Are we spending too much on the Space program? Should we not attend to pressing problems here on Earth before venturing into Space?

Such objections to the Space program were frequently heard in the 1960s and the 1970s. As the benefits of our Space ventures have become more obvious such reservations—though still heard—have lost some of their ferocity.

In reaching out into Space we are in fact attending to pressing prob­lems .right here on Earth.

We long-range planners would like to see more funds allocated to the Space program because we believe that such an emphasis will ac­celerate the pace of progress in every area of human life.

We all need to be well-informed about Space because Space is our new frontier. Space will be the pivotal transformer of conditions on this planet in the decades to come.

We can no longer work out social—economic—international plans without factoring in the Space imperative.

Though in its infancy the Space program has already revolutionized such fields as telecommunication—weather and climate forecasting— environmental research—mapping and charting—agriculture—geology —metallurgy—oceanography—resource exploration—others.

For example communication satellites have ushered in global television—direct-dial global telephone—electronic mail—two-way teleducation (for instance for hundreds of previously blacked-out vil­lages in India and Alaska and elsewhere).

Environmental satellites continually monitor the quality of air and water—measure concentrations of pollutants in the Earth's atmo­sphere—give early warnings of forest fires and hurricanes and storms and volcanic eruptions.

Land-surveying satellites using remote-sensing locate the presence of subsurface water resources—minerals—fuels. In fact thanks to these satellites we now know that the Earth contains vast amounts of sub­surface water supplies and that we are currently drawing from only about one hundredth of one percent of the total world supply of fresh water.

Thanks also to remote-sensing we have found hundreds of locations all over the planet rich in oil—coal—minerals such as copper and iron.

Satellites help in countless other ways: identifying crops for more accurate forecasts of harvests—helping plan the growth of urban communities—helping climatologists improve techniques for predicting long-term climatic patterns—helping monitor worldwide compliance with arms control agreements and so on.

The Space program has also helped us develop an endless variety of hardware: construction material—home appliances—transportation sys­tems—solar energy units—clothing materials—medical technology.

Our new Space environment already plays a significant part in the global economy. In the coming years it will play a central role in the emerging social—economic-—international spheres.

Before the Space age we were confined to a finite world of finite resources—finite space—finite growth. The Space breakthrough has in one sweep forever done away with our finiteness.

Suddenly we find ourselves in a new environment of limitless space—limitless energy—limitless raw materials—limitless food— limitless growth.

We have enough resources enough space enough opportunities for growth to last us for millions of years—for billions of years. Enough to last us for as long as there is a universe.

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 764