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*Satellites provide data on climate change, measure pollution, and help protect our planet.
*If there was a pollution we could use the internet with a satellites in space

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Some examples of how space benefits Canadians and all of humanity.

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Satellites in space  can help predict natural disasters. It gives us time to prepare and enable a rescue team.
* It can save many lives and help people by prepare early. It also can be a big thing in the future by saving the lives of innocent people and it can make lots of money.

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Warning us of impending natural disasters

Satellites help save lives by gathering data that can be used to predict natural disasters such as hurricanes. This information helps people on the ground by giving them time to prepare or evacuate while enabling the quick deployment of adequate rescue teams.

Supporting emergency relief efforts

Canada is a co-founder and active member of the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters," an international effort to put space technology at the service of emergency responders in the event of floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis, volcano eruptions and other disasters.

Since , the Charter's members have made satellite images of devastated regions available to support relief efforts. With reliable information, response teams are better equipped to save lives and limit damage to property, infrastructure and the environment.

Helping search and rescue teams find people in distress

When aircraft, ships or backcountry hikers in distress activate emergency beacons, satellites are used to detect and locate the signals through the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme. Between and , an average of six people per day were rescued by teams using this system.

Measuring ground movements to make infrastructures safer

Some threats are difficult to anticipate, such as ground movements, subsidence and landslides. Satellite-imaging technology provided by RADARSAT-2, and increasingly the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, can help protect critical infrastructure like roads, airports and bridges by detecting and monitoring ground movements that could be as small as a few millimetres. This is particularly useful for the energy sector to assess risks and take action in order to reduce stress on pipelines before they are compromised.

Making buildings and bridges earthquake resistant with shock absorbers

Spacecraft and launch pad equipment undergo extreme stress due to vibration during rocket launches. To make sure that they remain functional in space, shock absorption technology was designed to protect the spacecraft.

During earthquakes, buildings and bridges undergo similar stress. That is why the same shock absorption technology used for spacecraft is now used to strengthen buildings and bridges in earthquake-prone regions.

Learning more about asteroids

Canada has scientists who aim to better understand asteroids, which are small rocky or metallic bodies that orbit the Sun. One rich source of data is Canada's , a satellite that sweeps the skies to detect and track asteroids that may someday pass close to Earth. Another excellent source of information is , an asteroid sample-return mission equipped with a Canadian laser system. The system was instrumental in producing high-resolution 3D maps of near-Earth asteroid Bennu, and those maps proved crucial for mission scientists as they selected a final sample site.

Protecting firefighters with heat-resistant suits

Polymer textiles designed to insulate and protect astronauts in the extreme temperatures of space and during re-entry into the atmosphere have been readapted for Earth as well. These heat-resistant fabrics are now used to protect firefighters from flames and extreme heat.

Explore further

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Satellites data can be used to predict natural disasters and to support emergency relief efforts.

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* By exploring space humans can find resources that are not on Earth. By sending probes out we can learn about planets outside our solar system and if humans ever have to leave Earth we will have a contingency plan. At some point NASA would like to start sending explorers to asteroids that are close to Earth. By sending astronauts to asteroids NASA hopes to find some answers about the formation of the solar system, where some of Earth's elements like Carbon and water come from, and to reduce the threat of future impacts by studying the asteroids. And finally NASA wants to send astronauts to explore translunar space which is beyond Earth's geomagnetic field so they can gain experience for future deep-space operations and to research galactic cosmic radiation which is potentially the most threatening element to humans for deep-space exploration, by studying it we can possibly develop mitigation strategies which may lead to medical advancements on Earth
* My evidence proves my reasoning by showing that exploring farther into space and outside of Earth's geomagnetic field humans learn more about the formation of the solar system, develop mitigation strategies for radiation, learn about planets outside of our solar system, find resources that could be valuable, and learn more about Earth and where it's elements may have come from.

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Humanity's interest in the heavens has been universal and enduring. Humans are driven to explore the unknown, discover new worlds, push the boundaries of our scientific and technical limits, and then push further. The intangible desire to explore and challenge the boundaries of what we know and where we have been has provided benefits to our society for centuries.
Human space exploration helps to address fundamental questions about our place in the Universe and the history of our solar system. Through addressing the challenges related to human space exploration we expand technology, create new industries, and help to foster a peaceful connection with other nations. Curiosity and exploration are vital to the human spirit and accepting the challenge of going deeper into space will invite the citizens of the world today and the generations of tomorrow to join NASA on this exciting journey.

