ScienceScienceFriday, April 21, 2023Friday, April 21, 2023

Technological Developments Technological Developments and the Exploration of Spaceand the Exploration of Space

2.1 – Getting There: Technologies 2.1 – Getting There: Technologies for Space Transportfor Space Transport

To escape the pull of Earth’s gravity To escape the pull of Earth’s gravity an object must travel at a speed an object must travel at a speed greater than 28,000 km/h (18,000 greater than 28,000 km/h (18,000 mph)mph)

Therefore, to launch spacecraft and Therefore, to launch spacecraft and satellites into space, we need satellites into space, we need powerful rocketspowerful rockets

Early RocketsEarly Rockets

Robert H. Goddard was Robert H. Goddard was the first person to the first person to successfully launch a successfully launch a liquid-fuel rocket in 1926liquid-fuel rocket in 1926

This rocket would serve This rocket would serve as a prototype for all as a prototype for all other major rocket other major rocket designsdesigns

The German V-2The German V-2

In 1942, Werner von Braun In 1942, Werner von Braun and his team of researchers and his team of researchers designed the V-2 liquid fuel designed the V-2 liquid fuel rocket, which was the first rocket, which was the first rocket to ever leave the rocket to ever leave the atmosphereatmosphere

After World War II, von Braun After World War II, von Braun worked for the United States worked for the United States in its space programin its space program

SputnikSputnik

On October 4, 1957, On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union the Soviet Union launched the first launched the first manmade satellite, manmade satellite, SputnikSputnik

One month later, the One month later, the Soviets launched a dog Soviets launched a dog named named LaikaLaika into orbit into orbit

Vostok and MercuryVostok and Mercury

Yuri Gagarin became the first person Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space in 1961 aboard in space in 1961 aboard Vostok 1Vostok 1

Alan Shepard was the first American Alan Shepard was the first American to enter space later that yearto enter space later that year

GeminiGemini

The American Gemini program The American Gemini program involved more advanced work, such involved more advanced work, such as spacewalks and docking with as spacewalks and docking with other craft during flightother craft during flight

ApolloApollo

The purpose of the Apollo program The purpose of the Apollo program was to land a person on the surface was to land a person on the surface of the Moonof the Moon

This was accomplished on July 20, This was accomplished on July 20, 19691969

SkylabSkylab Skylab was the first space Skylab was the first space

station to orbit the Earthstation to orbit the Earth In 1973 and 1974, three In 1973 and 1974, three

missions visited the space missions visited the space station station

It crashed into the sea It crashed into the sea near Australia in 1979 near Australia in 1979

The Australians fined the The Australians fined the US $400 for littering (the US $400 for littering (the fine has not yet been fine has not yet been paid)paid)

The Space ShuttleThe Space Shuttle

In 1981, the first Space Shuttle was In 1981, the first Space Shuttle was launchedlaunched

This new vehicle was reusable – This new vehicle was reusable – previous rockets used single-use previous rockets used single-use capsulescapsules

Rocket EnginesRocket Engines

A rocket engine relies on Newton’s A rocket engine relies on Newton’s 33rdrd Law of Motion – For every force Law of Motion – For every force there is an equal and opposite forcethere is an equal and opposite force

In a rocket engine, the force of In a rocket engine, the force of expanding gases from combustion expanding gases from combustion pushes down through the engine pushes down through the engine nozzle, and the rocket moves in the nozzle, and the rocket moves in the opposite directionopposite direction

Rockets consist of 3 parts:Rockets consist of 3 parts:

1.1. Structural and mechanical Structural and mechanical elements, such as the engines, elements, such as the engines, storage tanks, and finsstorage tanks, and fins

2.2. The fuel, which may vary in form The fuel, which may vary in form and compositionand composition

3.3. The payload, which may include The payload, which may include people, food, water, air, or people, food, water, air, or machinerymachinery

Current and Future Propulsion Current and Future Propulsion SystemsSystems

Current rockets use Current rockets use liquid fuels, such as liquid fuels, such as hydrogen and hydrogen and oxygenoxygen

Future spacecraft Future spacecraft may use ion may use ion propulsion, where propulsion, where electrically charged electrically charged xenon is accelerated xenon is accelerated by an electric fieldby an electric field

