Why We Explore Space
Exploring space grows naturally from one of humanity's strongest traits: to see what lies over the hill, on the other side of the river, across the ocean.
Exploration also provides a wellspring of innovation and economic progress. By enlisting the human spirit in a search for frontiers, space research asks us to push farther and do more than our forebears.
Space also engages the human imagination. Children and adults alike feel touched by the infinite realm that lies before us. No better avenue exists to promote science literacy among the general public.
A vibrant space exploration program engages the public, encourages and inspires students, and helps develop a high-tech workforce for tomorrow's challenges. Along with biomedical research, no other field of human endeavor pushes harder on the limits of what science and technology can do.
Space research empowers us to pursue scientific activities that address fundamental questions about Earth, the solar system, the universe, and our place within them.
As humanity begins to bump into the limits of our own planet, space research lets us step outside of society to gain clearer perspectives on what we can, and can't, do. The choice is ours. As stated by Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator:
"Other countries will explore the cosmos, whether the United States does or not. And those will be Earth's great nations in the years and centuries to come. I believe America should look to its future – and consider what that future will look like if we choose not to be a spacefaring nation." —January 2007
NASA in Your Life
Infrared ear thermometers, memory foam, the cordless vacuum – these are just a few commercial breakthroughs resulting from NASA technology. Click
here to see how space exploration improves our quality of life and benefits our economy.
The Space Economy
“To stimulate economic growth, increase our international competitiveness, and create better lives for our citizens, we must stimulate technological innovation.”
-- Dr. Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator “The Space Economy,” part of the NASA 50th Anniversary Lecture Series, September 17, 2007.
Click
here to read Dr. Griffin’s full lecture on “The Space Economy”.
