Space An Introduction. Space Exploration Space Exploration: is the use of astronomy and space...
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Transcript of Space An Introduction. Space Exploration Space Exploration: is the use of astronomy and space...
SpaceAn Introduction
Space Exploration
Space Exploration: is the use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by
human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft. Astronomy, or the observation of objects in space set
the stage for exploration, it was the development of large liquid-fueled rocket engines during the early 20th century however, that allowed physical space exploration to become a reality.
Rationale for Space Exploration
• Common rationales for exploring space include:
advancing scientific research
Uniting the world
ensuring the future survival of humanity
developing military and strategic advantages against other countries.
Historical Background 1st space advances were made by German
scientists during WWII while testing the V2 rocket After the war, the Allies used German scientists &
research to continue space research Early exploration was driven by a “space
race” between the USSR & the U.S. in the Cold War
Space Race Cold War
Tension between the U.S. & Soviet Union Each country wanted to prove their dominance in
anything & everything… including space This led to competition between the two countries
in space which became known as the Space Race A dangerous technological gap between the U.S.
& USSR
Space Race
Soviet Union U.S. Launch Sputnik Oct. 4, 1957
1st man-made object to orbit Earth
Soviet 1st’s (led early) 1st living being in orbit
1957 1st human space flight
(Yuri Gagarin aboard Vostok 1) 1961
1st spacewalk (Aleksei Leonov) 1965
1st automatic landing on another celestial body in 1966
1st space station (Salyut 1) in 1971
1st scientific exploration from space = cosmic radiation experiment on a V2 rocket 5-10-1946
1st images of Earth taken from space followed the same year
1st animal experiment saw fruit flies lifted into space in 1947
1st moon landing by Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969
Sputnik 1
Yuri Gagarin – April 12, 1961 Russia
The spacecraft completed one orbit around the globe, lasting about 1 hour and 48 minutes. Gagarin's flight resonated around the world; it was a demonstration of the advanced Soviet space program & it opened an entirely new era in space exploration: human spaceflight
Alan Shepard
The U.S. first launched a person into space with Shepard’s suborbital flight.
John Glenn
Orbital flight was achieved by the U.S. when John Glenn orbited the Earth on February 20, 1962.
Buzz Aldrin & Neil Armstrong
1st men on the moon.
NASA
U.S. agency responsible for the nation's public space program
Established by the National Aeronautics & Space Act in 1958 A year after the Soviet’s launched Sputnik
NASA has led U.S. efforts for space exploration ever since, resulting in the Apollo missions to the Moon, the Skylab space station, and later the Space Shuttle
Pros/Cons of Space Travel?
Varying Viewpoints Regarding Space Exploration The Pros International
cooperation Biological research
benefits entire human race
Human achievement Future colonization
and tourism
The Cons Too costly Environmental waste
(space junk) Problems on Earth
need to be fixed first Too dangerous
Should These Programs Continue? NASA's 2007 budget was $16.25 billion. Let's put this
amount in perspective:
The department of defense budget in 2007 was $609 billion.
The department of homeland security 2007 budget was $652 billion.
The national budget in 2007 was $2,784 billion. The amount of this budget spent on NASA was 0.58%.
A B-2 stealth bomber costs taxpayers $2.2 billion.
The New Horizons mission to explore the dwarf planet Pluto will cost $650 million.
Task Force Questions
Political Issues: 1. Who do you think
owns space? 2. Who should
determine what goes on in space? Why?
Finance/Cultural: 3. Is it right to spend tax
dollars on space? Why/why not?
4. Do we have the right to alter materials in space to meet our needs? Explain.
Environmental Issues: 5. Who do you think should be
responsible for protecting space environments from alteration by humans? Why?
6. Who is responsible for cleaning up space junk? Why?
Safety Issues: 7. Who should be responsible
for injuries caused to astronauts? Why?
8. Should safety of astronauts (as well as people on Earth) be a primary concern in space exploration? Why?