The ion drive produces very The ion drive produces very little force, but that force is little force, but that force is sustained over a long period, sustained over a long period, producing great speedproducing great speed

These types of drives could be These types of drives could be used to move vehicles in used to move vehicles in space, not to launch them from space, not to launch them from the Earththe Earth

Solar sails may also be usedSolar sails may also be used These consist of a large, thin These consist of a large, thin

reflective surface that uses the reflective surface that uses the momentum of photons from momentum of photons from the Sun like a windthe Sun like a wind

This would cause the ship to This would cause the ship to movemove

2.2 – Surviving There: 2.2 – Surviving There: Technologies for Living in SpaceTechnologies for Living in Space

Space is a hazardous place to liveSpace is a hazardous place to live Planned missions to Mars would Planned missions to Mars would

require living in a hostile require living in a hostile environment for two or three yearsenvironment for two or three years

Environmental HazardsEnvironmental Hazards

Space is a vacuum, with no air or waterSpace is a vacuum, with no air or water As well, deadly radiation and the risk of As well, deadly radiation and the risk of

meteoroids are constantly presentmeteoroids are constantly present Temperatures in space can rage from Temperatures in space can rage from

extreme heat to freezing coldextreme heat to freezing cold In the vacuum of space, our heart would In the vacuum of space, our heart would

not beat and the low pressure would cause not beat and the low pressure would cause your blood to boil instantlyyour blood to boil instantly

Psychological ChallengesPsychological Challenges

On a long mission, crew members On a long mission, crew members would have to live in very close would have to live in very close quarters (less than the size of this quarters (less than the size of this room) for months or yearsroom) for months or years

This can lead to psychological This can lead to psychological problemsproblems

The Body and MicrogravityThe Body and Microgravity

The human body is not designed for The human body is not designed for a microgravity environmenta microgravity environment

In weightless conditions, bone In weightless conditions, bone density is lost and muscles tend to density is lost and muscles tend to weaken because of the lack of forceweaken because of the lack of force

The effect of weightlessness is being The effect of weightlessness is being studied aboard the ISSstudied aboard the ISS

Space SuitsSpace Suits

Space suits are Space suits are specially designed specially designed to keep astronauts to keep astronauts alive in the alive in the vacuum of spacevacuum of space

They provide air, They provide air, water, heating and water, heating and cooling and even a cooling and even a portable toiletportable toilet

Living in SpaceLiving in Space

Because it is inefficient to constantly Because it is inefficient to constantly provide new materials to a space provide new materials to a space station, many things are recycledstation, many things are recycled

The ISS uses devices that can recycle The ISS uses devices that can recycle 100% of the water in the station100% of the water in the station

The Environmental Control and Life The Environmental Control and Life Support Systems aboard the ISS Support Systems aboard the ISS have a number of functions:have a number of functions:

1.1. Recycling of water to produce Recycling of water to produce drinking waterdrinking water

2.2. Using recycled water to produce Using recycled water to produce oxygen (through electrolysis)oxygen (through electrolysis)

3.3. Removing CORemoving CO22 from the air from the air

4.4. Filtering micro-organisms and dust Filtering micro-organisms and dust from the airfrom the air

5.5. Keeping air pressure, temperature Keeping air pressure, temperature and humidity stableand humidity stable

ISS Recycling ISS Recycling

Using Space Technology to Meet Using Space Technology to Meet Human Needs on EarthHuman Needs on Earth

We can use space technologies here We can use space technologies here on Earthon Earth

One of the main ways that we use One of the main ways that we use this technology is through Satellitesthis technology is through Satellites

Communication SatellitesCommunication Satellites

In the early 20In the early 20thth century, telegraph century, telegraph and telephone messages traveled and telephone messages traveled through wiresthrough wires

Today we use digital signals from Today we use digital signals from satellites that allow clearer satellites that allow clearer transmissions and a larger number of transmissions and a larger number of usersusers

Observation and Research Observation and Research SatellitesSatellites

Geosynchronous satellites Geosynchronous satellites (those that maintain a (those that maintain a constant position) are used constant position) are used to monitor weatherto monitor weather

