of technology to the civilian market may be reinvested in space exploration to make the projects self-sustaining. Satellites can also be used to defend a country from nuclear weapon attack from oppressive regimes such as North...