The impact of space on society: Past, present and future

During the past 50 years, space has had a profound impact on our societies. It has facilitated the globally interdependent world in which we live. It has altered our sense of our place in the universe. It has created technically competent workforces, stimulated our economics, enhanced our lives and vastly increased our knowledge of Earth, our Solar System and the universe beyond. In the next 50 years, our societies-their desires, expectations and goals-will determine our future in space. The space programs of the world are currently an underutilized resource. Yet there are so many problems to which we could contribute solutions: the study of global climate change; increasing economic opportunities; advancing science; determining where there is life elsewhere in the universe; protecting against asteroids; improving our technically competent workforces; and, above all, providing our societies with the hope that the future can be better than the present. We need to be set loose and supported to do our part to make a much better world for all of our societies. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.