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Jacob Louthan
Professor Flores
English 1201
10 April 2016
The Future is Near
With nearly 600 million people watching as Neil Armstrong made history, he uttered on
of the most historic quotes of all time Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for
mankind. Neil Armstrong is a strong proponent of space exploration. When the Obama
administration cut the budget of NASA and cancelled its plans for another moon landing, Neil
Armstrong told congress it was lamentably embarrassing and unacceptable (Watson). Space
exploration needs to continue to be done and to be funded because of the economic benefits,
technological advancements, and for the survival of the human species.
Space has been a center of curiosity since before recorded history. Exploration has always
been part of human nature. Dr. Orkwis, the head of the department of Aerospace Engineering at
the University of Cincinnati states Space exploration is just an extension of what people have
been doing for millennia, traveling out of Africa, colonizing Asia, Europe, the Americas, the
entire world (Orkwis). Exploration has led to some of the greatest discoveries. The case is the
same for space exploration.
Space exploration really took off and hit an all-time high during the Cold War. Over the
past decades the science world has made huge advances in space exploration. There have been
some disasters along the way but with everything good theres always something bad. Around

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the time of the Cold War space exploration took up nearly five percent of the United States
budget. Now, it takes up just a fraction of that at one half of a percent of the federal
governments budget. Every year the budget for space exploration continues to decrease. While
other countries budget for space exploration increases, the United States is decreasing. There are
several reasons to continue space exploration.
Space exploration has numerous benefits. One of those benefits is the economic
prosperity created by it. NASA and all other space programs help the economy more than you
think. Mike Green an Employee of NASA for 26 years discusses the investment that space
exploration has put into companies in the United States. In 2012, NASA invested nearly 270
million dollars in Ohio. They helped 79 Ohio companies create spinoffs of NASA technology.
Also that same year they invested 3 and a half billion dollars into California. NASA has helped
companies in The United States create and sell more than one thousand seven hundred and fifty
spinoffs of NASA technology (Green). The inventions that NASA has helped create have led to a
high number of high technology exports which in return help the economy. The dictionary
Meriam-Webster describes a spinoff as something useful that was a result from work to produce
something else (Meriam-Webster). Spinoffs are a large part of how space exploration has helped
the economy, but it is not the only.
In addition to NASA helping companies create spinoffs, space exploration is directly
linked to billions of dollars every year in revenue. In the book, The Case for Space, written by
numerous scholarly authors states Goods and services relying on space infrastructure generate
hundreds of billions of dollars in direct revenue (The Space Foundation 12). Space exploration
has led to the ability to send satellites into space which in return generate a lot of money. The
costs of services related to space are tiny compared to the convenience, efficiency, information,

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and other benefits they yield (The Space Foundation). That is great for the economy. The very
large amount of revenue generated from space related goods and services leads to good and
stable job growth in the industries intertwined with the space industries. NASA alone is
responsible for creating nearly eighteen thousand well paid jobs. NASA isnt the only space
exploration company in the united states too. Companies like Blue Origin and Space X also
supply very good jobs. All of these companies supply very well paid jobs such as engineers.
Some people believe that space exploration doesnt help the economy and that the money
put towards it goes to waste. Space exploration costs the United States nearly 18 billion dollars.
Although 18 billion dollars may seem like a lot, it is only a very small percent of the federal
governments budget. Figure 1 represents the budget of NASA compared to the entire United
States federal governments budget. This is just NASAs budget. It doesnt take in account
private companies like Space X and Blue Origin. Thats a lot of money but in the long run it is
worth it. There are many rare resources on Earth that are very important. Some of these scarce
resources can be found in space, like metals used for electronics (Orkwis). In the future we will
be able to harvest those rare materials off of asteroids and other planets. Harvesting those rare
resources will bring in a lot of money for those companies. Space exploration may cost a lot but
the cost is definitely worth it because of the economic development it helps create. Some of the
economic benefits are a direct link to technology created by space exploration companies.
Economic prosperity is just one of the numerous benefits of space exploration.

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Figure 1 Representation of the budget of NASA compared to entire federal budget. (Calendrelli)

Space exploration also benefits the advancement of technology. This could be the most
important impact of space exploration. NASA and other space organizations have more of an
impact on your daily life than you might imagine. Not only do they impact everyones everyday
life, but they also impact people who have illnesses. Space exploration has helped make huge
strides in the medical field. Julie Robinson who is the International Space Station chief program
scientist states that ISS has helped create a robot that is able to perform surgeries and it has made
difficult brain tumor surgeries easier and impossible surgeries possible (Robinson 2). This will
eventually be a lifesaving machine. Space exploration helps people with diabetes, specifically
type one diabetes. NASA created the insulin pump to help signal for insulin. They also created
CCD which helps doctors to perform more accurate tests to determine if patients have breast

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cancer (Robinson 2). NASAs research also helped them create the MRI and CAT scan machines.
Thats just a couple of examples. NASA and other space organizations contribute vastly to the
very important medical field. The medical field is just one way that space companies improve
our lives. Space exploration has led to the invention of a lot of things we take for granted every
day. NASA contributed to the creation of Baby formula. NASA developed something as useful as
the water filter. We drink water that has been purified using water filters all the time. Yet, most
people do not realize this was a spinoff created by NASA. They have also contributed to things
we use every day. Cell phones are used every day by many people all over the world. There are
many more everyday objects that NASA helped create. Figure 2 illustrates just some of the daily
things that NASA helped create.