A Flexible Path

This is the beginning of a new era in space exploration in which NASA has been challenged to develop systems and capabilities required to explore beyond low-Earth orbit, including destinations such as translunar space, near-Earth asteroids and eventually Mars.
NASA will use the International Space Station as a test-bed and stepping stone for the challenging journey ahead. By building upon what we learn there we will prepare astronauts for the challenges of long-duration flight and the permanent expansion of human exploration beyond where we have been before. Explorers may visit near-Earth asteroids where we may get answers to the questions humans have always asked. Visiting an asteroid will provide valuable mission experience and prepare us for the next steps-possibly for the first humans to step on Mars.
Robotic exploration continues to deliver profound answers about our Universe by visiting far-off destinations, providing reconnaissance and collecting scientific data. When combining both human and robotic exploration methods we will use technology and our senses to increase our ability to observe, adapt, and uncover new knowledge.

Why the International Space Station?

The first step in embarking on a long and challenging journey involves laying solid groundwork for a successful endeavor. The International Space Station serves as a national laboratory for human health, biological, and materials research, as a technology test-bed, and as a stepping stone for going further into the solar system. On the International Space Station we will improve and learn new ways to ensure astronauts are safe, healthy and productive while exploring, and we will continue expand our knowledge about how materials and biological systems behave outside of the influence of gravity.
NASA will continue its unprecedented work with the commercial industry and expand an entire industry as private companies develop and operate safe, reliable and affordable commercial systems to transport crew and cargo to and from the International Space Station and low Earth orbit.

Why Translunar Space?

Translunar space is vast expanse surrounding the Earth-moon system, extending far beyond the moon's orbit and dominated by the two bodies' gravity fields. Exploring in translunar space, beyond the protection of the Earth's geomagnetic field, will provide unprecedented experience in deep-space operations. Operating in translunar space, NASA can research galactic cosmic radiation-potentially the most threatening element to humans exploring deep space-and develop mitigation strategies that may also lead to medical advancements on Earth.
The Lagrange points-places in cislunar space where the gravitational influences of the Earth and moon cancel each other out-are advantageous areas for exploration and research in which almost no propulsion is required to keep an object or spacecraft stationary. The Lagrange point on the far side of the Earth-Moon system, called L2, also provides a "radio silence" zone for astronomical observations.
Missions to translunar space will give NASA and its partners the opportunity to develop tools and operational techniques to support decades of future exploration, while remaining in relative proximity to Earth.

Why Asteroids?

Asteroids are believed to have formed early in our solar system's history-about 4.5 billion years ago-when a cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula collapsed and formed our sun and the planets. By visiting these near Earth objects to study the material that came from the solar nebula, we can look for answers to some of humankind's most compelling questions, such as: how did the solar system form and where did the Earth's water and other organic materials such as carbon come from?
In addition to unlocking clues about our solar system, asteroids may provide clues about our Earth. By understanding more about asteroids we may learn more about past Earth impacts and possibly find ways to reduce the threat of future impacts.
Future robotic missions to asteroids will prepare humans for long-duration space travel and the eventual journey to Mars. Robotic missions will provide reconnaissance information about asteroid orbits, surface composition, and even return samples to Earth for further evaluation. These robotic missions are a critical step in preparing humans to visit asteroids where we will learn about the valuable resources available in space, and further develop ways to use them in our quest for more efficient and affordable exploration.

Why Mars?

Mars has always been a source of inspiration for explorers and scientists. Robotic missions have found evidence of water, but if life exists beyond Earth still remains a mystery. Robotic and scientific robotic missions have shown that Mars has characteristics and a history similar to Earth's, but we know that there are striking differences that we have yet to begin to understand. Humans can build upon this knowledge and look for signs of life and investigate Mars' geological evolution, resulting in research and methods that could be applied here on Earth.
A mission to our nearest planetary neighbor provides the best opportunity to demonstrate that humans can live for extended, even permanent, stays beyond low Earth orbit. The technology and space systems required to transport and sustain explorers will drive innovation and encourage creative ways to address challenges. As previous space endeavors have demonstrated, the resulting ingenuity and technologies will have long lasting benefits and applications.
The challenge of traveling to Mars and learning how to live there will encourage nations around the world to work together to achieve such an ambitious undertaking. The International Space station has shown that opportunities for collaboration will highlight our common interests and provide a global sense of community.

