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Liza Martin

Professor Malcolm Campbell

UWRT 1103 Honors

24 September 2019

Topic Proposal: One Small Step Into Space Exploration

Introduction/Overview

The intentions of my research will be to further analyze space exploration and the many

benefits and innovations that stem from its revolutions. Since the 1969 moon landing, iconic

figures in history such as Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, as well as other influential scientists,

have proven the importance of space exploration and how it can benefit future research and

development. NASA has provided central information that has lead to the expansion of

knowledge in areas such as robotics, meteorology, the solar system as we know it today, and

many other fields of interest. I will elaborate on the famous moon landing, as well as other

significant space discoveries, discuss how the technology used has advanced our world, and why

the funding of these organizations is crucial to further advancements and scientific

breakthroughs.

American space exploration is still expanding and progressing along with the universe;

looking back at how it began and how it grows, the technology used, and the importance of it on

people today, humans reach new depths of knowledge and understanding of space. With space

exploration, many of the questions that once went unanswered can begin to be explained as new

discoveries are being made. Many discoveries were made on the first mission to the moon,

providing answers about the surface, makeup, and landforms of the moon. Scientists from NASA
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conclude, “[Humans] now know that the Moon is made of rocky material that has been variously

melted, erupted through volcanoes, and crushed by meteorite impacts.” The surface is covered in

rocks and dust, as no life forms of any kind exist on the moon. In August of 1975 the United

States launched the first spacecraft to Mars, Viking 1, and just weeks later Viking 2 was

launched​.​ Journalist for ​Space.com,​ Elizabeth Howell, informs us,“The Viking program provided

the first up-close look at Mars, for several years running. It gave researchers a sense of what it is

like to live and work on the Red Planet,” in order to show the significant scientific discoveries

that have been made through the advancement of technology. The missions also offered

information on what to consider if humans could ever make it to Mars and has a lasting impact

on education and of the perception of other planets.

In order to gather information and set the foundation of the importance of space

exploration and its funding, I used many internet resources. Websites such as NASA has

provided me with incredibly useful information. I considered different points of view on the

topic through journalism columns on the internet, such as engineering and technology debates, as

well as books to help set a concrete understanding of the topic. I have collected factual and

opinionated research so I can continue my argument with an objective viewpoint. Online

research articles have given me clear depictions of the history of space, as well as previous

knowledge I have gained through school. Although I do not have any direct connections to

anyone invested in the subject of space exploration, I plan to find outside resources from

environmentalists to better grasp the reasoning behind why people want to cut funding for

organizations such as NASA.

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Systems of technology, such as Viking 1 and 2, are essential in aiding the expansion of

knowledge and understanding of the world around us. Artificial satellites, which are described by

scientist Michael Dunbar in his book, ​Explorations in Space​ as, “machines that are launched into

space and orbit around Earth or another body in space,” are necessary for the development of the

world today. There are a number of different uses for satellites such as; monitoring the weather,

taking pictures of space, and GPS tracking. GPS systems and weather forecasts make everyday

life more convenient and help ordinary people in a variety of ways. These systems are widely

used in the lives of many people. Without the initial discovery of satellites, simple conveniences

that we indulge in today, such as GPS tracking, would not be as technologically advanced and

detailed. While these machines are beneficial to research, they are also costly. Environmentalists

often argue that the billions of dollars that is funded to organizations that support space

exploration could be spent in far more favorable ways. Robin Hanbury-Tenison wrote in a digital

publication, “We’re experiencing climate change, famine, drought, warfare and we’re investing

money needed to solve these problems in Space. If the collapse of civilizations is a recurrent

theme, then we should be looking for ways of managing the planet’s resources in order to make

how we live sustainable,” which assists the idea of limiting funding of space organizations. In

the same debate over whether or not “investing in further scientific exploration of space is a

waste of resources,” author Piers Bizony includes, “​one of the most successful responses to the

Great Depression of the 1930s was to pump money into infrastructure and technology – it was

called Roosevelt’s New Deal. It was controversial at the time, but by the end of that decade, the

USA was the most powerful nation on Earth. What are governments for if they don’t invest? It’s
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much better to put taxpayers’ money into jobs and new technologies than simply bailing out the

banks.” These pose a valid argument for both sides.

Initial Inquiry Question(s)

Is the funding of space exploration necessary when the earth is in such a crucial state?

Are the intentions of space exploration good enough to be beneficial to the entire earth or just

simply technology that will improve our understanding of the unknown? It is easy to look at the

facts of the matter. The research of space has sparked significant development in many areas of

technology. Although it may be costly, funding organizations that produce technological

advancements will not only expand our knowledge of what is beyond earth, but also discover

many ways to create a more sustainable way of living.

My Interest in this Topic

Observing the little knowledge we have of space and the unknown is intriguing and

sparks an innumerable amount of questions in which are shared between many people. While

abounding amounts of progress have been made through research and technology, space is still

almost entirely unexplored. Wouldn’t it be nice to know what other types of matter or lifeforms

we are sharing the universe with? The thought of the unknown puts your life into perspective.

How much are you really contributing or taking from the earth? Are our actions cultivating

significant consequences elsewhere that will later come back to hurt us? Other planets are

already being studied for future inhabitants of humans in the chance that we are unable to create

a fundamentally sustainable environment in which we can live. Staying informed of newly

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revealed data and technological advancements will allow us to better understand the importance

of our earth, environment and how space exploration is a critical aspect of scientific discoveries.

Next Steps

The local Adkins Library provides a hub of learning resources to seek new information.

The plethora of books and sources will help me further my research of space exploration and

enable me to take full advantage of my access to varying opinions and knowledge of the subject.

Publications such as, ​Explorations in Space,​ by Michael Dunbar, presents valuable information

that will support my research. Other websites, such as the ​National Aeronautics and Space

Administration,​ or ​NASA​, ​“Interesting Engineering,” a​ nd ​“Engineering and Technology”

websites implement debates and extensive research to guide me in fully comprehending the

matter at hand.