Masuk Free Press

For as long as humans have existed, we’ve been explorers. We crossed oceans, climbed mountains and reached for the stars. Space has always symbolized the unknown; the greatest adventure humanity could ever take. But for all the time we spend dreaming about distant galaxies, we forget to look down at forests burning, oceans rising, animals disappearing. What’s the point of chasing the stars if we can’t even take care of the only home we have? 

Every year, the United States pours billions of dollars into space exploration. NASA’s 2024 annual budget was $24.9 billion, a figure that surpasses the combined budgets of key environmental agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at $12.06 billion, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at $6.3 billion, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) at $4.1 billion and the National Park Service (NPS) at $3.2 billion. The fact that a single agency dedicated to space exploration receives nearly as much as all of these environmental organizations combined is a testament to the priorities of our government. But shouldn’t protecting our planet — the only one we can actually live on — come first?

In the past decade, we have seen record-breaking heat waves, increasingly severe hurricanes and wildfires that have ravaged entire communities. The year 2024 was the hottest year on record, with global temperatures soaring due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Rising sea levels threaten to submerge coastal cities, droughts and extreme weather force people from their homes and countless species are being pushed to the brink of extinction. Yet, despite all of this, environmental agencies receive only a fraction of the funding that space exploration does. 

Don’t get me wrong — space exploration is fascinating, and is absolutely vital to maintaining humanity’s curiosity and pushing the boundaries of innovation. One of the reasons why it is so appealing is the area of uncertainty surrounding space. Compared to global issues like climate change, space is infinitely (pun intended) more unknown and complex, fueling our drive for new discoveries. But the harsh reality is that ceasing space exploration will not harm anyone. The same cannot be said for protecting the environment.

Still, political leaders continue to push policies that further degrade the planet. President Donald Trump’s infamous “Drill, baby, drill” motto is a perfect example of the short-sighted mindset that prioritizes immediate economic gain over long-term environmental stability. Expanding fossil fuel drilling accelerates climate change and increases pollution, but this doesn’t matter to the rich leaders of our country that are immune to the consequences. Those in power today will not live to see the full effects of rising sea levels or mass species extinction. They do not see the Eaton wildfire from the eyes of civilians fleeing their own homes, or Hurricane Beryl from the perspective of mourning families in Texas.

A recent study from Gallup News found that as of January 2024, 50 percent of Americans believe the government is doing too little to protect the environment, while only 19 percent think it is doing too much. This suggests that public sentiment leans heavily toward prioritizing environmental action — yet the funding does not reflect that urgency.

If space exploration has taught us anything, we should know that Earth must be cherished. We know habitable planets are extraordinarily rare. Our existence borders on impossible, and yet we are being reckless with our only home. Yes, space should be explored. But space will be there in ten thousand years. Earth, if we aren’t careful, may not be.