For centuries, people have marveled at the stars, the planets and other celestial bodies visible in the sky. But only with the invention of rockets and other technologies in the 20th century did it become possible to send machines, animals and humans into space. Since that time, we have learned a great deal about the Universe and our place in it.
Initially, most government space activities were pursued for purely utilitarian purposes – to increase knowledge, enhance national power and prestige, or make a profit. But as the Cold War ended, a new justification emerged for funding space programs: to serve the needs of society at large.
The era of public-private partnerships is now enabling us to explore more deeply than ever before. Humans have already walked on the Moon and visited Mars; we’re developing vehicles to carry us to other planets in our solar system and beyond.
While the benefits of this exploration are numerous, it’s also important to consider more ephemeral and philosophical aspects of our journey into space. In the past 30 years, there have been many primary, secondary and tertiary benefits arising from space exploration. They include the stimulation of electronics miniaturization that contributes to advances in medicine, manufacturing and other areas. They have included improved and expanded educational and research programs, and they have fostered new forms of personal pride and prestige. However, the more metaphysical and philosophical benefits of space exploration are often overlooked.
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