That Space Exploration should not receive public funding

Introduction (2) Somewhere, between 13 and 20 billion years ago, the Big Bang probably occurred. The start of the universe as we know it, such an extremely important – if not the most important event, ever, and all we know of it is that it may have occurred, and if it did, it was within a seven billion year time frame. Who knows, maybe we can easily find out if, why and when it truly happened. But the only way we can do this is to fund Space exploration. We have begun to discuss the uses – and misuses – of space exploration. I will firstly rebut some of the more deceptive points brought forward by my opponent, and will then go on and speak about the risks of not exploring space, and of how money spent is so tiny compared to the expanse of space and the scientific knowledge that we can potentially seize. Explore Oceans, not space One thing mentioned majorly by my opponent is that exploring space is a waste as we do not fully understand our own planet. Sounds fair, but the main flaw in this argument is that if we concentrate fully on our own planet, we will be looking for internal dangers rather than the more common, external dangers that have been mentioned. We must remember that this debate is on funding space exploration, and not cutting funding for anything else. We can continue exploring the much smaller Earth, but when we realize how vital space will be in our future, exploring it is the least we can do to prepare. International Relations My opponent also talked about the fact that space dominant countries would create aggressive races. This may happen, but our world is growingly multicultural – I know for certain that racism still is at large, but countries have the ability to work together, especially when there is so much to find out, for a common cause. If a country does not want to fund a group program, or maybe the beginning of a new NASA-like corporation, but of the world, and not of just a single country, then they get no credit, they get none of the votes that come with it. A group pool of money to a worldly organisation will not only keep international relations in place, but will strengthen them, and get it more of the funding which space exploration truly deserves. Overstated benefits If Russia hasn’t found anything particularly amazing in the 40 years of space travel, then we must remember that there are billions of planets, millions of nebulas and one infinitely large universe which definitely has plenty to teach us, if only we persevere with exploring space. Point 3 Onto my first argument of round two. Space is a vast expanse full of wonders and horrors beyond imagining. Asteroid impacts, supernovas, vortexes, debris, extreme temperatures and radiation are all problems vital enough to be needed to be solved. An asteroid can now be detected by a space station with relative ease, and technology has begun to increase the chance of destroying any asteroids or pieces of space debris, but space has more to throw at us then we can imagine. If anything like what wiped out the dinosaurs came near us, we would be put in extreme danger. Space exploration is absolutely imperative to our survival from threats that are literally out of this world. Spending money, an objective thing, to increase our chances of survival in the long term is not a choice at all. We’ve just got to realize the importance of space exploration, and comprehend that although our own world has a lot of things that can kill us singularly, nothing can compare to whatever space may throw at us. Point 4 Money is one thing of human creation which we are extremely careful with. Because we have a side to our race that likes to keep and hoard money, we fail to spend it on crucial things that threaten our entire species. Only now has the importance of, for instance Global Warming dawned on us. If you don’t believe in Global Warming for any reason, there are plenty more examples of human complacency due to money and power, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, both world wars, and swine flu, which was not instantly given the money it needed to be cured and distributed, and therefore, people died. Imagine if a much more threatening event came to be, and we were this late in spending and working to stop our own demise. Governments and leaders are slow to act, so foresight should be implemented, and acting on space exploration should begin. Space exploration gives us knowledge – of our roots, of other elements, of other life forms and most importantly, of threats and how to counter act them. All this knowledge and safety is absolutely invaluable, and money is so irrelevant compared to human survival and knowledge. Conclusion Space is infinitely large. It has so many wonders and events and places to go and things to see that letting it fly by, and not stopping to explore it would be an absolute disappointment. If it’s only money that is stopping us, then we should let go of that money, because money can’t buy happiness. Space exploration is not only paramount for our survival and our extending knowledge of ourselves and our world and our entire universe, but it is pathetic to opt out of living because you think money could be spent on better things. If we draw back space exploration, we draw back the capabilities and promises of human life and the entire human race.