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Did you know that we wouldn't have pictures of the Moon and Earth if we didn't spend valuable resources on space exploration? By spending valuable resources on space exploration we wouldn’t have advanced technology, we will never find a planet that supports life the way Earth does. If we didn't have space exploration and we wouldn't have satellite images of the Moon, Earth etc.

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We should spend valuable resources on space exploration because without it we wouldn’t have advanced technology. With space exploration we can find other planets that support life the way Earth does. With space exploration we also wouldn’t have satellite images of Earth and space.

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Space exploration is key to finding other planets that support life the way Earth does.

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Our search for planets around other stars in our galaxy has yielded us more than 4,500 worlds. Quite a few of these exoplanets seem to be Earth-like, where surface conditions could sustain liquid water and life as we know it.

But even as next generation telescopes aim to detect gases on such planets indicative of life, our search for such habitable worlds remains somewhat limited. Simply put: Earth-like planets are not the only places where life could form.

We know from our own solar system that icy moons orbiting giant planets far away from the Sun - such as Europa, Ganymede and Enceladus - can have underground, habitable oceans too. Their liquid water isn't due to the Sun's heat but rather warmed by friction between parts of their interiors being tugged by their planets' gravity. If sunlight, a surface and an atmosphere aren't necessary to make a world habitable, then why confine our search for life to Earth-like worlds that orbit stars?

Scientists think planets that don't orbit any star, called free-floating planets or rogue planets, can harbor life too. These planets originally form around stars like any other but get kicked out of their system at some point due to gravitational effects of giant planets within.

Planets may have been ejected out of our solar system too over 4 billion years ago, and now orbit our galaxy as dark worlds. Without a star, how can these dark worlds conceivably host life as we know it? Our exploration of the solar system combined with two decades of exoplanet research tells us there are several possibilities.

Oceans on worlds with no Suns but moons

Getting kicked out of a star system early on does have at least one advantage: strong ultraviolet light from young stars can't strip away hydrogen atmospheres of these planets, which helps retain heat.

A 1999 research paper Life-sustaining planets in interstellar space? suggests that a hydrogen-rich atmosphere can not only prevent free-floating planets from losing their internal radioactive heat to space but could also keep surface temperatures warm enough to sustain Earth-like oceans. Simulated hydrogen-rich environments in labs show that certain terrestrial microorganisms can thrive under such conditions. That said, life on free-floating worlds would still have to miraculously emerge using the planet's miniscule internal energy, compared to over 99% of Earth's energy coming from sunlight.

Hypothetically, if a free-floating planet has a large enough moon, it could further heat the planet using tidal mechanisms, similar to our Moon and Earth. When the Moon formed more than 4.4 billion years ago, it was about 15 times closer to us than it is today. It induced such a strong tidal heating that scientists think the Moon may have played a key role in making the early Earth habitable. Even if such heating lasts only a few hundred million years, it could provide a richer source of energy than the free-floating planet's own heat to keep an ocean warm, initiate complex geology and possibly develop microbial life.

But how likely is it for free-floating planets to have moons in the first place?

"There's nothing theoretically stopping us from having a Moon-sized satellite around a free-floating planet," said Nick Oberg, a researcher at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute and TU Delft studying formation of Jupiter's moons. " Orbital simulations show that more than 47% of moons can remain bound to exiled gas giant planets." Likewise, simulations with ejected Earth-mass planets show that more than 4% of them retain their Moon-sized satellite.

Habitable moons around starless worlds

In addition to exiled free-floating planets being able to retain their moons, it's also possible for free-floating planets and their satellites to coalesce directly from clouds of gas and dust in interstellar space just like stars do. We have already discovered a free-floating planet candidate surrounded by a disk from which moons like those around Jupiter could form.

"Planets with multiple satellites, such as the Galilean moons of Jupiter, have even better chances of retaining those moons after being ejected," said Patricio Javier Ávila, a Chilean researcher of free-floating planets at the University of Concepción. Just as tidal heating from Jupiter and Saturn creates underground oceans on some of their icy moons, such satellites around free-floating planets could have subsurface oceans too.

"If a free-floating planet retains multiple moons and their elliptical orbits, tidal heating could be sustained and with it the subsurface oceans," Oberg said.

There's another possibility, though. Just like Saturn's moon Titan has a thick atmosphere, a sufficiently massive moon of a free-floating planet could have one too. Coupled with tidal heating, Earth-mass exomoons of these could have high enough temperatures to sustain oceans on their surface for hundreds of millions of years, and be favorable to microbial life.

Okay, but can we even detect starless worlds?

For all their potential to host life, it's incredibly difficult to detect dark, free-floating worlds in our galaxy using traditional exoplanet-catching methods. It's hard enough already to find miniscule planets even when they have stars!

Even though free-floating planets should be common, and at least one of them might be lying within (astronomically) merely 10 light years from us, we haven't found any yet.

