The Importance of Exploration adapted from NASA
Is space exploration really desirable at a time when so much needs to be done on Earth? It
is a serious question that requires a serious answer. One could present many answers as to
why undertaking a robust space program is necessary, including everything related to jobs,
education, technology development, and national security. In an ideal world, however, one
answer is sufficient: we should undertake it for the most basic of reasons for our self-
preservation as a creative, as opposed to a stagnating, society. The concept of space
exploration is deeply rooted in our historical context.
Exploration has always been part of the American character. The intangible desire to
explore and challenge the boundaries of what we know and where we have been has
provided benefits to American Society for centuries. For example, the exploration of the
American West during the 19th century is a prime example of American exploration that led
to the advancement of society. More land was found on the western frontier for settlement
and new resources were discovered for use, leading to the nation's growth. Some have
argued that many of the distinctive characteristics that make up American Society, including
inventiveness, inquisitiveness, and individualism, derived from the existence of a frontier.
Although the western frontier closed around 1890, Americans later found a new frontier
where that same curiosity translated to space exploration. Space as a new frontier has
always been a driver of the U. S. space programs.
As H. G. Wells said many years ago. "Human history becomes more and more a race
between education and catastrophe." We are still in that race today, and surely an
international cooperative venture into space strikes a blow against catastrophe and leads to
a victory for civilization. Great things were achieved in the past in the name of competition,
including the Apollo program, which would never have happened without Cold War
competition. The Space Race between the Soviet Union and the U. S. led to the development
of programs devoted to scientific research and inventions. Specifically, after the Soviet Inion
successfully launched Soutnik i thoi