The Benefits Of Human Space Exploration

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Human space exploration had its beginning on October 4, 1957, when the Soviets launched Sputnik 1 into space. Sputnik was the first artificial satellite. The United States followed close behind, launching Explorer 1 into orbit in early 1958. The Soviet Union was also first to launch a man into space, when on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the earth on Vostok 1. Again, the United States followed shortly after when Alan Shepard made a suborbital flight, becoming the first American in space. The United States then followed with its first orbital flight when John Glenn went to space on February 20, 1962. President John. F Kennedy, the set a new goal for the United States, which was putting a man on the moon by …show more content…

In many cases, challenge leads to innovation. In other words, necessity is the mother of invention. The great and complex challenges presented by wanting to travel and explore space and continue to advance lead to other advances, especially in the field of technology. There are many things that space exploration has given to us, not just in the fields of medical and military technology, but in technology for our homes and cars. A September 2013 document compiled by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) provides the following quote.
“Technological knowledge, generated when high performance systems are developed to address the extreme challenges of space missions, yields many innovations that benefit the public. Scientific knowledge acquired from space expands humankind’s understanding of nature and frequently unlocks creative and useful Earth-based applications for society.” (International Space Exploration Coordination Group, …show more content…

(n.d.). A Practical Introductory Guide on Using Satellite Technology for Communications. Retrieved from Intelsat: http://www.intelsat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/5941-SatellitePrimer-2010.pdf
International Space Exploration Coordination Group. (2013, September). Benefits Stemming from Space Exploration.
Jessa, T. (2009, August 24). Benefits of Space Exploration. Retrieved from Universe Today: http://www.universetoday.com/37079/benefits-of-space-exploration/
Jones, R. (2011). International Space Station Overview.
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information. (2011). Spinoff: NASA Technologies Benefit Society. Retrieved from http://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2011/pdf/Spinoff2011.pdf
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information. (2011). Spinoff: NASA Technologies Benefit Society. Retrieved from http://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2011/pdf/Spinoff2011.pdf
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information. (2012). Spinoff. Spinoff Program Office. Retrieved from http://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2012/pdf/Spinoff2012.pdf
Ruiz, J. L., & Frey, C. H. (nd). Geosynchronous Satellite Use of GPS. Retrieved from http://spacejournal.ohio.edu/issue9/pdf/geosynchronous.pdf
Tyson, N. D. (n.d.). The Case For Space Exploration. Retrieved from

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