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Humanity's interest in the heavens has been universal and enduring. Humans are driven to explore the unknown, discover new worlds, push the boundaries of our scientific and technical limits, and then push further. The intangible desire to explore and challenge the boundaries of what we know and where we have been has provided benefits to our society for centuries.

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*“Human beings are naturally inclined to explore and to push the boundaries of what is known. A testament to this is not only our plans to go to Mars and beyond with SpaceX and NASA's Project Artemis, but also the development of space tourism, which aims to one day democratize space travel.”

*this proves that space is important by telling us that humans are "naturally inclined" to explore planets and to expand on civilizations and make products for people to use and purchase

*space is also a thing that people always fantasize about going to or seeing and exploring

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The thought of humans on Mars is a prospect that fires up the imagination. And yet, some people aren't convinced we should even make the journey to the Red Planet.

How can we justify spending billions to go to Mars, and beyond, with all of the problems we have here on Earth? Shouldn't we deal with Earth's issues first before creating an extraterrestrial colony?

These questions are common when it comes to discussing expensive space projects. As the far-reaching exploration of the cosmos becomes more realistic every day with the work being done by NASA, SpaceX, Blue Horizon, and many other companies, we take a look at why we should be heading out there in the first place.
RELATED: MAKING MARS HABITABLE: RESEARCHERS PROPOSE A LOCALIZED ALTERNATIVE TO TERRAFORMING
1. Riches await amongst the stars

With private businesses taking us to space, and huge debate over how much of the U.S.'s annual budget should go to NASA, it goes without saying that there has to be some kind of financial imperative for going to space - and there certainly may be one.

Our solar system has seen what may be an asteroid filled with gold, and a number of companies want to mine this asteriod and others like it for its resources within ten years.

Source: A robotic mission collecting materials from an asteroid, Source:NASA

Organizations such as NASA are already planning for a future in which asteroid mining will have an enormous impact on our economy.

2. We should never legislate what frontier gets breached next

Neil deGrasse Tyson, famed astrophysicist, is a vocal champion for space exploration. In the StarTalk video below, he states his case by claiming that, "we should never legislate what frontier gets breached next."

Why is that? Well, we simply can never fully know what's on the other side of a frontier, and how the discovery will benefit humanity. A look back at our history up to this point is proof of that.

NASA's then-associate director of science, Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, gave a great example back in 1970. A Zambia-based nun sent him a letter asking how the organization could justify the billions being spent on space programs with the good that money could do for poverty-stricken people on Earth.

Stuhlinger expressed his admiration for her "compassionate heart" before replying with a story: 400 years ago, when people were suffering from the plague, the German government's investment in the gradual development of glass lenses was protested for its wastefulness. What did this lead to? The creation of the microscope, a giant leap for medicine.

Exploration and scientific advancement present financial risk and real danger to the people undertaking it. But they also hold out the hope of unimaginable rewards, Tyson explains.

3. Space tech comes back down to Earth

Technology developed for space might be incredibly expensive, but the benefits come back down to Earth. GPS technology, for example, which is connected to practically every smartphone today, allowing people to find their way, was originally developed for space.

As explains: "GPS has its origins in the Sputnik era when scientists were able to track the satellite with shifts in its radio signal, known as the 'Doppler Effect,' which became the foundational idea for modern GPS."

Technology developed for use in space has also found uses in detecting Alzheimer's, revolutionizing solar power and even fighting bank fraud.

On top of this, space tech is also being developed to make space travel cheaper. One example is NASA and SpaceX's collaboration to make tech that will allow spacecraft to refuel in space.

4. Planet B and the excluded middle argument

Once again, the cost argument. Reaching Mars would need substantial government backing - estimates say it could cost around $450 billion to reach the Red Planet. When children are starving and millions are homeless how can we justify spending those amounts?

As Carl Sagan, the famous science popularizer, explains, this is an excluded middle argument. This means that a middle ground, in which both outcomes are possible, is completely disregarded.

According to Sagen's arguement, there is enough wealth on planet A (Earth) to take us to planet B (Mars) as well as tackling the problems of poverty and hunger.

