Space Exploration

S Explain how various technologies have extended our ability to explore and understand space. S Evaluate the impact of space science and technologies in terms of their benefits and risks to humans. KEY WORDS Escape velocitySatellites GeosynchronousGPS ProbesISS

Escape velocity – speed a rocket needs to overcome the pull of gravity moving into space. Smaller rockets attached to the spacecraft make minor changes in the direction once in space No atmosphere in space – shuttle must carry an oxygen supply for the rocket fuel to combust and burn

Earth Orbit Satellites

Earth orbit satellites exist as two types: 1. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites (1963) Canada’s first satellite - Alouette 1 Traveling very fast – so it doesn’t get pulled in LEO objects must move fast enough to orbit Earth every 90 minutes or they will lose speed by the pull of gravity and crash International Space Station, Hubble Telescope

2. High Earth Orbit (HEO) satellites Higher so it can travel much slower With the right speed, can be geosynchronous (Moving with Earth’s rotation – always over the same spot) (1972) Canada’s 1 st geosynchronous - Anik 1 Used for telecommunications Global Positioning System (GPS) 24 satellites at a distance of km above the Earth not geosynchronous

Space Probes

Robotic explorers – lots of advantages for use Less expensive than manned spacecraft Farther distances can be explored No death – don’t need to get them back Probe Names: Voyager Pioneer Cassini Galileo Pathfinder Lunar prospector Mars Sojourner Rover

Hubble Space Telescope The First Optical Telescope in Space

Images sent to us by the Hubble Space Telescope are from some stars 8 billion light years away Name: American astronomer Edwin P. Hubble Launch: April 24, 1990 from shuttle Discovery Optical Capabilities Light capabilities: Ultraviolet, visible and infrared Equipment: 3 cameras, 3 spectroscopes Data Statistics: transmits 120 gigabytes every week Dr. Hubble confirmed an "expanding" universe, which provided the foundation for the Big Bang theory

Manned Space Activities

Space Race Facts: First satellite – Sputnik – Soviet (1957) First manned spacecraft – Soviet (1961) First space station – Salyut 1 – Soviet (1971) Second space station – MIR – Soviet (1986) MIR space station was used until 1998 when it was converted into the much larger: International Space Station (ISS) A cooperative venture of the United States, Europe, Canada, Russia and Japan Russian astronauts are called “cosmonauts” – Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space

Sputnik MIR Yuri Gagarin International Space Station

Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin Apollo 11 First humans on the moon - July 20, 1969 Armstrong was first (“one small step…”) Collected 47.5 pounds of lunar material

Canada's Involvement In Space

Canadarm Used on the International Space Station A robotic arm that allows astronauts in the space shuttle to move large cargo in space Not permanently attached to one spot – it can move around the Space Station on tracks

Astronauts and Astronomers: Chris HadfieldRoberta Bondar Marc Garneau Julie Payette Bob ThirskDave Williams Canadian astronauts are usually scientists or “payload specialists” - in charge of satellites and equipment (1989) Canadian Space Agency

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? S1-4-09: What is the purpose of the various objects humans put in space? S1-4-11: What are advantages and disadvantages of using robots in space? KEY WORDS Escape velocitySatellites GeosynchronousGPS ProbesISS