Every year 600 billion goes to space, yet whales here suffocate in plastic

 

Space has always fueled human curiosity. Today, governments and private companies are pouring billions of dollars into space-related ventures—from rocket engineering and orbital stations to ambitious plans for Mars missions.

At the same time, the oceans—once symbols of purity and natural strength—are becoming plastic graveyards. Increasingly, the media share images of dead whales with stomachs crammed with plastic bags, beaches littered with bottles instead of sand, and fish whose bodies reveal traces of microplastics.

This raises a pressing question: as we chase our ambitions of space conquest, are we neglecting our most fundamental duty—caring for our own planet?

 

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Where does the 600 billion figure come from?
3. The price of chasing the stars
4. Earth – a planet in crisis
5. Hope in simple, natural solutions
6. Summary
7. FAQ

 

Where does the 600 billion figure come from?

Estimates suggest that global annual spending on the space sector—spanning exploration, satellite technologies, scientific initiatives, and commercial projects—already reaches around 600 billion dollars. This total includes both public budgets and private investments from major tech players. NASA, the European Space Agency, and companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin compete to advance projects ranging from high-tech satellites and crewed lunar missions to visionary plans for colonizing Mars.

It’s a breathtaking amount, showing that humanity not only dreams of the cosmos but is willing to pay dearly for those dreams. Yet on Earth, the reality is far less glamorous. Beaches worldwide are awash with plastic. Inside whales and sea turtles, scientists find bags, bottles, and debris discarded by people. Each year, an estimated 11 million tons of plastic enter the oceans—and the number continues to climb.

In light of this, the obvious question emerges: have we lost sight of what truly matters?

 

The price of chasing the stars

Space budgets aren’t just abstract figures—behind the billions lie projects that spark global fascination. NASA alone invests over 25 billion dollars annually in research, with a major share dedicated to the Artemis program, designed to return humans to the Moon and prepare for Mars exploration. The European Space Agency (ESA) also spends about 7 billion euros yearly on satellite and research missions. Meanwhile, private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin funnel billions into rocket innovations and space tourism, aiming to reshape access to outer space.

The scope of these investments is remarkable, but the contrasts are even sharper. A single crewed Mars mission could cost as much as 100 billion dollars. By comparison, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), addressing ocean plastic pollution worldwide would require only 20 billion dollars annually. Put simply, the price of one Mars expedition could fund five years of robust efforts to fight plastic pollution on Earth.

Still, space dominates the headlines. Rocket launches, dramatic landings, and visions of Martian colonies capture public imagination and media attention. Meanwhile, the oceans’ crisis plays out quietly—far from the spotlight. Dead whales with stomachs full of plastic rarely stir the same awe as a Falcon 9 taking off.

Here lies the paradox: we spend fortunes on visions of distant worlds, while the only planet we truly have is slowly suffocating in waste.

 

Earth – a planet in crisis

Each year, between 8 and 11 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans. That’s like dumping a truckload of garbage into the water every single minute. The magnitude is so severe that scientists warn: if nothing changes, by mid-century the seas could contain more plastic than fish—measured by weight.

Plastic never truly disappears. Over time, it breaks down into increasingly smaller pieces—microplastics and nanoplastics—that spread throughout the environment. Today, they are found in fish and seafood that make their way to our tables. They’ve been detected in drinking water, table salt, and, most alarmingly, recent studies have confirmed their presence in human blood and lungs. In other words, plastics once viewed as symbols of convenience and progress are becoming part of our own bodies—bringing with them health risks that remain largely unknown.

The most striking consequences appear where ocean currents gather waste into massive floating zones. The best-known case is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, drifting between California and Hawaii, covering an area five times the size of Poland. Yet similar garbage patches exist in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Meanwhile, along the coasts of Southeast Asia—where waste management systems are weaker—beaches resemble landfills, and communities live surrounded by plastic on a daily basis.

 

Hope in simple, natural solutions

Faced with an overwhelming flood of plastic, it can feel as though humanity has trapped itself with its own convenience. Yet, there are materials that have accompanied us for centuries and can now provide a genuine alternative to synthetic products. One of the most promising is natural cork—a renewable, biodegradable, and fully eco-friendly resource. It is obtained from the bark of the cork oak without cutting down the tree. What’s more, the bark regenerates after several years, meaning that cork production doesn’t destroy forests but actually helps them survive.

When comparing cork and plastic, the contrast is stark. Plastic takes centuries to degrade and never truly disappears—it simply breaks into ever-smaller particles that infiltrate the environment. Cork, in contrast, is completely biodegradable, leaving no toxic residue. In terms of durability, both materials can be comparable—cork is lightweight, flexible, moisture-resistant, and very strong. But when it comes to environmental impact, cork’s superiority is beyond question.

That’s why embracing simple, natural materials like cork is not a step backward but a wise move toward a sustainable future. In a world where whales die with stomachs full of plastic and oceans are choked with waste, such alternatives can be more than just symbols—they can be practical tools for real change.

 

Summary

Humanity now spends roughly 600 billion dollars every year on space exploration and satellite technologies. This staggering figure reflects the scale of our ambitions: we want to discover new worlds, establish bases on the Moon, and prepare for Mars missions. Yet, at the same time, on the only planet we truly have, a global crisis is unfolding—oceans are drowning in plastic, animals perish with stomachs full of trash, and microplastics seep into our food, water, and even our bloodstream.

The contrast couldn’t be sharper. For just a fraction of the cost of a single Mars expedition, we could dramatically cut the flow of plastic into the environment. Yet, in terms of publicity and prestige, space exploration overshadows the urgent problems happening right beneath us.

That is why, alongside our grand ambitions among the stars, we need straightforward, practical measures here on Earth. Natural cork is a powerful example—showing that solutions can be both sustainable and functional, available today, without relying on synthetic substitutes that poison the planet.

In the end, the question we must ask is this: should we keep investing billions in dreams of settling other planets while our own steadily becomes less habitable? Perhaps it’s time to shift perspective—because protecting Earth is no less ambitious a challenge than sending humans to Mars.

 

FAQ

1. How much does the world spend on space?
Estimates suggest that governments and private firms together invest around 600 billion dollars annually in the space sector. This includes scientific research, missions, and satellite development.

2. Why is ocean plastic such a serious issue?
Each year, between 8 and 11 million tons of plastic enter the seas and oceans. This waste threatens marine life, which often ingests the debris, and eventually breaks down into microplastics, entering the food chain and, ultimately, the human body.

3. Is microplastic harmful to human health?
While long-term studies on the impact of micro- and nanoplastics are still ongoing, we already know they are present in human blood, lungs, and even placentas. This indicates they enter our bodies, and the potential effects may include hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and cardiovascular problems.

4. How much would it cost to reduce plastic pollution globally?
According to UNEP, effective global plastic reduction programs would require around 20 billion dollars per year—a fraction of what is currently spent on space exploration.

5. Can cork replace plastic?
Not in every case, but in many—yes. Natural cork is used for bottle stoppers, insulation, interior elements, and everyday accessories. Unlike plastic, it is fully biodegradable and leaves no toxic traces in the environment.