From Earth exploration to space exploration – the evolution of a new type of discovery missions

Abstract

Today, space exploration often is put in line with the endeavours of earth explorers in past centuries. This paper analyses mission objectives, motivations, political backgrounds and economic conditions of exploration missions between the 9th and the 20th century and compares them with present activities and plans in space exploration. Over 50 missions by explorers in the past centuries have been examined and it was found that historic missions can be divided into three categories of exploration: economically/politically motivated missions, science driven missions, and missions for competition and prestige. Based on this analysis, one example is presented for each category: Christopher Columbus, Alexander von Humboldt and the Apollo program. It is revealed that past exploration missions typically relied on one or two key objectives and were conducted by one single nation. Conversely, today’s – and future – rational for space exploration requires to take into account a set of key drivers which are derived from scientific, political, economic and public interests. Current developments in space exploration indicate the evolvement of a new age of exploration which focuses on servicing society, which builds on international cooperation, and which, therefore, would hold benefits for the participating nations as well as for humanity.