The most important aspect of space exploration is that it forces us to innovate, to improve, and to learn. The single greatest benefit of space exploration was the microprocessor, which was developed to make putting a computer into space possible in the mid-1960's. Without the need for the creation of this device, desk top computers would never have happened. The desk top computer was never foreseen by science fiction, because no one imagined a need for such a thing. Some people have argued that the development of the microprocessor was inevitable, but the bulk of the evidence indicates that remote terminals linked to main frames would be used in any application requiring data processing in locations distant from the main frame.
Apollo needed the ability to process data while communications with Earth were impossible, because the craft would be on the far side of the Moon. Without that need, all of the advances in making computers small enough to carry under your arm would never have happened. The other invention that resulted directly from space exploration was the ceramic tiles used on the space shuttle. Velcro, Teflon, and all the other things attributed to space exploration were invented independent of the space program.
But the refinement of many technologies has been a direct result of the needs of the space program. Monitoring body status using telemetry was pushed forward rapidly, which has resulted in the ability to diagnose physical ailments without the doctor being in the presence of the patient. Rechargeable batteries evolved rapidly because of the demands of use in space. There are probably thousands of benefits that we have received from our exploration of space, but most, if not all, of them are not easily linked to the space program.
Some people say that there is no need to send humans into space, because our machines can represent us adequately. Ask anyone conducting experiments in chemistry if they could duplicate their ability to observe reactions with a robot, and you will probably be told "No!" Someone working on a problem involving mechanical devices would probably give the same response, because a vibration, a smell, a noise, might be key in figuring out what is going wrong.
And the most important thing, I believe, is learning to think in terms of the environment. We are the products of evolution in a gravity field. That is a rare circumstance in the Cosmos, and a handicap in learning the true nature of where we live. We need to live in a zero gravity environment for a while before we can learn to think in terms of what is natural in that environment. A match will not burn in zero gravity. Water and oil will easily mix in zero gravity. Bubbles injected into molten metal will not rise to the surface in zero gravity.
Room temperature super conductors have never been discovered on Earth, but we are extremely limited in what we can do here. Only when we can play around with stuff in the zero gravity environment will we truly be able to learn what is possible. And living in that environment will be key to that learning.
Apollo needed the ability to process data while communications with Earth were impossible, because the craft would be on the far side of the Moon. Without that need, all of the advances in making computers small enough to carry under your arm would never have happened. The other invention that resulted directly from space exploration was the ceramic tiles used on the space shuttle. Velcro, Teflon, and all the other things attributed to space exploration were invented independent of the space program.
But the refinement of many technologies has been a direct result of the needs of the space program. Monitoring body status using telemetry was pushed forward rapidly, which has resulted in the ability to diagnose physical ailments without the doctor being in the presence of the patient. Rechargeable batteries evolved rapidly because of the demands of use in space. There are probably thousands of benefits that we have received from our exploration of space, but most, if not all, of them are not easily linked to the space program.
Some people say that there is no need to send humans into space, because our machines can represent us adequately. Ask anyone conducting experiments in chemistry if they could duplicate their ability to observe reactions with a robot, and you will probably be told "No!" Someone working on a problem involving mechanical devices would probably give the same response, because a vibration, a smell, a noise, might be key in figuring out what is going wrong.
And the most important thing, I believe, is learning to think in terms of the environment. We are the products of evolution in a gravity field. That is a rare circumstance in the Cosmos, and a handicap in learning the true nature of where we live. We need to live in a zero gravity environment for a while before we can learn to think in terms of what is natural in that environment. A match will not burn in zero gravity. Water and oil will easily mix in zero gravity. Bubbles injected into molten metal will not rise to the surface in zero gravity.
Room temperature super conductors have never been discovered on Earth, but we are extremely limited in what we can do here. Only when we can play around with stuff in the zero gravity environment will we truly be able to learn what is possible. And living in that environment will be key to that learning.
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