Space exploration began with no real intentions of discovering new worlds beyond Earth. Rather, it began as part of a conflict between two incredibly powerful countries. The United States and Soviet Union, two of the world’s most influential countries in the mid-20th century, were in a race of influence. A surefire way to gain everyone’s attention was to explore a field that had never been discovered--space.
The first major advancement in space exploration was Sputnik I. Working as the first manmade satellite to enter Earth’s orbit, Sputnik I founded not only the space race, but also the stage for many advancements and firsts. In 1959, Luna 2 was the first spacecraft to reach the Moon’s surface. In 1961, Vostok 1 was the first mission to achieve human spaceflight. Societal advancements were even evident, as Vostok 6 occupied the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova. While the intentions of these missions were most directly associated with the race for influence across the world, the indirect results of them held technological and societal growth.
How Has Motivation for Exploration Changed?
Space exploration was a major economic investment for both the United States and Soviet Union. Space exploration could not be abandoned, especially after the leaps of progress that had been made. Following the Cold War, the motivations for space exploration changed drastically. NASA’s mission became more clear and seemed to be less motivated by competition. Instead, space exploration was a way to challenge the world’s capabilities of technology while learning more about a largely unknown topic of interest.
Today, NASA’s reason for exploring space is to “address fundamental questions about our place in the Universe and the history of our solar system.” With these questions being answered, “we expand technology, create new industries, and help to foster a peaceful connection with other nations.”
As the world’s climate grows warmer and population continues to rise, the public perception on space exploration has shifted. Missions to discover the geographical features of Mars have developed over decades. Most recently, the Perseverance Rover landed on the planet, a trip that lasted nearly nine months. SpaceX, a space exploration group focused on Mars colonization, plans for the first manned trip to Mars to happen by 2026.
The motivations surrounding space exploration have not always been on improving technology. However, as time passed, new reasons developed, leading to the success seen today. Space is a topic that has long been in the interest of many minds, and while many advancements have been made, only a minute fraction of what can be found has been discovered. With continual efforts to push beyond perceived limits, space exploration can do more than connect countries to a single effort: it can also answer some of the greatest questions humans have on the vast entities of space.