![]() These new materials have considerable potential for public health and safety applications in hospitals, public transport and the food industry. One of the experiments conducted by French ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet on the International Space Station (ISS 2), for example, involved testing innovative materials designed to prevent bacterial growth. ![]() Materials tested in space, under unique conditions that are difficult to replicate on Earth, can help us to develop stronger, lighter, higher-performance products. Some applications - like ceramic coatings in our kitchens, air purification systems, smoke detectors and scratch-resistant glass - are already part of our daily lives. Many innovations in fields ranging from metals and alloys to biology and medicine are the result of space exploration. Does space exploration have any more practical benefits? This is the objective of the Euclid 1 mission being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). Scientists today are especially interested in dark matter and dark energy to better understand their role in the hidden mass and accelerating expansion of the Universe. Studying the solar system, for example, has brought us insights into such phenomena as gravity, the magnetosphere, the atmosphere, fluid dynamics and the geological evolution of other planets. Space exploration allows us to prove or disprove scientific theories developed on Earth. I’d answer that question with a quote from Goethe: “If you want to reach the infinite, then explore every aspect of the finite.” Space is first and foremost a fantastic "playground" for scientists - an endless source of knowledge and learning that’s helping answer some of the key existential questions about Earth’s origins and our place in the Universe. Why spend such vast sums of money on space exploration and missions to far-distant celestial bodies where most people will never go? If we take the risk of venturing beyond our terrestrial home, it’s also to learn more about ourselves and our planet, improve life on Earth, and maybe, just maybe, find or create a new future for our children, says Walter Cugno, Vice President Exploration and Science Domain at Thales Alenia Space. Space exploration isn’t simply a sign of humanity’s hubris or a brazen desire to find new places to live and new sources of wealth.
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