Space exploration is a fascinating field of study that has captivated the minds of people for centuries. Although astronomers mainly use telescopes to observe space, physical exploration is conducted through both unmanned robotic probes and manned space flights. There is strong public support for the United States to remain at the forefront of space exploration, with almost equal levels of enthusiasm among gender, educational, and political groups. Baby Boomers and older generations, who lived through the “Right Stuff” era that pioneered space exploration, as well as Millennials, who grew up during the Space Shuttle program, both express strong support for the continuation of US leadership in space.
On most issues related to NASA and space exploration, there are only modest differences between generational cohorts. Similarly, most gender, generation, education and political groups see the benefits of government investment in one of NASA's flagship projects, the International Space Station (ISS). The findings show that support for the US being at the forefront of space exploration and the perception that the space station has been a good investment are broadly consistent with previous Pew Research Center surveys. Scientists around the world are working to find advances that will make space travel faster, less expensive, and more hospitable to humans.
While most Americans believe that NASA still has an essential role to play in space exploration, they also express confidence that private companies can make significant contributions in areas such as developing safe spacecraft and conducting research to expand scientific knowledge. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1893) was an impoverished Russian school teacher who dedicated many years of socially isolated work to developing fruitful ideas about space flight. The challenges in space development are related to those faced by nation states. Around 63% of Millennials say they are definitely or probably interested in space tourism, compared to 39% of members of Generation X and 27% of Baby Boomers or previous generations.
Lockheed Martin is applying its experience in manned space missions to longer stays among the stars. The benefits of space exploration are difficult to measure but probably of equal value. It encourages scientific and technological development by increasing technical knowledge among the population, widely disseminating abstract technical ideas that can contribute to innovations far from their original sources, and inspiring young people to study science. Many scientists believe that robotic exploration of space will lead to more discoveries than human missions since many robotic missions can be launched for the cost of a single human mission.
The United Nations Outer Space Treaty was signed by sixty-three nations in 1967 and adopted by most countries at the beginning of the 21st century. This treaty serves as a framework for international cooperation in space exploration and sets out guidelines for responsible behavior in outer space.
