1958 – 2008 And beyond!

The Space Race The most powerful country in the world is challenged in its economic, scientific and technological abilities. The players – USSR vs. USA The contest – Get to the Moon first The stakes – worldwide bragging rights & status as the most powerful and efficient country in the world Did the United States meet the challenge?

Sputnik - the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth, launched by the USSR on October 4 th, The USSR’s successful campaign stirred the concerns of the average American and governmental administration. It caused the American reaction now known as the “Sputnik Crisis”

May 25 th 1961 President John F. Kennedy tells the world of America’s commitment to scientific and technological achievement in space science and sets a goal for a human to set foot on the Moon by the end of JFK was assassinated in 1963

Timeline Project - Construct a creative timeline that highlights the space race as an economical, scientific and cultural era in United States history. Your timeline should begin with the USSR launch of Sputnik and the United States reaction to that monumental event that changed history. Think of the Sputnik launch as the “launch” of an era that would change the world forever. Your timeline should include events such as the launches of satellites, the human body in space, and putting a man on the moon. It is at your discretion when to end your timeline, however it should reflect the entirety of the cultural and scientific rivalry between these two nations.

Timeline Project – DUE 3/3/09 Construct a creative timeline that highlights the space race as an economical, scientific and cultural era in United States history. Your timeline should begin with the USSR launch of Sputnik and the United States reaction to that monumental event that changed history. Think of the Sputnik launch as the “launch” of an era that would change the world forever. Your timeline should include events such as the launches of satellites, the human body in space, and putting a man on the moon. It is at your discretion when to end your timeline, however it should reflect the entirety of the cultural and scientific rivalry between these two nations.

The plane of the moons orbit does not match up with the equator of the earth. Orbital inclination = 5.14  to the ecliptic Eccentricity = 0.05 Orbital Inclination of the moon

Synchronous orbit The Rotation Period of the Moon exactly coincides with the revolution around the earth. This results in tidal locking. An observer on earth always sees the same face of the moon because it is in synchronous orbit with the earth. Because of this, we will never see the “dark side of the moon.”

Many of earth’s satellites are in geosynchronous orbit to help fulfill their duties. These satellites orbit over a fixed spot on the earth surface and travel at the same speed as the earth rotates. Ex. communications satellites, engineering satellites, spy satellites, GPS satellites Some satellites orbit in Geosynchronous orbits

The moon gravitationally influences the water on earth. Tides

Tidal Environments are relied upon by plants, animals and people!

An estuary is one type of tidal environment Home to 1000’s of unique plants and animal species

A mangrove is another type of tidal environment where trees and shrubs grow in a brackish, coastal habitat in the tropics

Atlantic horseshoe crabs come ashore to spawn and lay their eggs on Pickering beach, a national horseshoe crab sanctuary near Little Creek, Delaware, May 20, The Atlantic horseshoe crab, part of the Atlantic coast ecosystem and a species more than 350million years old, return from deeper water each May and June to lay their eggs on these beaches at the new and full moon tides. During spawning the crabs form clusters along the water's edge with as many as 12 satellite males grouped around one female. The females burrow into the sand to lay masses of green eggs which are fertilized by the males. The eggs provide essential food for as many as one million migrating shore birds that use horseshoe crab eggs as their primary food source on their northward migration.

Can we harness tidal energy for use? LINK

If all the creatures living in the tidal areas of the oceans died off, the chemical and organic make-up of the ocean would be drastically altered. Ocean currents, which move cold and hot water throughout the Ocean, regulate the salinity, and help carry many sea creatures on long journeys, would likely stop. If this happened, animal feeding habits would be severely altered, the ocean creatures not living in the tidal areas would likely die because of the change in salinity and lack of traveling animals to feed on, the Glaciers would likely melt so sea levels could raise drastically. This in turn would have a tragic effect on mankind and many of our cities. So, in conclusion, next time you look into the sky, take a few seconds to see if the moon is still up there, because if it isn’t, you will probably be in for the experience of your life. If we consider the fact that without the Moon and its intimate connection with earth, our oceans might be almost void of life, we can easily understand that this could have a catastrophic effect for life on earth. The ocean’s water may be undrinkable, but it really is the life-blood of human kind. Without the tidal effects of the Moon, so much of the life, or possibly even all the life that is currently on Earth, would likely cease to exist. Suppose the Moon simply went away and was no longer in existence. For starters, there would be no tides. No tides mean no, or little, life in the tidal areas of the ocean.