To illustrate this point, let's look at the U.S.'s recent expenditure on NASA. In 2020, the government is proposing a top-line expenditure on NASA of $22.6 billion. Another $15 billion or so is spent on military space programs. Yet this is only a small portion of the total U.S. budget - around 0.5%.

5. We are explorers by nature

Human beings are naturally inclined to explore and to push the boundaries of what is known. A testament to this is not only our plans to go to Mars and beyond with SpaceX and NASA's Project Artemis, but also the development of space tourism, which aims to one day democratize space travel.

While companies like Virgin are looking to eventually charge an astronomical £250,000 for flying in its commercial craft, companies like Barcelona's Zero 2 Infinity, are aiming to make space travel more affordable, by sending people up in a space balloon, called Bloon.

Zero 2 Infinity's Bloon space balloon. Source: Zero 2 Infinity

All of this suggests the willingness of the average person to explore space. On this topic, Carl Sagan once said: "human beings are a curious, inquisitive, exploratory species. I think that has been the secret of our success as a species."

Our ancestors explored the world, acquired new knowledge, and thrived because of it. And now, as Sagan says, "we have committed ourselves to space, and I do not think that we are about to turn back."

Still, investment is needed. "Space is difficult," Virgin's Richard Branson explains, "it is rocket science."

If we turn our backs on it now, what cosmic discoveries will be lost forever?

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Out of this World: 5 Reasons Why Space Exploration is Important

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The thought of humans on Mars is a prospect that fires up the imagination. And yet, some people aren't convinced we should even make the journey to the Red Planet. How can we justify spending billions to go to Mars, and beyond, with all of the problems we have here on Earth?

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* A space program is the only way to defend our planet from comets and asteroids.
*Space exploration is making our planet and us safe. This could save mankind in the future.

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This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use.

Space may be the final frontier, but it's an expensive one to explore. There are ample problems with which to contend here on Earth, and that leads some people to wonder if space exploration is worth the hassle. At ExtremeTech, we believe the answer is unequivocally "yes." Here are five reasons why space exploration is vital to humanity.

New Technologies and Research

Humans did not evolve to go into space, but we go there anyway. That has led to the development of various technologies that feed back into the economy and improve our lives on Earth. Without space programs, we wouldn't have GPS, accurate weather prediction, solar cells, or the ultraviolet filters in sunglasses and cameras. There's also medical research happening in space right now that could cure diseases and prolong human lives, and these experiments can't be done on Earth. Space exploration could save your life.

Asteroids and Comets Don't Care About Us

Speaking of saving lives, space exploration could save all our lives. Our solar system has calmed down a lot since the early eons, but there are still uncountable big asteroids and comets out there that could smack into the planet and really ruin your day. It's happened several times in the past, each one causing a mass extinction. It's not a matter of if another large asteroid hits Earth, but when. A robust space program is the only hope we have of deflecting such an object.

Colonization Is the Ultimate Backup

There are currently more than 7 billion humans, which is a lot. However, we're all crammed together on this one planet. If something happened to Earth, our species could be wiped out. For example, the aforementioned asteroid impact. Colonizing other bodies in the solar system is a way to create a "backup" of humanity that will survive no matter what happens to Earth. Maybe future humans will be Martians who will never set foot on Earth.

Space Mining Could Save the World

As we develop new technologies on Earth, the strain on our natural resources continues to increase. The extraction of valuable minerals has led to a host of problems, including environmental damage and human exploitation, but there's a wealth of precious materials in space. Startups like Planetary Resources want to mine asteroids instead of Earth, which would mean an effectively unlimited supply of raw materials that are rare on Earth.

We Are Explorers

There are more practical reasons for space exploration, but one of the principle reasons we must continue is that we're explorers. That's why humans number in the billions - from our earliest upright steps, we've endeavored to learn more about the world around us, and this allowed us to build civilization. Exploring space is an opportunity not only to discover new worlds and build advanced technologies, but to work together toward a larger goal irrespective of nationality, race, or gender. If we stop exploring, we stop being human.

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5 Reasons Space Exploration Is More Important Than Ever - ExtremeTech

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This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use. Space may be the final frontier, but it's an expensive one to explore. There are ample problems with which to contend here on Earth, and that leads some people to wonder if space exploration is worth the hassle.

