Is Money Spent On Space Exploration A Waste?

Is Money Spent on Space Exploration a Waste?

Annually, the developed countries such as the US and China allocate a significant amount of resources for space expedition projects. Ironically, the majority of people in the developing world are suffering from poverty, malnutrition and diseases. Besides, there is no substantial benefit accrued from space exploration to justify expenses and the waste of taxpayers’ money. Instead, NASA and European space Agency bank on the potential benefits that may never materialize (Aldrin et al., 2015). Considering this, I argue that money spent on space exploration is a waste.

It is true that space exploration is an adventurous undertaking. However, there are multiple emerging issues on earth that demand focus and resource expenditure. For instance, the climatic change due to increased industrial activity has led to global warming. Consequently, natural disasters such as famine, drought and Tsunami have risen remarkably. While the developed world leads in the emission of greenhouse gasses, a greater impact is felt in the developing world. Therefore, the US, EU, and other developed countries should channel more resources towards minimizing the effects of climate change in Africa, South America, and parts of Asia instead of Mars missions and the exploration of the universe.

Space exploration is a product of cold war. The United States and the USSR were locked in a tight race for global influence and dominance. Since the end of the Cold War more than two decades ago, space programs in the United States and Russia are still active. However, the gap between the rich and the poor in both countries has widened. In the US alone, the middle income class is shrinking rapidly as economic prospects worsen (Galliot, 2016). In both nations, the levels of unemployment are high. It is a testament that the space exploration missions are no longer viable, thus, the policy makers should redirect resources towards narrowing the gap between the poor and the rich. Alternatively, hundreds of millions of dollars spent yearly on space missions should be reinvested in job creation and economic simulation programs.

            The idea of space exploration was triggered by the potential of life in celestial bodies. However, when man landed on the moon more than half a century ago, all hopes were diminished. As the technology improves, powerful telescopes have been developed to explore deeper into space, but a habitable planet is yet to be discovered. The dwindling chances of life beyond earth render expenditures on space exploration futile (International Debate Education Association, 2014).  On a positive note, scientists speculate on the presence of valuable minerals on the asteroid belt. Unless viable technology is developed to realize a grand plan of asteroid mining, unrealistic financial expenditures on distant galaxies should be reconsidered.  

 In summary, space exploration missions demand billions of money for research and development, astronaut training programs, and in the development of robotic and human spacecrafts. With each project lasting for decades, there is no guarantee to the taxpayers on success, completeness, or on the benefits of the outcome. Besides, the rate of global population is rising sharply, implying that millions of people (especially in the developing world) are in dire need of basic amenities such as food. Therefore, expenditure of financial resources on worthy causes rather than in non-beneficial space exploration is recommendable (Aldrin et al., 2015).

References

Aldrin, B., David, L., & Aldrin, A. (2015). Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration. Washington, D.C: National Geographic.

Galliott, J. (Ed.). (2016). Commercial Space Exploration: Ethics, Policy, and Governance. Pennsylvania: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

International Debate Education Association. (2014). The Debatabase Book: A Must-Have Guide For Successful Debate. New York: International Debate Education Association.