Curiosity is a human trait and due to their curiosity and intelligence, man is said to be the best animal on this earth. Space exploration is a consequence of the human desire to know what lies beyond our earth. There are space station around the earth in the current world and most of the research done there is very useful in learning more about space. There are those who believe that space stations are a waste of resources yet I feel that space stations are the future of mankind. Actuality, to an extent, space stations may be so useful that they may turn out to be the saving grace of our species. However, what will happen to space stations? Will they be improved, or will they be inferior?
In my opinion, space stations are constructed with a positive attitude by scientists and space agencies in most occasions. I am saying so because the space research till now has been done mostly to make our lives easier and to have a deeper understanding of the universe. The scientists do their best to provide people with knowledge concerning space, to seek opportunities that are impossible to consider on earth. There are so many examples in our surroundings and nowadays, the International space station can be one of the best examples of it. I believe that ISS has become sufficient to speak about since it has been functioning over twenty years now and provided us with valuable research.
Do you feel that space stations can assist us to live in other planets in future? Space stations are considered to be testing point in human survival outside the earth. In my instance, I have read numerous experiments that are being done on the ISS and they have assisted scientists in knowing how the human body reacts to space and how we can cultivate foods in space where there is no gravity. I am glad therefore very much to the scientists and astronauts at the work they are doing in space stations. I believe that reasons as to why space stations are good to the future of mankind cannot be counted but we still need to agree that there is always a price to pay on any thing in this world and it implies that space stations have their own share of negative things. The cost of space station construction and maintenance is so enormous that the funds should be spent on earth issues. Currently, numerous nations are grappling with poverty and hunger and spending billions of dollars on space does not appear right to some individuals. So what is the first thing we should be concerned with? Exploring space or fixing the issues on earth?
I think we should have a balance between both as I think they are both important. Space stations resemble future investments mostly. Many years can get us returns in an investment, and at the same time, it needs patience and resources in the start. And I believe that we need to keep on investing in space stations in this instance as it will bring us gains unimaginable to us at present. Space stations are not going to be the same as they are currently, and I am not saying this because I have some reasons.
The space stations used to be plain designs a few years back with the simplest facilities, however, today more sophisticated designs are being planned. SpaceX is also a private company which is venturing into space and they are intending to construct commercial space stations. Or do you know what the effect of this is? It implies that space stations will not be under the sole patronage of government agencies and further innovation will occur. I suppose this type of development is a positive one in the future since competition will be more fruitful. I am thrilled about such developments in the present time since they demonstrate the seriousness that humanity holds when it comes to space exploration.
Now we may turn to the type of space stations we may have in future. I believe that the space stations in the future will be bigger and more habitable in order to allow astronauts to spend longer durations. They may also have manufacturing and mining facilities of asteroid resources. The next thing that could happen is after some time we will have space hotels where tourists come to relax or as launch points to Mars and other distant places. All these options sound wonderful, however, I suppose, we need to invest further in research and development in order to make all these a reality. So far space stations have already justified themselves, and I think that they will become even more valuable in the next few decades. That is why, I would suggest that the governments and the privately owned companies should still invest in space station programs when they are concerned about the future of humanity.
In fact, the future of space stations is bright and it has a lot of possibilities to transform our lives.