Other satellites, such as Other satellites, such as LANDSAT and RADARSAT LANDSAT and RADARSAT can track ships at sea, can track ships at sea, forest fires, environmental forest fires, environmental damage, and natural damage, and natural resourcesresources

Remote SensingRemote Sensing

The main purpose of satellites in low The main purpose of satellites in low Earth orbit (200 to 1000 km altitude) Earth orbit (200 to 1000 km altitude) is to make observations about the is to make observations about the EarthEarth

This provides information about the This provides information about the condition of the environment, natural condition of the environment, natural resources, and the effects of resources, and the effects of urbanizationurbanization

The Global Positioning SystemThe Global Positioning System

There are 24 GPS satellites that orbit There are 24 GPS satellites that orbit the Earththe Earth

At any one point, there are at least At any one point, there are at least three of these satellites that are three of these satellites that are above a given location at any above a given location at any momentmoment

They produce radio signals that are They produce radio signals that are picked up by receiverspicked up by receivers

These radio signals contain time These radio signals contain time informationinformation

The time information from each The time information from each satellite is compared with the satellite is compared with the internal clock on the receiver, and internal clock on the receiver, and the time difference between the the time difference between the signals indicates the distance from signals indicates the distance from the satellitethe satellite

When three signals overlap, they will When three signals overlap, they will provide the user with their positionprovide the user with their position

The GPS was The GPS was originally developed originally developed for the US militaryfor the US military

In 2000, non-In 2000, non-military users could military users could finally receive a full-finally receive a full-quality signal (prior quality signal (prior to this, civilians to this, civilians could only receive a could only receive a less accurate signal)less accurate signal)

Space Age Materials and SystemsSpace Age Materials and Systems

Many different materials and Many different materials and systems originally designed for space systems originally designed for space have been put to use on Earthhave been put to use on Earth

Almost all sectors of business have Almost all sectors of business have been advanced through the use of been advanced through the use of these materials and technologies:these materials and technologies:

Computer TechnologyComputer Technology

Computers have been used to Computers have been used to analyze the structure of spacecraft, analyze the structure of spacecraft, the monitoring of onboard systems, the monitoring of onboard systems, and the training of astronautsand the training of astronauts

On Earth we use the same On Earth we use the same technologies in offices, to analyze technologies in offices, to analyze buildings and bridges, and to develop buildings and bridges, and to develop virtual reality softwarevirtual reality software

Consumer TechnologyConsumer Technology Astronauts use Astronauts use

specialized foods in specialized foods in space, and much work space, and much work has been put into the has been put into the studies of insulation and studies of insulation and aerodynamicsaerodynamics

We now can buy many We now can buy many enriched freeze-dried enriched freeze-dried foodsfoods

New, more efficient New, more efficient designs of bike helmets, designs of bike helmets, golf balls, running shoes golf balls, running shoes and ski goggles are the and ski goggles are the results of the work done results of the work done to improve spaceflightto improve spaceflight

Medical and Health TechnologyMedical and Health Technology

Motion sickness is a Motion sickness is a problem in space, so problem in space, so medications were medications were developed to counteract itdeveloped to counteract it

As well, digital imaging that As well, digital imaging that was developed for was developed for satellites is now used in satellites is now used in medicine to detect cancersmedicine to detect cancers

Industrial TechnologyIndustrial Technology

Lasers are used for communication in Lasers are used for communication in space, and they are now used for space, and they are now used for communication and manufacturing communication and manufacturing here on Earth as wellhere on Earth as well

Transportation TechnologyTransportation Technology

Special materials that were used in Special materials that were used in parachutes and spacecraft are now parachutes and spacecraft are now used in automobile designs, even used in automobile designs, even down to the tires!down to the tires!

Public Safety TechnologyPublic Safety Technology

A large amount of our exploration in A large amount of our exploration in space is done by robots because it is space is done by robots because it is too dangerous for humanstoo dangerous for humans

Robots with similar designs are now Robots with similar designs are now used for similar tasks on Earth (such used for similar tasks on Earth (such as the disposal of explosives)as the disposal of explosives)

The EndThe End