Space advocacy refers to the efforts of people and organizations to promote the exploration and development of outer space. Space advocates work to raise public interest, support, and funding for space activities and programs. The modern space advocacy movement has roots going back to the early 20th century, but really took off in the 1970s and 80s as space exploration expanded.
History of Space Advocacy
The idea of spaceflight and exploring worlds beyond Earth has captivated people’s imaginations for centuries. In the early 1900s, Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and American professor Robert Goddard pioneered the mathematics and engineering of rockets that would eventually enable spaceflight. Their work inspired a generation of science fiction writers and futurists who popularized the idea of humans traveling through space.
In the 1970s, as NASA’s Apollo program was winding down, a number of space advocacy groups formed to promote a continued human presence in space:
- The L5 Society, founded in 1975, advocated for space colonization, especially building settlements at the stable Earth-Moon Lagrange points.
- The National Space Institute, founded in 1974 (later the National Space Society), promoted a “spacefaring civilization”.
- The Space Studies Institute, founded in 1977, conducted research into the science and engineering of space development and settlement.
- The Planetary Society, co-founded by Carl Sagan in 1980, focuses on astronomical research, the search for near-Earth objects, and SETI.
These groups held conferences, published magazines and books, and engaged in political advocacy to keep space development on the national agenda. The 1980s saw a surge of public interest and enthusiasm for space with new milestones like the first Space Shuttle flights and the debut of popular science fiction movies and TV shows.
The Case for Space
Space advocates argue that expanding into space offers immense benefits and opportunities for humanity. Some key arguments include:
- Ensuring long-term human survival by making humanity a multi-planet species
- Accessing the vast energy and material resources of space to address resource limitations on Earth
- Enabling scientific discoveries and technological spinoffs that improve life on Earth
- Providing a frontier for human settlement and a backup for human knowledge and culture
- Satisfying the human drive to explore, discover, and expand our horizons
Advocates contend that while space development is technically challenging and expensive, it is an investment in our future that we can’t afford not to make. They point to the many ways space technology has already improved life on Earth, from satellite communications and Earth observation to medical spinoffs and material science breakthroughs.
Challenges and Criticisms
Not everyone agrees that space should be a priority. Some common criticisms of the space advocacy movement include:
- The huge costs of space development divert resources away from solving urgent problems on Earth like poverty, hunger, disease, and environmental destruction.
- The benefits of space mostly accrue to already wealthy and powerful nations and corporations.
- Space advocacy is driven by romantic visions and science fiction fantasies rather than practical needs.
- Colonialism and exploitation could be extended into space, replicating past harms.
- Militarization and weaponization of space could lead to devastating conflicts.
- Microgravity, radiation, and other hazards pose major health risks to space travelers.
Space advocates argue that these are not either/or propositions – we can address Earth’s challenges while also investing in space. They see international cooperation in space as a way to transcend conflicts and borders. Regarding the health risks, they contend these can be mitigated through research and engineering, and that exploration has always entailed dangers that humans willingly face to reap the rewards.
The Future of Space Advocacy
Today, space advocacy has evolved along with the space sector itself. As commercial spaceflight has expanded, space advocates now include not just non-profit groups but also entrepreneurs and businesses. Some are focused on particular projects like space tourism, asteroid mining, or Mars colonization.
At the same time, a new generation of space advocates is grappling with issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. They argue that as humanity expands into space, we must do so ethically and equitably, avoiding the mistakes and harms of past colonialism and imperialism. This may require rethinking narratives of space “colonization” and conquest.
Space advocacy will likely only grow as the space sector does. Advocates will continue to play a key role in shaping the future of humanity’s relationship with space – not just in terms of technology and exploration, but also culture, politics, and ethics. As we stand on the cusp of a new era of spaceflight, the goal of space advocacy remains to promote a hopeful vision of human progress and potential.
The exploration and development of space is one of the great challenges and opportunities facing humanity in the 21st century. As Carl Sagan said, “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” Through their work to promote and shape the future of spaceflight, space advocates hope to bring that incredible potential to fruition.
