Benefits stemming from space exploration

Ever wondered how space exploration impacts your life? Discover some examples below:

? Science benefits: Space exploration deepens our understanding of the universe, our planet, and the human body. Our long-standing work in space health and life sciences has led to significant benefits on Earth. We are excited to see the results of science experiments CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk will conduct during his upcoming mission on the International Space Station (ISS).

? Economic benefits: Technologies that were initially developed for space have wide-ranging applications on Earth that contribute to the economy and improve quality of life—think smartphone miniature cameras, water purification systems, home insulation, etc.

? Global cooperation benefits: International partnerships and continuous cooperation are vital for advancing space exploration and developing new means to solve global challenges. For example, the Deep Space Food Challenge, a collaboration between NASA and the CSA, aimed to develop innovative technologies to produce food for long-duration missions in space, while addressing current food production issues in isolated communities on Earth. Similarly, the ongoing Aqualunar Challenge, a collaboration between the UK Space Agency and the CSA, seeks to create new technologies to purify Moon water for human deep-space missions which could also help advance water purification processes on Earth.

? Inspirational and societal benefits: Space missions have incredible potential to inspire youth and ignite a sense of pride and wonder. NASA's Apollo program captivated an entire generation in the 1960s, and the Artemis program aims to do the same today. With a seat on the Artemis II mission, Canada will become the second country to send an astronaut around the Moon. CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be part of this incredible journey, with CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons assigned as the official Canadian backup.

? Space exploration ecosystem benefits: Investments in space exploration drive advancements in key sectors. For instance, developing Canadarm for NASA’s Space Shuttle Program in the early 1970s established Canada as a world leader in space robotics—a legacy that continues with Canadarm2 on the ISS and the upcoming Canadarm3 for Gateway. Additionally, these investments support a strong ecosystem of public and private entities. Our Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program promotes collaboration among over 50 Canadian organizations to advance lunar exploration.

In a recent report, the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) puts the spotlight on the benefits of space exploration. We are proud to see some of our work featured in there – and there's more! ISECG highlights the contributions of 27 agencies across five categories of benefits. Find out about them in the full report: https://www.globalspaceexploration.org/?p=1808