"It's challenging to verify these objects as true free-floating planets because their mass can be so difficult to accurately estimate," said Oberg.

In 2013, scientists directly imaged a Jupiter-like free-floating planet candidate 80 light years away, but it's hard to tell it apart from a class of objects called brown dwarfs. These are more massive than Jupiter but are called "failed stars" because they aren't massive enough to fuse hydrogen in their cores.

Fourteen more free-floating candidates have been detected using a technique called 'gravitational microlensing', wherein a planet's gravitational field bends light from objects behind them and magnifies their view like a fish bowl. These are difficult to confirm too.

"Gravitational microlensing detections are one-time events, making them harder to follow up on," Ávila said. "It's also difficult to distinguish a light brown dwarf from a free-floating planet as the technique favors more massive objects."

Nevertheless, brown dwarfs could host habitable moons in the same way free-floating planets do. Brown dwarfs have been observed too so there's some hope.

Interestingly, moons of free-floating worlds may be relatively easier to detect than their parent objects. Even as we haven't yet found an exomoon around a typical exoplanet with a host star, we might spot a free-floating object's moon first because there would be no noise from a glaring star when the moon passes in front of the planet from our view.

Next generation space telescopes, such as NASA's recently launched JWST and ESA's upcoming PLATO telescope, could detect Moon- and Titan-sized satellites orbiting free-floating planets and brown dwarfs. Wide-field surveys by NASA's upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Telescope should increase our chances even more, as should better gravitational microlensing surveys in the future. Detecting exomoons and the nature of their orbits will allow scientists to determine properties of their parent objects.

Even if we discover no or few exomoons around free-floating worlds, next generation telescopes will still advance our understanding of moons in general.

"JWST and future telescopes will vastly increase our understanding of moon-forming disks around regular exoplanets, which are not only easier to spot and study than exomoons but have already been detected," said Jesper Tjoa, a researcher at the University of Heidelberg. An example of such a system is the moon-forming disk around the young Jupiter-like planet PDS 70c nearly 400 light years away.

Finding exomoons across the galaxy and understanding how they form and evolve would provide us insights into how moons in our solar system formed, and how common habitable moons are.

The habitable worlds next door

The possibility that icy moons of free-floating planets or of exoplanets with host stars could harbor life is tantalizing, and ties back to our solar system. Even if we do find habitable exomoons with great difficulty, there's no way for us to be sure if they host life. The only place for us to definitively confirm alien moon life is our solar system, wherein we can send spacecraft to measure things with precision and even fetch samples. In fact, studying icy moons of our solar system with spacecraft is what helps us model the possibilities of habitable exomoons.

This is precisely why some of the biggest planetary science missions launching this decade, like JUICE and Europa Clipper, are dedicated to finding if underground oceans of Jupiter's icy moons are habitable. Future mission concepts such as the Enceladus Life Finder would look for direct signs of life in Enceladus' water plumes. NASA is launching the Dragonfly mission later in the decade to explore Titan's surface to understand possible starting ingredients for life on early Earth and elsewhere.

Moons outnumber planets in our solar system, and moons with liquid water oceans outnumber planets with oceans here too. If our solar system isn't exceptional - and there's no reason to think it is - then it's highly likely that moons make up the largest habitable real estate of the universe. If life does exist on many of these worlds, they may represent the most common lifeforms, and we might just be the odd ones.

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Is life possible on rogue planets and moons?

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Our search for planets around other stars in our galaxy has yielded us more than 4,500 worlds. Quite a few of these exoplanets seem to be Earth-like, where surface conditions could sustain liquid water and life as we know it.

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Without space exploration we wouldn't have satellite images of Earth and space.

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First Photo of Earth From a Weather Satellite, TIROS-1

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The first photo of Earth from a weather satellite, taken by the TIROS-1 satellite on April 1, 1960. Early photographs provided new information on cloud systems, including spiral formations associated with large storms, immediately proving their value to meteorologists.

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Advanced technology is something many people can't live without. We wouldn't have advanced technology without space exploration.

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5 Reasons Space Exploration Is More Important Than Ever - ExtremeTech

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If we stop exploring, we stop being human.

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In conclusion, we should spend valuable resources on space exploration because without it we will never find another planet that supports life the way Earth does. Second of all if we don't spend valuable resources on space exploration we wouldn't have satellite images of Earth and space . Finally without space exploration we wouldn't have advanced technology. Space is exploration is so important because if we don't find another planet that supports life the way earth does we are trapped. Without satellite and satellites we would never know the weather or get images of the Earth and Moon. Advanced technology is something people can't live without especially the medical technology. Space exploration is more than just going to the Moon it can help everyone for the better.

