Argumentative Essay: Is Space Exploration Worth It?

Karsyn Boersma

Mrs. Baxter

ELA 7, 6th hour

28 March 2023

Final Argumentative Essay:

Is Space Exploration Worth It?

Imagine this, you are amongst the surrounding crowd outside the Kennedy Space Center, the area is packed with people. Today is the day of truth, the day the manned mission to Mars will take off. The fear and anticipation you feel is almost overwhelming. You’ve waited for this moment, dreamt of it, but now it’s a reality and everything is different. After what felt like hours you see it, the countdown has finally reached the one-minute mark. You hold your breath and cross your fingers. You find yourself counting aloud under your breath. Five, four, three, two, one, blast off. Everything happens so fast but the feeling lasts longer.

In fact, it is a common issue of discussion. Should we really be working on a manned mission to Mars? There are two sides to the issue. The side against space exploration argues it’s too expensive, while the side for space exploration argues that it is worth it. The truth is in the facts, proving that space travel is worth the cost because humans need the emotional value, and space travel unites all of humankind.

To begin with, space exploration unites humans. It’s common knowledge already that humankind struggles with being united. You see examples of this every day like countries going to war against each other. But we also know that when we are united as one we are more powerful, you’ll find it’s a lot harder to do things by yourself than it is with many people equally. According to a passage from the “My Perspectives” curriculum, astronaut Mike Collins said, “The thing that really surprised me was that everywhere we went, people didn’t say ‘Well you Americans finally did it.’ They said, ‘We did it.’ All of us together, we did it. It was a wonderful sensation.” (My Perspectives). This expresses the idea that

According to the text “Leaving Main Street”, “If we stop exploring space, soon society will have forgotten what it’s like to be human.” (Leaving Main Street, 121). This expresses the idea that we need to explore space, if we stop then we will have forgotten ourselves, and we will have forgotten how to be adventurous. In addition to that, the author of “Packing for Mars”, Mary Roach, states “What’s different? Sweat, risk, uncertainty, inconvenience. But also, awe. Pride. Something ineffably splendid and stirring.” (Roach), when talking about the difference between a space stimulation and actually being there. The author’s point is that we could just make a space stimulation and just not go to space, but it wouldn’t be the same. To conclude with this idea, space exploration should be a priority because humans need the emotional