OUR VIEW: Space exploration unifies nations

Space exploration unifies nations

The first half of the Mars Exploration Rovers landed on Mars Saturday, Jan. 3. “Spirit,” launched June 10, landed in Mars’ Gusev Crator – what scientists have dubbed to be an ancient lake bed. “Opportunity” is scheduled to land Saturday, Jan. 24. In the middle of all this Mars business, President Bush announced plans to expand the space program.

The latest Associated Press poll indicates that the nation is split pretty evenly when it comes to space exploration. Some want it; some think it unnecessary spending. Many of the latter don’t see the advantages of such an endeavor, though.

In addition to just plain gaining knowledge, the space program has and will continue to enhance Earth’s use of technology, computers, communication, medicine and who knows what else. Discoveries have been made in space that would never have been possible here on Earth.

Also, as opposed to the Space Race with the Soviet Union, the United States now has time to do it safely and intelligently.

Who’s to say what might come out of this? If people living in the 1400s had said sailing across the ocean cost too much money – and many did – our current situation might be very different. As for the Mars Rovers, the main financial contributor is the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a privately funded company – not governmentally funded.

If nothing else, this is something the world can do TOGETHER. The money and efforts that have and will go into space exploration are non-violent and are one of the few things that will pull humankind together, not apart.