As the Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, April 10th, cushioned by the waves, I felt an immense sense of pride and admiration. This was, in part, because the Artemis-II had landed off the coast of our very own city of San Diego. Much more importantly, however, it felt like humanity had achieved some resounding victory over the universe. This was odd for me because we have certainly gone to the moon before. In fact, we landed there six times between 1969 and 1972, which would have you thinking that space exploration is ancient news. Yet, it seems so uncommon that we have so many people watching our government outside of a political context. It’s felt like forever since people have tuned in to watch the nation accomplish something without wanting to tear out each other’s throats. On top of that, this moon mission does not come out of international competition. At least to me, the rare sight of an accomplishment that is relatively free of political motivation is extremely refreshing to see.
Yet, underlying the victory achieved by the Artemis mission is a major dilemma. Since the last Apollo mission in 1972, NASA has seen a relative decline in activity. Despite staying busy on projects such as the International Space Station (ISS) and Space Shuttle, the Challenger and Columbia disasters severely damaged NASA’s image. From 1993 to around 2013, Americans expressed an increased desire for budget cuts to NASA, exceeding 50% at some points. Space programs like the ISS are also much less ambitious than those of the Apollo era, costing less and being restricted to Low Earth Orbit, a considerably lower scope.
According to The Planetary Society, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has faced a declining budget since the 1990s. For the most part, NASA has not been a priority for the government, which may suggest a lack of popularity. On the contrary, CBS News reports that 67% of Americans support a return to the Moon as late as 2025. Yet the White House has proposed a 23% cut to NASA’s funding as part of the 2027 fiscal budget.
What this demonstrates is that politicians have underestimated the nation’s enthusiasm for space travel. With a proposed $1.5 trillion budget for the United States military compared to NASA’s $24 billion, it’s clear that the issue isn’t the need for pinching pennies. Instead, our government is acting almost like an investor: cutting funding for agencies if an immediate, tangible return on investment isn’t found.
But while the government may believe that investment in NASA nets little return, the benefits of space travel and exploration pervade daily life, even if they aren’t immediately obvious. In fact, NASA was a forerunner in wireless technology. Furthermore, digital imagery technology that was previously used in American space programs later became the basis of CAT scanning and radiography. From modern home insulation to portable computers, many widely used civilian technologies had their start in NASA and its space programs.
On top of the indirect role space exploration has played in propelling civilian innovation, there is a plethora of scientific breakthroughs that have collectively benefited humanity. The microgravity environment in the ISS has allowed scientists to study the protein plaque that causes Alzheimer’s disease, and thus have been able to accomplish unprecedented research on the human body. This same microgravity has also allowed for pharmaceutical innovations through the cultivation of unique protein crystals. Additionally, the ability to launch satellites into space has provided a plethora of benefits. Access to weather monitoring and imaging through satellites has allowed for unmatched knowledge and analysis of weather. Furthermore, satellites have facilitated the creation of global Internet infrastructure through projects like Starlink or Viasat’s global network.
Critics of NASA argue that private space corporations like Elon Musk’s SpaceX or Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin maintain America’s spacefaring abilities, thus rendering NASA a financial burden on the government. However, there is simply no private path for space science. NASA remains the only entity with the capability of performing public scientific research in space despite the rise of private organizations.
Besides the technological advancements that space travel has brought, there is also an intrinsic value to space exploration. As the world remains embroiled in geopolitical strife and territorial and resource disputes, there simply aren’t many areas where nations can come together. Yet, space travel has bridged that gap with the ISS standing as a symbol of international cooperation. The Artemis program has the potential to reignite interest in space travel for a new generation that didn’t witness the golden age of NASA. Despite the magnitude of budget cuts that have been proposed, funding for the Artemis program remains intact. A return to the moon is within sight, and that prospect is invaluable.
What space exploration brings is hope and a belief that humanity is capable of something far beyond the pettiness of political squabbling. The vision of colonizing the Moon or finding evidence of life beyond our planet drives people forward with the belief that such advancements will propel humanity to greater heights and unite us.
