The Importance and Significance of the International Space Station Program - Research Proposal Example

International Space Station International Space Station FINAL PROPOSAL China Space Agency will stand to gain by joining the in International Space Station Program although there are some challenges to be faced. There are various countries already present (Canada, United States, Russia, Japan and a number of other European countries) China will be in a position to utilize the various technologies that are continually being invented and utilized through this mutual cooperation. Since it is a partnership, various countries pool their financial, technological, and human resource together. Therefore, China National Space Administration will not have to start from the beginning neither will they have to re-learn what other nations have already discovered. This is because according to NASA (2013) “the laboratories and the operational components of the international space station have been assembled and are up and running” (p.9). Satellite imagery is being used to monitor agricultural land under crop production. The data collected is used to examine crop disease, monitor the weather so that farmers can be better prepared for any eventualities thereby minimizing any loss that may occur. NASA (2013a) mentions that, “AWG farm Inc (2013a) is leveraging images from the International Space Station Agricultural Camera (ISSAC) to grow various crops such as sugar beets, soya beans, sunflowers, and spring wheat. The Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium operates ISSAC from Earth to help farmers monitor crop growth for disease or fertility differences” (para.9) Since space exploration is technology intensive there has been quite a number of adaptation and innovations of these technologies to help solve various problems here on earth, particularly in the field on medicine for example the “neuroarm” (a robotic arm) has been used to perform brain surgery (NASA 2013b). Other advancement that can be credited to the international Space Station is in finding remedies to cure or reduce incidences of bones becoming weak thus leading to easy fracture. This was mentioned in NASA’s report book of 2012 stating that “Bisphosphonate is a therapeutic agent that has been used to treat osteoporosis patients for more than ten years, with a sure proven ability on a high efficiency to increase bone mass and decrease the occurrence of bone fracture (p.3). Other medical break through accomplished in the International Space Station is in the treatment of asthmas and in the development of vaccines (p.13) ISS also acts as an observatory station whereby they collect, compile, and interpret satellite imagery. According to the data provided by the NASA (2012)’s report, “Since the International Space Station became operational in November 2000, astronauts on board have taken more than 600,000 images of the Earth’s land surface, oceans, atmospheric prodigy” (p.31). The collected information from these data is used to manage resource on earth more efficiently and sustainably, “Space Station Images would be handy in helping worldwide nations Islands in the management of coral reef resources” (p.34). In addition to monitoring earth resources, the data collected can also be used as to predict natural disaster hence enabling countries to better prepare themselves (early warning system) and also to monitor climate change (p.44 – 59). ISS is engaged in scientific research and the knowledge gathered can be utilized for the advancement of humanity. NASA (2012) stated that “This space-based research provides evidence that the International Space Station as a National Laboratory is a valuable resource that can be utilized for the benefit of the entire Earth” (p.15). There are some huddles to be overcome when a nation wants to join, participate, and contribute to this organization. The financial commitment is very big. According to the Budget Estimates of the NASA (2011), “Top line increase of $6.0 billion over 5-years (FY 2011-15) compared to the FY 2010 Budget, for a total of $100 billion over five years” (P.3). When astronaut are in space they usually suffer from kidney stones and bone loss as a result of the low gravity which is characteristic of outer space as evidenced from NASA (2012)’s Report, they have mentioned that “Bone loss and kidney stones are well known as essential problems for astronauts to overcome during extended stays in space” (p.3). ISS is a form of inter-country partnership if there is a conflict among these participating countries it will affect ISS either directly or indirectly. The advantages that ISS presents far out weigh the disadvantages, China Space Agency is well advised that its contribution to ISS and all of humanity at large is noble and appreciated. CONCLUSION There is a lot to be learnt and discovered from space exploration. Life on earth has improved as a result of advancements and discoveries attributed to space exploration and there is a lot of possibilities to be realized as we explore and know more about the universe we are living in. More financially and technologically capable countries need to be encouraged to join the International Space Station partnership, because the advantage of pulling their resources together means that more discoveries will be realized in a short period of time and even though space exploration is capital intensive. However, the benefits realized to all of humanity in general are plausible especially in term of new technologies that make life on earth easier and comfortable. An affair if keenly observed and invested in its benefits are so immense and will be trickle down to all humanity at no huge costs to even developing countries that are not able to invest in space exploration now but would be an added advantage if they profit from the exploration exercise. For instance, in the third world countries, they faze issues so serious such as poverty, food crisis, and health issues but with space exploration to tackle some of this problems, it causes all humanity to embrace the whole idea of international space exploration. The cost factor is one impediment to space exploration but with the idea of pulling resources together results in cost distribution to every partner nation and therefore it does not lead to one nation having to think of raising more than ten billion US dollars. Since space exploration began, more than one hundred billion US dollars has so far been used in the process. For one nation to use such an amount of money, the process would be sluggish and no proper research to the benefits to humanity will be realized. Currently the whole world is facing issues such as increase in population and if life in Mars is a possible solution it will be a major development to solving the problem living space. Space exploration should not only be a concern for the developed countries but also the developing nations and this will enhance global responsibility among nations and thus ownership. Read More