So, the Curiosity Rover is safe on Mars now and is already sending back color photographs. That’s pretty cool right? I think so. As a space geek (who would’ve loved to work for NASA except for my unfortunately poor math skills) this is the best news I’ve gotten in ages. Mars was always my favorite planet (if you’ve read “We Are Savages” you may know that already ;). But, while there’s been considerable excitement surrounding this event, one of the most exciting accomplishments of the space program in a long time, some people have taken this opportunity to again talk about how NASA is a waste of money. While everyone’s entitled to his or her own opinion, here are a few things for skeptics to consider:
– LED’s were originally developed for plant experiments in space
– Pacemakers and other implants were developed from the technology originally used to monitor astronauts
– Cordless tools were originally developed for use on moon missions
– Water purification technology used during Apollo is now used in households
Space gives us a reason to push science forwards, and that usually circles back to everyday uses for the rest of us. Space exploration gives creation somewhere to aim. And Curiosity is there to present possibilities to a new generation. I grew up during the space shuttle era, but missed the beginning. I only saw NASA on the national news when something went wrong, and then when the program was over. Curiosity is a positive story, with loads of coverage. It’s exciting for me, but think about the effect it could have on kids today, to see something positive, and exciting, about science, engineering, and outer space. Thanks to the space program, we’ve got LED’s, cordless tools, pacemakers, and cell phones (not to mention satellites). What could be next?