science 9 unit e technological developments and the exploration of space
TRANSCRIPT
2.1 – Getting There: Technologies for Space Transport
To escape the pull of Earth’s gravity an object must travel at a speed greater than 28 000 km/h
Therefore, to launch spacecraft and satellites into space, we need powerful rockets
Early Rockets
Robert H. Goddard was the first person to successfully launch a liquid-fuel rocket in 1926
This rocket would serve as a prototype for all other major rocket designs
The German V-2
In 1942, Werner von Braun and his team of researchers designed the V-2 liquid fuel rocket, which was the first rocket to ever leave the atmosphere
After World War II, von Braun worked for the United States in its space program
Sputnik
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first manmade satellite, Sputnik
One month later, the Soviets launched a dog named Laika into orbit
Vostok and Mercury
Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space in 1961 aboard Vostok 1
Alan Shepard was the first American to enter space later that year
Gemini
The American Gemini program involved more advanced work, such as spacewalks and docking with other craft during flight
Apollo The purpose of the Apollo program
was to land a person on the surface of the Moon
This was accomplished on July 20, 1969
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fn2lXKzddg
Skylab Skylab was the first space
station to orbit the Earth In 1973 and 1974, three
missions visited the space station
It crashed into the sea near Australia in 1979
The Australians fined the US $400 for littering (the fine has not yet been paid)
The Space Shuttle
In 1981, the first Space Shuttle was launched
This new vehicle was reusable – previous rockets used single-use capsules
The International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station, or a
habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. It is a modular structure whose first component was
launched in 1998. Now the largest artificial body in orbit, it can often be seen with the naked eye from Earth
The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology,humanbiology, physics, astronomy, meteorology and other fields. The station is suited for the testing of spacecraft systems and equipment required for missions to the Moon and Mars
Orion On December 4, 2014, Orion will launch atop a
Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex Flight Test on the Orion Flight Test: a two-orbit, four-hour flight that will test many of the systems most critical to safety.
In the future, Orion will launch on NASA’s new heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System. More powerful than any rocket ever built, SLS will be capable of sending humans to deep space destinations such as an asteroid and eventually Mars. Exploration Mission-1 will be the first mission to integrate Orion and the Space Launch System.
http://youtu.be/aHRuyNXuLxg
Rocket Engines
A rocket engine relies on Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion – For every force there is an equal and opposite force
In a rocket engine, the force of expanding gases from combustion pushes down through the engine nozzle, and the rocket moves in the opposite direction
Rockets consist of 3 parts:1. Structural and mechanical
elements, such as the engines, storage tanks, and fins
2. The fuel, which may vary in form and composition
3. The payload, which may include people, food, water, air, or machinery
Current and Future Propulsion Systems
Current rockets use liquid fuels, such as hydrogen and oxygen
Future spacecraft may use ion propulsion, where electrically charged xenon is accelerated by an electric field
The ion drive produces very little force, but that force is sustained over a long period, producing great speed
These types of drives could be used to move vehicles in space, not to launch them from the Earth
Solar sails may also be used These consist of a large, thin
reflective surface that uses the momentum of photons from the Sun like a wind
This would cause the ship to move
WE’RE GOING TO SPACE.
http://www.teachertube.com/video/2006-space-shuttle-launch-118729
Think about it!
What things do you think people need when traveling out to space?
Make a list of 10 item you may need for your trip out to space
2.2 – Surviving There: Technologies for Living in Space
Space is a hazardous place to live Planned missions to Mars would
require living in a hostile environment for two or three years
The Body and Microgravity
The human body is not designed for a microgravity environment
In weightless conditions, bone density is lost and muscles tend to weaken because of the lack of force
The effect of weightlessness is being studied aboard the ISS
Space Suits Space suits are
specially designed to keep astronauts alive in the vacuum of space
They provide air, water, heating and cooling and even a portable toilet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhBT-zlZdVQ
Living in Space
Because it is inefficient to constantly provide new materials to a space station, many things are recycled
The ISS uses devices that can recycle 100% of the water in the station
The Environmental Control and Life Support Systems aboard the ISS have a number of functions:1. Recycling of water to produce
drinking water2. Using recycled water to produce
oxygen (through electrolysis)3. Removing CO2 from the air
4. Filtering micro-organisms and dust from the air
5. Keeping air pressure, temperature and humidity stable
Think about it!