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* Canada's space program created a robot arm that can do brain surgery.
*Space exploration cn lead to inventions that save human lives. Also, you could probably make a lot of money.

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Top of page

Broadening our understanding of the human body

During space travel, astronauts are affected by microgravity, radiation and isolation. Some of the changes in their bodies are similar to health problems associated with aging or a sedentary lifestyle.

Science experiments performed on astronauts in space improve our understanding of medical conditions on Earth. This research has produced findings that can help people suffering from cardiovascular disorders, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and balance problems.

Transforming surgery on Earth

Canadian technology on the International Space Station ( ISS) has allowed for innovations in operating rooms. The expertise that powered Canadarm, Canadarm2 and Dextre, Canada's space robots, was used to create surgical robots such as neuroArm, a highly precise robotic arm capable of performing brain surgeries that would otherwise be impossible, and Modus V, a second-generation robotic digital microscope that helps patients with a variety of brain and spine conditions. This technology is allowing neurosurgeons to perform difficult brain surgeries with greater safety and efficiency.

neuroArm is the world's first robot capable of performing surgery inside magnetic resonance machines. (Credit: University of Calgary)

Synaptive technology connects the operating room. (Credit: Synaptive Medical/Cicada Design Inc.)

Detecting and treating breast cancer

The technology behind Canadian space robots was used to develop IGAR, a tele-operated medical robot capable of performing very precise biopsies to detect breast cancer. IGAR conducts highly accurate and minimally invasive procedures with less pain and discomfort for the patient.

Credit: Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation

Providing medical assistance to people in remote areas

Thanks to communication satellites, specialists in urban centres can quickly provide medical advice to health care providers in rural communities.

The Canadian Space Agency ( CSA) is collaborating with Canada's space companies and medical community to create more portable medical equipment that can be used when hospitals are not easily accessible, with the goal of improving access to care for people living in remote regions.

Systems developed to track astronauts' health from Earth, like Bio-Monitor and Bio-Analyzer, could be used for patients in remote areas. Bio-Monitor combines numerous devices into one wireless smart shirt and mobile application that measures and records data like heart rate and blood pressure so that scientists can monitor astronauts' health as they orbit the planet. Bio-Analyzer is a new tool that could quickly test samples of blood, urine, or saliva and provide results back to Earth within two to three hours.

These technologies have the potential to improve patient care on Earth through improving access to medical support and reducing wait times for test results.

CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques explains how the Bio-Monitor, a Canadian smart shirt system, measures and records astronauts' vital signs on the International Space Station. The sleek, all-in-one garment is used to collect scientific data that is easily sent down to Earth. (Credits: CSA, NASA)
Transcript

Credit: CSA/NASA

Keeping our hearts healthy

The heart pumps blood through the arteries, providing oxygen to our cells throughout the body. The absence of gravity in space disturbs this process. To shed light on how the human body adapts to weightlessness, the Canadian science experiments in the Vascular series examine space-related changes in astronauts' blood vessels before, during, and after their missions. Studying the responses of the cardiovascular system in space better equips us to understand heart failure and how our arteries age here on Earth.

Thanks to their expertise in modelling fluid flow through rocket engines, space engineers helped design heart pumps. These pumps keep people in need of heart transplants alive by enabling blood to circulate through their body until a donor heart becomes available.

Credit: Blausen Medical Communications Inc., CC BY 3.0

Treating bleeding after childbirth with pressure garments

Spending long periods of time in weightlessness weakens the body's natural adaptations against the effects of gravity, and greatly reduces heart rate and level of physical activity. When returning to Earth, some astronauts wear a g-suit, also called an antigravity suit, to apply pressure to the legs and torso in order to reduce symptoms of cardiovascular deconditioning such as lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea, and fainting. A Canadian study tested several g-suit models to assess their effectiveness in preventing these symptoms in returning astronauts.

Using g-suit technology, non-inflatable pressure garments are being used on Earth to treat women suffering from postpartum hemorrhage by applying external pressure to a woman's entire lower body to stop bleeding after childbirth. This affordable solution is saving lives around the world.

Explore further

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Top of page During space travel, astronauts are affected by microgravity, radiation and isolation. Some of the changes in their bodies are similar to health problems associated with aging or a sedentary lifestyle. Science experiments performed on astronauts in space improve our understanding of medical conditions on Earth.

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