Why do countries spend so much time and money on space exploration? It is not just out of curiosity about outer space or in preparation for the distant future. In fact, space research can benefit people in unexpected ways.
　Here is a good example from Venus, another nearby planet. The exploration of Venus has revealed that most of its atmosphere is carbon dioxide and that temperatures on the planet average 500 degrees Celsius. This has given researchers some clues that have helped them understand the causes of global warming on Earth.
　Inventions like artificial hearts and cloud-computing technology are also spin-offs from space research. There is a saying that goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” But perhaps the real mother of invention is human curiosity and imagination. No one knows what practical contributions space exploration on Mars and beyond can make to our future. Maybe some of you will be the first real “Martians” and will make your own remarkable discoveries.