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If we don't spend valuable resources on space exploration we wouldn't have advanced technology, or satellite images of the Moon and Earth, we will never find a planet that supports life the way Earth does. Without spending valuable resources on space exploration the technology will never advance and we will never get new satellite images space exploration saves peoples lives because of the medical research being done in space. If we don't spend valuable resources on space exploration we wouldn't have items people need to survive.

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Billions of dollars are spent every year by the world's space agencies, but does this money bring us any benefit, or should we pull the plug and spend it elsewhere?

All the Yes points:

1. against space exploration

2. Space exploration gives us no direct benefit

3. The Earth itself is not fully explored yet

4. A commercial space industry is taking over

5. the new crisis on planet earth: finish your priorities before starting new ones

6. Money is better used to help human lives in their own country

7. NASA is very Hazardous

8. Yes, because

9. The resources and efforts focused on space exploration could better humanity.

10. space exploration is a waste of money

11. Could have been used for more impactful endeavors

All the No points:

1. Scientific knowledge has value beyond the measurements of cost

2. The cost isn't actually very high

3. It is in man's nature to explore his environment.

4. Many discoveries have been made as a result of Space Exploration

5. Its not a waste

6. Plastics Industry/Internet

7. NASA's Inventions and innovations that help the world

8. The Largest Benefits

9. Man's uncontainable curiosity

10. Safety of Colonization

against space exploration

Spends the time and money to develop these products for use in space, but usually there are many civilian applications for the same products. Production of these product leads to redevelopment, sales and distribution - all of which leads to more jobs; somebody has to build, sell, and repair.

One last point, we know that Russia and China have both put men in space and now even more countries are getting involved. Obviously we have seen the power of Google Maps (and that is only at the civilian level). Imagine now, that other powerful countries have satellites to spy on us and can position weapons directly above our country, dont you think it would be a good idea to be abloe to stave that off. If we decided to stop "wasting" money on space programs, we can say goodbye to many new developments that will be out of reach of garage scientist and we can expect to be overwhelmed with visitors in the skies above the US.

Did you know that to build a space elevator (a space-platform constructed with the intent of lifting substances into Earth's orbit) would only cost $40 billion with 100% contingency, and half that for the baseline construction cost? There are endless possibilities, ranging from solar energy farms to revolutionary and cheap intercontinental transportation. Imagine a solar farm, capable of harvesting the solar winds; this translates to an unlimited supply of energy for not just the United States, but the entire world! The human race is changing, and expanding. Soon, the Earth will simply not be big enough and we need to start considering our future as a species.

There are issues that do plague us as a race. There is poverty and injustice in the world. While these issues exist and should certainly not be ignored, the funds put forth to space exploration have a quantifiable impact and are no less of a priority. These problems will likely not be solved by the evolution of invention and space exploration alone, but as technology improves so will the lives of every man, woman, and child regardless of gender, skin color, or wealth. Space exploration needs focus and funding, it is representative of our future, and will secure it. Space exploration is arguably the single-most important investment we could possibly make.

Space exploration gives us no direct benefit

The Earth itself is not fully explored yet

A commercial space industry is taking over

the corporations will move in whenever they see opportunity for solid profit, but it is always science, and often government funded research, that finds those opportunities in the first place.
for example you mention satellites which are an integral part of the global communications industry, which in itself would not exist without first having the invention of telephone wires, radio waves, etc., all which have led up to space satellites.

as for the prospects of space tourism again that is simply a result of the fact that governments have funded space research for all these years and finally it is getting to a point where it's cheap enough and safe enough to send paying citizens up there.

corporations will not do anything that doesn't guarantee profit so will they investigate whether there is water on the moon? whether it is possible in the future to colonize it? no. it's too much of a risk so the government has to pay for it.

the new crisis on planet earth: finish your priorities before starting new ones

there are two major crisis going on at your home planet. global warming and the world wild economic crisis, both are severe. if the government doesn't handle the economic crisis with care we all will end up poor. how can we feed the poor,fend for our selves and take care of really expensive space travels?

space travel is a unwanted business for now. how many of you'll know that NASA lost count of there budget after the first billions of dollar after the first year? is this more important than caring for the needy? when so many people are dieing as we speak can we just neglect them and say "the money we just spend went for a good cause, and these few hundreds of people who died are nothing because if we don't find a another planet to escape the cultures of global warming we all will die" is that fair for them?i say no and what will you say?

Global warming is the second most severe issue the earth is going through. we have to take care of our planet before we go roaming other planets. if the great legendary tribes of yesterday were here to see all this they would not believe that long time ago there used to be pure air to breath e and man and animal lived side by side.now everything is destroyed. if we take care of this problem with with care we would be able to overcome this disaster.

what if the space shuttle launch and then fall?then what?the government is going to have to pay more money for that.plus they might get sued.our government is dumb for going along with this.

