Gr 7: Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost?

Which of the following is the name of the first satellite put into orbit around Earth by Russia in 1957?

• Enduro

• Arrindole

• Sputnik

• Curiosity

"The ability to remain active in a task that may be unpleasant or difficult without giving up is..."

• occupy

• endurance

• skimming

• incongruent

"Exploration fuels curiosity, inspiration, and creativity. The human spirit seeks to discover the _______________..."

• unknown

• reason for climate change

• remains

• mountaineer

Sending unmanned missions into outer space involve using which of the following?

• video cameras

• Gen5 sensory technology

• telephones and digital wire technology

• robots, probes and landers

"...studying astronauts in the microgravity of space has been the only means of understanding..."

• ...how heavy the astronaut suit should be.

• ...how gravity affects human development and health here on Earth.

• ...how often a person might contract the common cold.

• ...how likely it is that humans will survive a catastrophe.

"It is highly probable that, in this century, humans will settle on other planets. Our ability to explore and sustain human presence there will not only expand Earth's access to mineral resources, but ...provide alternative habitats for humanity's survival." Paraphrase the quote from the author.

• Humans might live on other planets someday. Earth cannot accept minerals from other planets and humans may find it difficult to live on other planets.

• Humans could live on other planets in this century. Earth could have another source for minerals, and humans could have options for living on other planets.

• Other planets are not suitable environments for human occupation.

What are the benefits of space exploration?

• Money invested in space exploration creates jobs in the space and technology industries, allows for creating new technologies for citizens (GPS) and medical research (arthritis), and allows scientists to perform research and gather data from planetary resources.

• Money invested in space exploration comes from wealthy investors who seek to make a profit once life is discovered on another planet.

• Money invested in space exploration is marked only for space travel and is not used to fund research and creating new technological devices.

"Space exploration is not a drain on the economy; it generates infinitely more wealth than it spends...the 2007 NASA budget of $16.3 billion is a minute fraction of the $13 trillion total GDP." (gross domestic product) Paraphrase the author's quote.

• Space exploration pulls down the economy.

• Space exploration creates much more money and assets than it spends. Of the $13 trillion in NASA's budget, only a small amount ($16.3 billion) is spent on space exploration.

• It takes more money to fund space exploration than what is taken in as revenue.

Which of the following is the opposing viewpoint of the article, 'Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost?'

• "What's the hurry?...Mars isn't going anywhere."

• "It is humans who service the International Space Station."

• "Exploration is intrinsic to our nature."

Check all that apply to support the claim that "Space exploration is worth the cost."

• New jobs in technology were created as a result of the first spacecraft being sent into Earth's orbit.

• Scientists were afforded opportunity to research other planets to assess their ability to sustain human life.

• Part of the funding came from the CARES Act.

• New technological sources were developed such as landers, robots, and astronaut suits that protected human beings in outer space.