Ocean vs Space Exploration: Which is more significant?

In recent years, a significant emphasis in terms of scientific research has been put on exploring outer space. In 2021 a handful of billionaires such as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Richard Branson spent time and resources blasting into space. A decision highly scrutinised by the public, with a survey revealing that more than 3/4 of people in the UK believe these wealthy individuals "should focus their resources on problems facing Earth, like climate change, before space travel." 

Make no mistake, numerous benefits come with the exploration of space, and it holds great significance in terms of the continuation of human life. Space has not only bolstered our technology and understanding of our habitat but has also aided in correlating peaceful alliances amid nations. The advancement in technology has enabled us to further our knowledge and eliminate various obstacles in our daily lives. We can thank NASA for important technology such as precision GPS, camera phones, water purification systems, air purifiers, home insulation, satellites, artificial limbs and medical scanners such as spiral CTs and MRI machines. The benefits of space exploration are clearly bountiful. 

However, according to the NOAA, it is estimated that more than 80% of our planet's ocean is unmapped, unobserved and unexplored. So why such an emphasis on outer space when we don't even know what lies beneath the surface of our waters? As of now, scientists have landed multiple rovers on Mars, photographed a black hole and successfully sent a spacecraft to the dark side of the moon. Nevertheless, one of the most familiar yet unknown hurdles to overcome is the very planet on which we live. 

You may be wondering if they are capable of reaching the moon, then surely they must be capable of exploring the oceans of the very planet we reside on? Unfortunately, it is not that simple. It comes down to the sheer inaccessibility of parts of the oceans. Past a certain depth, visibility becomes non-existent, temperatures plummet, and extreme pressures will crush anything that isn't meant to be down there. As explained by oceanographer Gene Carl Feldman, "It's a lot easier to send people into space than it is to send people to the bottom of the ocean. The intense pressures in the deep ocean make it an extremely difficult environment to explore." 

Although the advantages would be indisputable, expeditions are expensive and obtaining the equipment to withstand such high pressures is very costly. In addition, a lack of data and detailed maps add to the list of complications as well as the question of where to start?

With climate change and global warming creeping up behind us, time is of the essence. Our ozone layer has already withstood much damage, and the air we breathe is polluted. We might not even have the time to explore the whole ocean before humanity destroys it. According to NASA, searching for a suitable planet to colonise has been in the works for quite a while. So perhaps it is a brilliant idea to focus on space exploration. It seems sensible considering the amount of damage we cause to our planet every day, which only elevates our burgeoning need for space exploration and the discoveries that come with it.