Man’s dream to space exploration Well, man’s dream to fly didn’t stop at just atmospheric levels. We wanted to touch the moon. With space explorations giving us another adrenaline rush, it’s been 56 years since man first landed on the moon. But with each mission, many space explorations have also left the world drained of its resources.

Our home planet now sees countless satellites floating around her. Space debris surrounds us, and billions of dollars have been poured into a dream that started with one man’s desire to fly—like the birds in the sky—and to solve the fear that the sky may one day fall on our heads. Was it an urge to be one with the Gods?

This mad race to space, in search of life beyond Earth, has swept through decades of research and time, turning daydreams into reality. Today, we can picturize the world from satellite cameras and see light reflecting from far, far away—400 kilometers into space, floating in zero gravity, staring at constellations. Daydreaming, looking back at Earth, dreaming of a journey to Mars… I would say—what an expensive dream indeed!

And it all began with the pursuit of answers and the test of man’s capacity to dream—to dream of gazing at millions of stars, in awe of God’s creation.
With the advancement of technology, we are still not close to recreating the magic of nature. A star gazes back, and we drift away in awe, marveling at cosmic dust and celestial bodies.

Now that man has gained the capacity to visualize space explorations, perhaps it is time to dream of an equitable, just society—of a sustainable lifestyle that protects biodiversity and ecosystems. In this rapidly evolving civilization, who knows—there may come a time when Earth can no longer produce, when it can no longer birth life and becomes barren.

Why must we be the reason that a Planet so full of life is turning barren? With food security becoming a looming crisis, water resources a global concern, and hygienic living conditions still a distant dream for many, our pursuit to acquire more, live larger, and save species at the brink of extinction must shift. We need to realign our dreams—toward an Earth that lives in harmony with its biodiversity, not in conflict with it. 

Man’s dream of space exploration has fulfilled the long-held desire to fly beyond our skies and walk on the moon. While it’s true that space exploration comes at a significant cost, there is an undeniable truth we must confront: given the current state of the world, it is more important than ever to focus on preserving Earth’s resources and striking a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability.

Shreyas Johan 

Indian Environmental Activist