When news broke that a member of the Artemis II crew was an NC State graduate, it sparked excitement and pride across students. It felt like something could start here, on this campus, and extend far beyond it.
Astronaut Christina Koch, an NC State alumna, spent 328 days aboard the International Space Station — the longest single spaceflight by a woman. Now, she is part of the Artemis II crew, a mission that will send humans around the moon for the first time in over 50 years. And for the first time, that journey will include a woman.
But as excitement spreads, so does a familiar question: Why are we still sending humans to space at all?
With how advanced technology has become, people argue that human spaceflight is unnecessary, even wasteful. If robots can do the job, why spend the time, money and risk to send people?
It’s a fair question, but the idea that technology has made astronauts obsolete assumes that innovation is about replacement when it’s actually about expansion. Humans and technology don’t compete in space. They work together in ways that make exploration more effective.
Robotic missions are invaluable, but they’re limited. They follow instructions and they operate within constraints. Humans, on the other hand, adapt. They solve problems in real time and make judgment calls that can’t always be programmed. Missions like Artemis II, which require long-duration habitation and hands-on scientific work, depend on that kind of flexibility, the kind no machine can fully replicate.
More importantly, the impact of human space exploration doesn’t stop in orbit. It comes back to Earth.
Research conducted aboard the International Space Station, including during Koch’s mission, has contributed to advancements in everything from medical research to water purification systems. Satellite systems, many of which are tied to space exploration infrastructure, play a major role in tracking climate patterns, monitoring ocean health and predicting weather-related natural disasters.
For students studying environmental science, engineering or even international policy, that connection matters. Space exploration isn’t separate from the problems we face here; it’s part of how we solve them.
The cost argument, while common, is often overstated. The budget for NASA makes up a tiny fraction of federal spending — less than 1%. Yet the return on that investment, in terms of technological advancement and economic impact, is significant. Calling it a waste of money says more about what we choose to prioritize than what it actually costs.
It’s also worth recognizing that today’s space exploration is not simply a repeat of the past. This is a different landscape, one shaped by international collaboration and partnerships with private companies like SpaceX. The goals are broader now: long-term sustainability in space, deeper scientific research and the possibility of future human settlement beyond Earth.
Dismissing modern space exploration as outdated ignores how much has changed, and how much is still at stake.
At its core, sending humans to space is about more than scientific data or technological progress. It’s about maintaining a sense of curiosity and ambition that pushes society forward. It’s about investing in something that doesn’t offer immediate returns, but shapes the future in ways we can’t fully predict yet.
And on a campus like NC State, where students are constantly being asked to think about their role in the world, that kind of investment should matter.
Because when someone like Koch, who once sat in the same classrooms, spends nearly a year in space, then orbits the moon, it should encourage a shift in perspective.
Students have a role in shaping what gets prioritized through what we study, what we advocate for and what we choose to support. Whether that means pursuing research, engaging with policy or simply refusing to accept the idea that exploration is expendable, the next phase of space exploration will depend on whether our generation chooses to value it.
If we start treating space exploration as unnecessary, we’re not just limiting what we can discover. We’re limiting what we believe is worth pursuing. And that’s a much bigger loss than any line in a budget.
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OPINION: Sending humans to space is not a waste – technicianonline.com
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