2021 marks sixty years since the first successful human spaceflight, made by Soviet cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin. The flight marked the pinnacle of humanity’s scientific achievement up until that moment and was an escalation in the “Space Race” between the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Sixty years later, space has become an inexorable part of everyday life across society, with nearly 6,542 satellites orbiting the Earth as of January 2021. Such satellites provide all manner of benefits, from accurate weather forecasts, supporting climate research, to enabling communication across countries, along with the broadcast of information and data for every avenue of society and industry alike. Additionally, just as was the case sixty years ago, nations are still competing for supremacy in space, with new participants in the form of entrepreneurs and private enterprises. Space tourism is now an active avenue of aerospace, with companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin providing costly opportunities for passengers to journey beyond Earth and into the stars.

Yet, with the Earth currently suffering the effects of a climate crisis, itself labelled by the science community as largely the result of human activity, are such forays into the “final frontier” making best use of available resources? Could the ingenuity and capital currently being expended on perfecting space travel not be better spent on developing innovative means of living and thriving on Earth itself?

Space enthusiasts are quick to point out the benefits of space travel, with multiple technologies – such as solar panels, cancer therapy and water purification systems – only possible thanks to development of the aerospace industry. Similarly, space exploration provides data that can be used to answer profound questions about our world and humanity’s place beyond it. A notable benefit of space exploration comes from the partnerships created to make it possible, with countries coming together for projects like the International Space Station, creating opportunities and connections for addressing global challenges. Similarly, with the Earth vulnerable to extinction level threats, space travel provides the possibility of ensuring humanity lives on through missions of colonisation to other planets – with Mars a viable possibility.

However, the benefits of space exploration are offset by the costs that they require – both economically and ecologically.

Eloise Marais, an associate professor of physical geography at University College London, spoke to the Guardian about the impact of fuels on the atmosphere, noting how a single rocket launch produces up to 300 tons of carbon dioxide into the upper atmosphere where it can remain for years. Just as concerning is how, with the continued launch of satellites into Earth’s orbit, there is a growing risk of “space junk” as disused satellites – not built with the capability to safely de-orbit – and other objects accumulate around the Earth; posing a clear and present danger to future space missions.

Speaking to the BBC on October 14th, 2021, Prince William made headlines by suggesting that the world’s greatest minds should be “trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live”. This makes a compelling argument. Given how modern space travel is reserved for professional astronauts or those rich enough to afford the $250,000 to $500,000 necessary for a ticket with private space companies like Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic, it is clear that the general public will not be journeying beyond Earth’s atmosphere anytime soon. Is it not unreasonable then, to demand that those same figures with money to spend on such extravagances should look a little closer to home and finance the efforts needed to preserve the Earth?

Such remarks have come under criticism, with experts such as Dr Thomas Fink of the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences pointing out the cumulative and long-term benefits of early innovation that indicate space travel will offer more than it requires. Similarly noted was the fact that the exploration of space and other, more sustainability-driven challenges – like developing renewable energy sources – are operating on different time scales and are thus both possible. 

The cost required for the development of space travel is not inconsiderable. On a planet with limited resources, the purpose and benefits of any usage must be carefully weighed against what will be sacrificed. However, with careful stewardship and governance, the gains of space exploration are too numerous to ignore. Therefore, it falls to the organisations and individuals participating in such ventures to make sure that their zeal and curiosity is balanced with a cautious and conservational manner that ensures this planet is not sacrificed to reach others. 

By Tim Keogh