Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich made space travel his first attempt on April 12, 1961. Many others have since explored beyond the earth’s atmosphere. There have been many advances and discoveries since then. The advancements in technology have had a positive impact on the medical and health fields. Now we have extensive information about Mars and soil samples. In 2014, the first successful landing on a comet by a spacecraft, and black holes are now confirmed to exist. NASA continues to develop new knowledge and uncover new information every day. Although these discoveries have many benefits, it is clear that our planet needs our attention. The ocean needs to be explored and conserved more.
Space exploration is known for its focus on finding resources like mineral deposits. It has been possible to bring back raw materials extracted from asteroids for research. The ocean floor could also be examined. There are many minerals in the ocean that have yet to been discovered. Although it is disturbing that deep-sea mines could affect the ecosystem, it could also be a chance for the mining sector to upgrade its technology and look for clean options. Robert Ballard, an ocean explorer knows how important it is to learn about the minerals beneath. His team discovered something fascinating while trying to find the reason for the tension that was found in the Galapagos Rift mountain. The amazing pipe organ of chemicals coming from the ocean is what you are seeing. This picture shows copper, lead silver, zinc, and gold. He also found clams that had never been described in any of the text books he has read. They had no digestive system and were unlike the clams you are used to. Actually, we are unaware of the existence of many marine creatures.
Rachel Carson, like Ballard, found the ocean fascinating and its inhabitants to be inspiring. “Undersea”, Carson’s piece that explores the wonders of underwater life, is inspired by these amazing creatures. “Every marine animal, including the smallest, sharks, and whales, depends on the microbes of the sea vegetable life for food.” Not only was she able to understand the diversity of ocean inhabitants, but she also realized how interconnected they are. The ocean is the life support system for all of Earth’s inhabitants. It is also our connection. The result of pollution has been so devastating for humans. Dead zones are low-oxygen environments that make it extremely difficult for marine life to thrive. According to Smithsonian Environmental Research Centers, the number has quadrupled from the 1950’s. As the world heats up, oxygen levels are set to continue dropping. It is difficult to believe, but there are a series of events taking place. Our existence is dependent on the ocean. When it suffers, so do we.
Climate change is a serious threat to the planet’s future. We need to do more. Although there are no ways to reverse the negative effects of global warming, we can take preventative actions to reduce its impact. Global warming is causing melting glaciers, rising sea level, and severe weather. We know much of this because of the NASA satellite imagery data. NASA has been a great resource for research and tools over many years. However, it is important to prioritize exploration spending. NASA’s budget for the year would pay NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), for thousands upon thousands of years (Carson).
The ocean covers more than 70% of the planet’s surface, and only 5% has been explored. It produces half the world’s oxygen and provides food for humans. Although NASA’s efforts are certainly beneficial, there are no practical solutions for climate change in space. Because, like space, our oceans are full of new discoveries and there is a pressing need to make changes.
