There have always been and will be opponents of spaceexploration. Moreover, for a person who is not deeply involved in the subjectof space research – the waste of big money for humanity’s exit from the Earthis extremely doubtful. Only results ofthe space exploration humankind can survive and lead to great discoveries inthe fields of health, mining and security. Many devices, materials and processes, originallydeveloped for the space program, have found application on the Earth.
NASAscientists developed plastic coated with metallic reflective material. Whenused in a blanket, it reflects 80% of the body’s heat to its owner – it helpsthe victims of the disaster and post-marathon runners stay warm. In addition, the International Space Station has createdmany medical innovations that have been used on the Earth. For example, amethod of delivering anti-cancer drugs directly to tumors, a device that allowsa nurse to conduct ultrasound and transmit results to a doctor for thousands ofkilometers, a robotic manipulator that can perform a complex operation insidethe magnetic resonance imaging machine.
Novelty that is even more valuable wasthe nitinol, a flexible but resilient alloy so that developed to enablesatellites to spring open after being folded into a rocket. Today, dentistsequip patients with braces made from this material. Also in space, there are gold, silver, platinum andother valuable substances. For example, the moon is a potentially lucrativesource of helium-3, which used for magnetic resonance imaging machine and as apotential fuel for nuclear power plants.
On Earth, helium-3 is rare that itsprice reaches $ 5, 000 per liter. In addition, the moon can be potentially richin rare earth elements like europium and tantalum, which are in great demandfor use in electronics, solar panels and other devices. Furthermore the planet is endangered by collisionswith asteroids the size of football fields. Collision will cause a fiery stormof heated splinters and fill the atmosphere with dust blocking the sunlightthat will destroy our forests and fields. A wisely financed space program wouldallow us to locate a dangerous object long before it hits Earth and send a spacecraftthat could direct an asteroid to another course by means of a directedexplosion. Thus, the billions of dollars that expended on spaceexploration will help solve very serious problems on Earth.
