Space Program Essay

            Curiosity is a natural human trait, and it has manifested itself in exploration over the course of modern human history. Exploring space is therefore inevitable as curiosity pushes humanity outwards into the great unknown. However, the issue of space exploration is a volatile one, and must therefore be approached with great care. The most important issues regarding space exploration are funding, ethical considerations of exploration, and the social impacts of the space program.

            In the current economic climate, every dime of government spending is counted; this is no less true for the budget of NASA and space exploration; though the budget it too small as is. Government sponsorship of education and technological development are often the first programs to be cut when a deficit looms. However, it is clear that space exploration makes up a minute portion of the national budget-expenditures are so small that they do not even have their own category on government spending breakdowns, instead included in the ‘other’ category. (Source C) In fact, current government expenditures on NASA amount to less than 1% of the national budget. Even under President John F. Kennedy, the president under which NASA was founded and the chief advocate for American investment in the Cold War Space Race, NASA expenditures never topped 7% of the national budget. IN addition, whatever the benefits or detractors of space exploration it should be considered how little money is actually spent on it. That said, money spent on the space program is still beneficial to the economy outside of space industries; it ‘goes to manufacturing, research and development, salaries, benefits...and corporations and businesses large and small.’ (Source A) Money is a key consideration when furthering the space program, but only insofar as increasing NASA’s budget.

            Ethical considerations are also important when exploring space. When Europeans landed in the Americas circa 1500, they brought with them a host of diseases that decimated the native population (estimates range as high as 95% of natives were killed by European diseases). Interplanetary contamination could potentially be far worse, involving biologically incompatible life forms that have evolved to fit drastically different circumstances. (Source F) But in addition to accidental biological warfare, the impact of humanity even on inanimate surroundings must be considered; humanity does ‘not have a very good track record in protecting our planet home.’ (Source E) Commercial exploitation of space could include strip-mining asteroids for precious metals or creating trash dumps in orbit and disregarding the destruction caused by said behaviors. Care must be taken to avoid repeating the same mistakes humans have made on planet Earth throughout the entire universe. Clearly ethical considerations are an important precursor to space exploration.

One further consideration involving the space program is its social impact. Space exploration has proved again and again that even enemies can work together for a common goal. As Sun Tzu, the famous Chinese general/philosopher wrote, ‘When a man from Wu and a man from Ch’i [two enemy nations during China’s Warring States period] are put together in a rowboat, they will not fight but instead row to shore.’ History has proven that international cooperation is prevalent in space. (Source G) However, even more important than international cooperation is the effect on students in society of new discoveries and achievements. ‘Space exploration is the path to how we...can give hope and provide inspiration for our youngsters.’ (Source A) In fact, after the success of the Apollo 11 moon landing mission, high school and university enrollment in science and math programs, especially physics and aerospace, shot up. Social issues are thus a major consideration for the space program.

Clearly a plethora of issues surround space exploration, with funding, ethical considerations, and social impacts at the forefront. A well-designed and efficiently managed space program will help humanity develop in countless ways, along with exploring the stars.