Science 9 Unit E Technological Developments and the Exploration of Space

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 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  6fn2lXKzddg 6fn2lXKzddg 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.space stationartificial satellitelow Earth orbit   It is a modular structure whose first component was launched in Now the largest artificial body in orbit, it can often be seen with the naked eye from Earthnaked eye   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 Marsmicrogravityspace environmentbiologyhumanbiologyphysicsastronomymeteorologyother fields

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.Space Launch System  

Rocket Engines  A rocket engine relies on Newton’s 3 rd 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. launch launch

2.2 SURVIVING IN SPACE

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   be.com/watch?v=f hBT-zlZdVQ be.com/watch?v=f hBT-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 water 2. Using recycled water to produce oxygen (through electrolysis) 3. Removing CO 2 from the air 4. Filtering micro-organisms and dust from the air 5. Keeping air pressure, temperature and humidity stable

ISS Recycling

Think about it!  How long can you really survive in space?  I I I  What do they do with the waste from space? Make rocket fuel?   Can we survive on Mars? 

Science 9 Unit E Society and the Environment are Affected by Space Exploration and Technologies

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 km 2 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 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?

Ethical 1. 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?

Environmental 1. 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 Achievements 1839 – Sir Edward Sabine establishes first magnetic observatory & discovers that the Northern Lights are associated with solar activity 1962 – Canada launches its first satellite, Alouette – Canada provides the landing gear for the first lunar lander 1984 – Marc Garneau is the first Canadian in space 1992 – Roberta Bondar was the first Canadian woman in space 1997 – 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 ISS 2012 – Chris Hadfield 2012 – Chris Hadfield Hadfield launched in the Soyuz TMA- 07M flight for a long duration stay on board the ISS as part of Expedition 35.

End of Section  Unit Review p. 474 – 475 # 2 – 20