From ear spelunking with a cotton swab to kicking around dust on the moon, exploration is something that everyone does to some degree. Humans have always been insatiably curious, especially about the unknown.
In his "Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Address," Reagan praises that willingness to leap into the unknown with the vigor of a flying squirrel. Historically, that wild leap has lead to some of the most significant cultural, technological, and scientific advancements of humankind.
He's also reminding people that while exploration opens up new and exciting worlds, you have to be all-in because you never know where it will take you.
Questions About Exploration
- How might President Reagan's insistence on the benefits of exploration and continued discovery be related to his political agenda? Consider world events during his term in office.
- Is President Reagan justifying the deaths of seven people as the cost of pioneering?
- Does exploration always involve risk? Why might risk be emphasized here?
- Does President Reagan paint a picture of the Challenger Seven as a group of martyrs?
Chew on This
President Reagan's characterization of the Challenger Seven as swashbuckling star sailors is fantastical and misguided in the face of a national tragedy.
"Exploration" is being misused in this context because the space shuttle crew never made it far enough to explore anything. This is false praise in an attempt to clean up a messy situation.