Figure 2 Everyday things that space exploration spinoffs contributed to.(NASA Spinoff chart)

The reason we have the cell phones we have today is thanks to space exploration
companies. Space exploration has led to the immense advancement of technology in cell phones

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also. It has helped create data services, cell phone cameras, and phone service. One of the largest
spinoffs that NASA helped create was the GPS (Orkwis). The GPS is used by just about
everyone. With all the technological advancements, space exploration may be more relevant than
what most people may believe. Overall, space exploration is vital for the advancement of all
types of technology. Space exploration not only has economic and technological involvement but
it is also important for the survival of the human race.
Space exploration also is vital for the survival of the human race. Space exploration
companies play will play a big role in the survival of our species. Clean drinking water is
absolutely necessary for the human race to survive. Although it is necessary there are people all
over the world who dont have access to clean water. With the population of Earth continuing to
increase, the availability of clean water will become more and more scarce. Arun Joshi from the
International space station science offices states that Using technology developed for the space
station, at risk areas can now gain access to advanced water filtration and purification (Joshi).
The access to water filtration is a lifesaving for some people around the world. There are many
groups worldwide that help provide these water purifiers to the people at need.
Space exploration companies are trying to prevent disasters. Space exploration keeps us
all safe. Nasa keeps track of all possible asteroids that could impact Earth. They have created
plans to prevent disaster in case something like an asteroid was to threaten Earth (Diaz). Space
exploration may not be as vital to the survival of our species right now, but eventually years
down the road it will be.
Colonizing other planets is the future of our species. Stephen hawking did a presentation
on space called future of space travel and said We should colonize other planets to protect the
human race. Stephen hawking calls space exploration life insurance for the human race. Earth

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could possibly become overpopulated. In this case, space exploration would be the only option.
Colonizing another planet would be the only viable option. There are many different things that
could happen to Earth like global warming. Eventually humans will have to colonize other
planets for the human race to survive. In the far future, our sun will destroy Earth. In every case
space exploration is the key. Although space exploration may not be a viable option yet it will be
soon if space exploration is continued. Not everyone thinks space exploration is worth the risk
though.
Many people argue that space exploration is dangerous and that is the absolute truth.
Being an astronaut is a very dangerous job. They argue that entering and exploring space isnt
worth losing lives. Nothing shows the danger of being an astronaut more than the 1996
challenger disaster. The disaster killed all seven aboard. This was a very tragic and sad event but
although its dangerous, every astronaut is willing to do it. They arent forced to be an astronaut.
They are well aware of the dangerous that they will face. They all realize that theres a chance
that they might not make it back alive. It is the same thing as signing up for the military. They
know the dangers that they will face. Although space exploration does put astronauts lives at
risk, it is worth it for the survival of the human race. The three benefits of space exploration
discussed above arent the only benefits though.
Although those are the three major benefits to space exploration, there is also a lot of
more minor benefits. Do you feel proud that your country was the first to land on the moon?
Space exploration gives us a sense of national pride. Being the first country to reach another
moon or planet is something to be very proud of. The United States achieved something fifty
years ago that other countries still havent even come close to doing. That should make the
citizens feel very proud that we are that technologically advanced.

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Another minor benefit of space exploration is that space exploration companies also help
the environment. NASA has created a way to decontaminate polluted soil and ground water
(Green). Space companies are constantly creating clean energy technology to help them in
exploration. Space exploration has been very vital in the improvement of solar powered energy.
In fact, the International Space Station is powered completely by solar power.
Some people think that the money spent on space exploration should be spent elsewhere.
Lauren Farrar, an educational writer for KQED education writes Others argue that this money
would be better spent exploring and conserving our home planet, rather than fantasizing about
colonizing other ones (Farrar). Space exploration has many benefits that arent directly related
to deep space exploration. It also has positive effects on our planet. Gerson Moreno-Riano has a
doctorate in physiology and a masters in political science states NASA's research into solar
power has helped the development of the alternative energy industry (Moreno-Riano). NASA
and other space exploration companies have been very focused on the development of renewable
resources especially solar power. NASA also joins with the EPA for environmental research.
In conclusion, the economic prosperity, the technological advancement, and the survival
of the human race leads to the conclusion that space exploration needs to be continued. The
United States and other countries around the world need to continue funding space exploration.
If space exploration isnt continued, years down the road we could face disasters consequences.

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Works Cited
Calandrelli, Emily. NASA's budget. Digital image. The Space Gal. 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 8 Apr.
2016.
Diaz, Jesus. "Why the Government Must Spend More Money On NASA." Gizmodo. 26 Nov.
2012. Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Farrar, Lauren. "Should We Fund Space Exploration." KQED Education. PBS, 25 Nov. 2014.
Web. 2 Mar. 2016.
Green, Mike. NASA. NASA, 26 Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.
Hawking, Stephen. "Stephen Hawking - Future of Space Travel:." YouTube. YouTube, 3 Dec.
2015. Web. 03 Mar. 2016
Issitt, Micah, and Gerson Moreno-Riano. "Counterpoint: We All Benefit from Space
Exploration." Points of View: U.S. Space Program(2016): 3. Points of View Reference
Center. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
Joshi, Arun. "Advanced NASA Technology Supports Water Purification Efforts Worldwide."
NASA. NASA, 29 Feb. 2012. Web. 8 Apr. 2016.
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.
Orkwis, Paul. Personal Interview. 3 May 2016.
NASA Spinoff Chart. Digital image. Save Manned Space. Save Manned Space, 25 July 2010.
Web. 8 Apr. 2016.
Robinson, Julie. International Space Station Benefits For Humanity. 2nd ed. ISS Program
Science Forum, 2015. Print.
The Space Foundation. Cornell.edu. The Space Foundation, 1 Feb. 2006. Web. 8 Apr. 2016.

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