Is Space Exploration Morally Justified?

Another strong argument is that space exploration and the research into it is a waste of money, money which could be used to help suffering people around the world. These people may say that expenditure on space exploration does not directly benefit mankind but research to halt the spread of diseases such as aids does. This is not entirely true but I know space exploration is not always successful and may be seen as money being ‘thrown away’. I also believe that the governments of the most economically developed countries should give more money to undeveloped countries so they can try to control the epidemic of diseases such as aids. Space exploration is hugely important in the field of science and many discoveries made in the course of space exploration have been beneficial in the field of medicine. For instance, studies on the effect of weightlessness.

One interesting view is that space and beyond has nothing to do with the human race. So spending vast sums of money to try and find out more about it is wrong, especially when it involves endangering the lives of people. I strongly believe that to say space and our solar system have nothing to do with the human race is incredibly naïve. A reaction in space created the world we live in and it will also end it. If something is far away from you, which is not one of your interests, it does not mean it won’t affect you in some way.

I understand that space exploration has been incredibly over commercialised and I do feel that some space programmes have been used to divert attention from problems such as how the United States government was facing. However, some space missions have brought countries and communities together. A recent example is the development of the International Space Station which has brought many nations to work together in cooperation and without thoughts of violence or war.

I feel that space exploration has provided the world with some of the most remarkable achievements. It was not long ago that no-one believed it was possible to step foot onto the moon but here we are today, thinking about finding life on nearby planets such as Mars and even venturing to depths of the outer solar system. I cannot see how some people are not exhilarated to think of a future space station capable of homing human communities. I understand that the option to live in a space station is a long way off and the science and economics behind it may prevent the plan but just the thought is enough to excite me and I think this is the brilliance of space exploration. Ever since I was a child I have dreamt of ‘going boldly where no man has gone before’. The space exploration that has already been conducted has opened the minds of millions of people and sparked thought, even if it is unrealistic. I think that space exploration has not just furthered our knowledge of the skies but it has also been able to show people that there is more to their life than what directly affects them.

Space exploration has brought a huge leap in our knowledge and understanding of the solar system. Through the travels of each astronaut, new worlds that previously could not have been thought up have been realised. There will always be casualties of space exploration but this does not mean you can call the exploration morally unjustifiable. The bounds of human possibilities have been extended to unimaginable levels. To be human is more than to just survive: civilized societies hunger for beauty, truth, and knowledge. To stop our capability and desire to explore is not only unthinkable, it's impossible. If you could ask any of the seven astronauts who perished on the Columbia space shuttle if they held any regret for the cause for which they died, I'm certain they'd tell you no.