Space ExplorationPast, Present, Future

Space Exploration• Composition: What an object is made up of• Solar radiation: Radiation from the sun• Probes: Explores the solar system• International Space Station: A manmade satellite that

orbits the earth, is a science lab, and where astronauts live

• Hubble telescope: Used to observe stars, solar system, and other galaxies

• Chandra X-ray Observatory: Obtains X-ray images of exotic space environments

• Fermi-Gamma-ray Telescope: Observes stars bursting because stars mainly give off gamma rays

Space Exploration

• Think-Pair-Share…

How has space exploration helped our world in general?

Space ExplorationThe Big Picture

•Space exploration is still in early stages. Although we have learned a lot, we still have a lot of questions.

•The cost of space exploration mandates that we work together with other countries.

Example: International Space Station (ISS)

International Space StationInternational Space Station

• Known as ISS• A combined effort

of 15 different c• Astronauts to live

there for months • Conduct research

that cannot be done on Earth

Interesting ISS Facts• The size of a football field

• Weighs 924,739 pounds.

• Has more livable room than a conventional six-bedroom house with 2 bathrooms, a gymnasium and a 360-degree bay window.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Accomplishments:

•First to land someone on the moon•Invented the space shuttle•Developed many products for space that we now use as everyday products

Example: Velcro

Space Exploration History•The space age began on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth.

•The Soviets also achieved the first piloted space flight on April 12, 1961.

•The first cosmonaut was Yuri Gagarin. He orbited Earth in a ship named Vostok.

I got this…

Let’s Go to the MoonLet’s Go to the Moon• Apollo 8 orbited the

moon 10 times and returned to Earth safely on December 21, 1968

• Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed Apollo 11 on the moon on July 20, 1969.

• Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon.

•The laptops in our classroom are more powerful than the computers used to run the Apollo program!

Space Shuttles•A space shuttle is a reusable space craft.•First used in 1981.•Able to land on an ordinary airfield.•Two shuttle tragedies in 1987 and 2003.•Shuttles replaced the previous method of space flight – Rockets and capsules.

The Space Race and Cold WarThe Space Race and Cold War•Our ability to achieve our space goals became an indicator of our status as a great nation, and the Soviets were our top competitors.•This occurred during a time in our history known as the Cold War.•This was a time when our relationship with the Soviets was, well, cold.•The intense rivalry between our two countries led us to some amazing accomplishments.

Khrushchev & Kennedy

SpaceInstruments

Space Probes Sputnik

Explorer 1

• Spacecraft that drops into a planet’s atmosphere

• No astronauts onboard• Collects information and

sends it back to scientists on Earth

• Example: Voyager – 36 years old

VoyagerVoyager• NASA's Voyager 1: 1st

human-made object to travel beyond the solar system

• About 12 billion miles from our sun.

• Traveled beyond Neptune into interstellar space

Probes Vs. Human Pilots•Probes can make space flight cheaper, safer, and faster.•Human pilots can make decisions when things don’t go as planned.

Hubble Telescope• Orbits Earth and

focuses on distant objects within our solar system and Universe.

• Collect electromagnetic (light) radiation

• Allows us to see far away objects in space

• 1st telescope invented over 400 years ago

• Hubble Telescope (estimated Earth to be 13.5 billion years old

Chandra X-ray Observatory:• NASAs newest space

telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, will allow scientists from around the world to obtain extraordinary X-ray images and variety of violent, high-temperature events and objects to help us better understand the structure and development of our universe.

Fermi-Gamma-ray Telescope:

• Fermi GBM burst monitors, which are sudden, brief flashes of gamma rays that occur about once a day at random positions in the sky.

• Fermi data gives information about gamma-rays and possibly black holes

NASA discoveries has allowed us to have …..

• Microwaves• Hand held calculators

• Bar Coding• Technology that was

developed for astronauts and space exploration BUT now benefits us on Earth!

• Medical/ Future research

• Materials• Transportation

The Future

•Exploration at greater distances•Extended stays•Humans need to be ready and educated for the space travel of the future

Some Difficulties Include•Radiation exposure•Lunar dust•Food and Nutrition•Exercise•Differing levels of pressure, atmosphere composition, and gravity•Sleep loss•Risk of bone fracture•Reduced muscle mass•Reduced aerobic capacity•Mental disorders arising from extreme, confined, and isolated conditions

We Are Curious …and so we study space. Things that we need to know about space exploration include:

•Rockets•Artificial satellites•Space probes•Space stations•Space shuttles•Remote sensoring devices•Space suits

•Radar•Computers•Fuel sources•Landing modules•Materials that can survive heat and pressure•Solar panels•Living quarters•Biomedical equipment•Air purification devices•Telescopes•And many more…