How long can you really survive in space? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjkrqMm52JI
What do they do with the waste from space? Make rocket fuel?
http://youtu.be/5JPuaRBTMK
Can we survive on Mars? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYQMbnAqY3
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4.1 – The Risks and Dangers of Space Exploration
Space exploration is very hazardous There have been several deaths
associated with space flight, including the destruction of the Apollo I capsule (on the launch pad) and the Space Shuttles Challenger (shortly after launch) and Columbia (upon re-entry)
Due to the risks involved, much planning and training goes into manned missions
Limited supplies of fuel and oxygen, as well as dangerous radiation, floating debris and meteoroids must be dealt with
In particular, space junk is a growing problem
Every spacecraft that is launched leaves little bits of junk in space
Even a tiny bolt, screw or bit of paint moving at thousands of kilometers per hour can punch holes in spacecraft
As well, space debris can fall to Earth In 1978, a Soviet satellite crashed into the
Great Slave Lake area in NWT During re-entry, the disintegrating satellite
showered radioactive debris from its power plant over a 124 000 km2 area
The clean-up carried out by the Canadian and US military cost about $15 million
Environmental Hazards
Space is a vacuum, with no air or water As well, deadly radiation and the risk of
meteoroids are constantly present Temperatures in space can rage from
extreme heat to freezing cold In the vacuum of space, our heart would
not beat and the low pressure would cause your blood to boil instantly
Psychological Challenges
On a long mission, crew members would have to live in very close quarters (less than the size of this room) for months or years
This can lead to psychological problems
4.3 – Issues Related to Space Exploration
Space exploration is very expensive – it costs billions of dollars per year
Many people suggest that the money would be better spent somewhere else (such as healthcare and education)
Others argue that space exploration is necessary because it may help us to find improvements to our way of life here
Space and its Resources
Space may have numerous resources to offer
It is estimated that a single 200 000 tonne asteroid could yield $350 billion worth of resources
As well, if we found fuel and other resources needed for space travel in space, it would be much cheaper to travel to other planets
For instance, rocks on the Moon could be used to obtain both hydrogen and oxygen (both of which are used for fuel)
Issues with Space Exploration and Exploitation
There are several issues to consider with space exploration and the use of the materials found there:
Political:1. Who owns space?2. Who has the right to use those
resources?3. Who will determine how space is
used?
Ethical1. Is it right to spend money on space
exploration when it is needed here on Earth?
2. Do we have a right to alter materials in space to meet our needs?
3. How can we ensure that resources will be used to benefit all of mankind instead of only one nation or group?
Environmental1. Who is responsible for protecting space
environments from alteration?2. Who is responsible for cleaning up space
junk, and who should pay for it? One possible solution is to treat space
like Antarctica In 1959, the 12 countries that had bases
on Antarctica agreed that “Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord.”
4.2 – Canadian Contributions to Space
One of the main Canadian contributions to space is the “Canadarm”, a robotic arm used on board the space shuttle
This arm has been used to place and fix satellites, and to construct the International Space Station
Canada has also launched a number of satellites, including Anik 1, which provided all of Canada with telecommunications coverage
Canada and the ISS
Canada has provided the ISS with the Canadarm 2, an improved version of the original Canadarm
The new arm has “fingers” for delicate assembly work and can move itself around the station along a set of rails
Canadian Achievements1839 – Sir Edward Sabine establishes first magnetic
observatory & discovers that the Northern Lights are associated with solar activity
1962 – Canada launches its first satellite, Alouette 11969 – Canada provides the landing gear for the first lunar
lander1984 – Marc Garneau is the first Canadian in space1992 – Roberta Bondar was the first Canadian woman in space1997 – Canada provided the ramp used by the Mars Pathfinder
mission 2001 – Chris Hadfield becomes the first Canadian to walk in
space while delivering the Canadarm 2 to the ISS2012 – Chris Hadfield Hadfield launched in the Soyuz TMA-07M
flight for a long duration stay on board the ISS as part of Expedition 35.