Facing the hugely expensive aerospace project, many people may have such questions. 1970. A Zambian nun, Mary Jucunda, wrote to Dr. Sturlinger, associate director of science at NASA's Flight Center, asking the same question. Stüllinger quickly wrote back. NASA later published this sincere reply under the title "Why Explore the Universe" - Dear Sister Mary Jucunda:
First of all, please allow me to express my deepest condolences to you and your brave sisters. Respect for your dedication to humanity’s most noble cause: helping fellow citizens in trouble.
Before detailing how our space program helps solve crises on the ground. I want to start by briefly telling a true story. 400 years ago, there was a count in a small town in Germany. He donated a large portion of his income to the poor in the town. This is very admirable. One day, the count met a strange man who had a workbench and a small laboratory in his home. He worked hard during the day and devoted a few hours at night to research. Grind small pieces of glass into lenses. Then install the ground lens into the lens barrel and use it to observe small objects. The count was fascinated by this unprecedented little invention that could magnify things and observe them. He invited the eccentric to live in his castle, where he could devote all his time to the study of these optics as the count's guest.
However, when the people in the town learned about it. They were all angry. "We are still suffering from the plague," they complained, "and he is spending money on that idler and his useless hobbies!" The count was unmoved after hearing this.
As expected. His work was rewarded handsomely: a microscope. The invention of the microscope brought unprecedented development to medicine, and the resulting research and results eliminated plague and other infectious diseases that were raging in most parts of the world.
The final result of the money spent by the Earl to support this research and invention has greatly alleviated the suffering of mankind. This return is far more than simply using the money to relieve those suffering from the plague.
The key to solving the hunger problem has two parts: food production and food distribution. Agriculture, livestock, fisheries and other large-scale production activities involved in food production are efficient and productive in some areas of the world, while in other areas they are severely under-produced. Through high-tech means, such as irrigation management, fertilizer use, weather forecast, yield assessment, programmed planting, farmland optimization, crop habits and farming time selection. Crop surveys and harvest plans can significantly improve land productivity.
Artificial earth satellites are undoubtedly the most powerful tool for improving these two critical issues. In orbit far away from the ground, satellites can scan large areas of land in a very short time. Multiple indicators required for crop growth can be observed and calculated at the same time, such as soil, drought, rain and snow weather, etc., and this information can be broadcast to the ground receiving station for further processing. It turns out that even the simplest satellite systems equipped with land resource sensors and corresponding agricultural programs can increase annual crop yields by billions of dollars.
The moon landing project requires unprecedented high precision and reliability in history. Faced with such stringent requirements, we need to find new materials and new methods; develop better engineering systems and use more reliable manufacturing processes; make the working life of instruments longer; and even explore new laws of nature.
These new technologies invented for the moon landing can also be used in engineering projects on the ground. Every year, about a thousand new technologies developed from the space program are used in everyday life, creating better kitchen appliances and farm equipment. Better sewing machines and radios, better ships and planes, more accurate weather forecasts and storm warnings, better communications facilities. Better medical equipment. Or even better everyday gadgets. You may ask why we designed the life-support system for the astronauts' lunar module first, instead of building an audio reading device for the hearing-impaired.
The answer is simple: when solving engineering problems, important technological breakthroughs are often not obtained directly step by step. Rather, it comes from being able to inspire a strong spirit of innovation. Able to ignite imagination and determined action, as well as a challenging goal that can integrate all resources.
Space travel is undoubtedly a challenging undertaking. A voyage to Mars would not directly solve the problem of famine by providing food. However, it brings with it a host of new technologies and methods that could be used beyond the Mars project, which would yield benefits many times the original cost.
Of all the activities controlled and funded by the U.S. government, the space program is undoubtedly the most high-profile and most controversial. Although it accounts for only 1.6% of the total budget, less than three thousandths of the GDP. As a driver and catalyst for new technologies, the space program conducts a number of basic scientific studies, and its status is destined to be different from other activities. In a sense. In terms of the impact of the space project on society, its status is equivalent to the war activities 3-4 thousand years ago.
If countries no longer compete with bombers and long-range missiles, but instead compete with each other on the performance of lunar spacecraft, how many wars will be avoided! The smart winner will be full of hope, and the loser will no longer have to suffer, sow the seeds of hatred, and bring about revenge wars.
Space exploration not only provides humans with a mirror to look at themselves, it can also bring us new technologies, new challenges and enterprising spirit, as well as an optimistic and confident attitude when facing severe practical problems. . I believe that what mankind has learned from the universe fully confirms Albert Schweitzer's famous saying: "I look at the future with worry, but still with good hope."