You have studied explorers who risked everything to come to America from Europe. During that time, sailors were very superstitious. They believed sea monsters ruled the oceans. Many of them still were of the opinion that the Earth was flat, and they were afraid of falling off its edge. Every man who boarded a boat to sail west was taking a serious chance of never coming home again.

Voyages to the New World were very expensive. It was hard to justify spending lots of money on a trip that might not even see success. Yet the explorers and conquistadors came anyway. They risked their lives and fortunes for the chance of new discoveries and opportunities.

Today, America faces the challenge of putting a man on the planet Mars. It, too, is dangerous and extremely expensive. It will take years of scientific effort and funding. In the end it might not even be successful.

Do you think America should pursue more space exploration? Why or why not? Can you make any comparisons between today’s astronauts and the explorers of the 1500s? If you were the President of the United States, would you support space exploration or be against it? Why or why not?

Would you like to be a space explorer? What qualities do you have that would be suited to such an adventure? Are you strong enough in character and emotional stability to do the job? What do you think?

Please address some of these questions in the blog you write. State your opinions and give specific reasons why you feel the way you do. You will probably need to write three or four paragraphs to explain your position. You do not have to address every question. Pick what is most interesting to you.

Title the blog something appropriate. American History or Social Studies is not appropriate! It needs to tell something about the blog–something about Space Exploration or Mars would be more appropriate.

Categorize the blog in the Social Studies Assignments category.