First priority is to teach people to help themselves so that they can help us when it is time to explore space, so let's prioritize. We would not have most of the problems of today if our parents taught us better than to steal and hurt others, so let's teach the next generation so that they can explore space when they are well grounded.

Our goal here is to create a balance, not to give up one option for another.

It's sickening to see all of these people going on and on about "saving the starving and impoverished". Well then sell your computer. Stop commenting on here, go dedicate your life to helping the "starving and needy". And how many tons of rice and grain do we need to keep dropping on these countries before they get their act together and FEED THEMSELVES. I know it sounds heartless, but it's their fault. I don't care if they don't have money. Man lived for thousands of years off of the land and many (dumb) animals still manage to pull it off. Why do we have to send some christian missionaries over to dig them a well? Why can't they dig their own well? Why can't they plant their own grain? Why can't they hunt their own game or raise their own livestock? Why can't they move OUT of the areas of drought? Why is it OUR problem? You feel guilty because you live better? We shouldn't help people that will not help themselves. And something is going to happen and we will ALL be dead or starving on this planet because we refused to move on and advance the survival of our species; all pissed away on supporting some people that would probably just as soon let us starve if we were the ones without food and they were the rich ones.

Most humanitarian organizations simply give poor countries money to fend for their sick and hungry when they can instead teach them how to plant crops that survive in their harsh conditions and educate people who are illiterate and turn them into doctors or farmers. When money is just thrown at their feet, what will happen if the money runs out? When they send people to give them prepared food and medication, what will happen when they leave?
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.

Money is better used to help human lives in their own country

NASA is very Hazardous

Go and search space shuttle disasters on Google you will find tons of information on how NASA failed on some of its missions risking the lives of there astronauts. Nasa scientists have lost contact with the latest unmanned spacecraft sent to Mars, the $165m Mars Polar Lander.

In September, the $125m Mars Climate Orbiter mission also failed, after an embarrassing mix-up over metric and imperial measurements.

The history of failed missions to Mars stretches back 40 years, so are they a waste of taxpayers' money, which would be better spent on more earthly needs?

Is the cost of space adventure unjustified while poverty exists in many parts of the world?

Yes, because

The resources and efforts focused on space exploration could better humanity.

Its a waste

space exploration is a waste of money

Could have been used for more impactful endeavors

Scientific knowledge has value beyond the measurements of cost

The cost isn't actually very high

It is in man's nature to explore his environment.

Many discoveries have been made as a result of Space Exploration

Space

Its not a waste

Plastics Industry/Internet

NASA's Inventions and innovations that help the world

It's pretty simple. This is were research happens. Test, trying things out. See what works. What can be improved. Patents on new innovations to create a more sustainable and efficient world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_spin-off.

The Largest Benefits

Space Exploration has given us many,many technologies that are essential.

Satellites were some of the first venturers into space and are another critical part of our society.

Weather Forecasting (Satellites. Very important for hurricanes and dangerous storm systems, have saved lives and help us prepare for the worst.)

Velcor and non-stick pans! (Mostly a joke, but hey, they work!) (General Technology.)

GPS (Very critical if your lost somewhere, has saved lives!) (Satellites.)

Long range television! (Satellites.)

Long Range Communication (Phones,Cellphones,etc.) (Satellites.)

Internet. (Satellites, and power lines of course.)

(Much much more.)

Now onto the somewhat psyhcological and green-wise part of why we need Space Exploration.

If we stopped warring with eachohter and wasting precious minerals that we have on this Earth -on- war, we would have a lot more resources to spend on more important things such as daily life, and hey, space exploration wouldnt mind some more attention either. If we spent our time looking for other planets, and other areas of expansion. We would be a much more healthy planet and society. Our Earth is also nearlly completely explored except for the oceans depths which are frankly impossible to get to the bottom too. The pressures are far far too powerful and some even say its more dangerous to trek to the bottom of our oceans then it is into space. Our bodies and steels cannot handle the intense pressure they have for more then a half hour. (The window of an exploratory sub cracked and the crew nearly died before they had to immediately go back up.)

Look at the casualties of war and the waste of resources and land. Oil spills are causing massive damage to the eco-system, the recent gulf spill has me worried that the entire balance might just be at stake. We have seen that solar powered cars can convert it to electricity and has just as much if not more power then gas cars. (Instant accelereation* and some have gone to 100 mph.)
* You have to rev your engine on a gas car to get gas into the engine before accelerating. With electricity the power is instant.

Solar Power is infinitely renewable (Until the sun dies.) and infinitely powerful, why waste money on oil rigs? Your going to get alot more money on solar power and less expenses with minor maintence.

There are so many more things I can name at this time, but here are just a few as I must go eat for now.

Man's uncontainable curiosity

Safety of Colonization

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Space Exploration Is a Waste of Money - DebateWise

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Billions of dollars are spent every year for space exploration but does this money bring us any benefits? We present the top arguments from both sides.