Space ExplorationPast, Present, Future

Space ExplorationThe Big Picture

•Space exploration is still very new.

•Although we have learned a lot, we still have a lot of questions and a lot left to learn.

•The cost of space exploration is so high, we have to work with other countries such as China, Russia and Europe.

Example: International Space Station (ISS)

NASA stands for…National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA accomplished the following:

•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

Humans Are Curious and so we… …study space. Things that we need to know about space exploration include knowing what the following are and what they do. Do you recognize any?

•Rockets•Artificial satellites•Space probes•Space stations•Space shuttles•Space suits

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

Space Exploration History•Humans began Space Exploration on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union, which we now call Russia, launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth.

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

•The first cosmonaut (this is what Russians called astronauts) was Yuri Gagarin. He orbited Earth in a ship named Vostok.

•This information tells us the Soviet Union (aka Russia) was way ahead of the USA in terms of Space Exploration.

I got this…

Let’s Go to the Moon•America was the 1st country to go to, land on and explore the moon…(take that Russia).•Apollo 8, the name of an American rocket, orbited the moon 10 times and returned to Earth safely on December 21, 1968.•Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed Apollo 11, another rocket, on the moon on July 20, 1969.•Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon.FUN FACT…•The laptops in our classroom are more powerful than the computers used to run all the Apollo spaceships!

Space Shuttles•After America sent humans to space in Apollo spaceships, they wanted to create a spaceship with more room so they created shuttles! The rockets were tiny causing astronauts to be strapped in their seat for HOURS!!!•A space shuttle is a reusable space craft. Here are some facts…

•First used in 1981.•Able to land on an ordinary airfield. The Apollo spaceships had to land in the ocean.•Two shuttle tragedies in 1987 and 2003.•Shuttles replaced the previous method of space flight – Rockets and capsules (there are the Apollospaceships I was talking about!!!

A rocket capsule

The Space Race and Cold War•Remember when the previous slide talked about Russia sending humans to space before American?•America wanted to be first, but Russia wanted to be first.•This turned into a space race!!•If American could achieve being first in the space race, this would make America the “best” country.•This occurred during a time in our history known as the Cold War. This just meant our relationship with Russia was “cold”.•The intense rivalry between our two countries led us to some amazing accomplishments.

Khrushchev & Kennedy-The Russian and American Presidents!

Probes Vs. Human Pilots•Currently, American is NOT sending space shuttles to space anymore.•The rockets and space shuttles became VERY expensive for America, therefore we had to decide to stop sending space shuttles into space and start sending probes.•Space shuttles had humans on them, probes did not.•Positive of Probes-Probes can make space flight cheaper, safer, and faster.•Positive of Space Shuttle: Human pilots can make decisions when things don’t go as planned.

I.S.S. International Space Station• The International Space Station is a large spacecraft. • It orbits around Earth. • It is a home where astronauts live.• The space station is also a science lab. Many

countries worked together to build it. They also work together to use it.

• The space station is made of many pieces. The pieces were put together in space by astronauts.

• The space station's orbit is about 220 miles above Earth.

• NASA uses the station to learn about living and working in space. These lessons will help NASA explore space.

The Future of Space Exploration•Currently, countries around the world (American, China, France, Germany, etc.) are working together to explore space!

•We are trying to explore greater distances (remember…we’ve only been to the moon…not any farther!!)•We are trying to research ways to travel to Mars and possibly, one day, live there. This is called the Mission to Mars!•We have sent an unmanned rover to Mars. This rover collected data from the surface and under the surface and sent it back to Earth to be analyzed.

•Humans need to be ready and educated for the space travel of the future!!!