Gr. 9 Space Exploration Unit Man on the Moon Gr. 9 Space Exploration Unit

The Moon is the only world that humans have landed on outside of Earth. As Earth’s nearest neighbor, it was the most likely target for manned spaced travel. Twelve US astronauts touched down on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. They collected rock samples, set up experiments to monitor the Moon’s environment, and took photographs.

These were the Apollo Missions, which made headlines around the world. Much of the rock collected on the Moon is volcanic and dates from around 3.5 billion years ago. (Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin [the character in Toy Story] were the first people on the Moon.)

The astronauts’ spacesuits restricted their movement and hindered rock collecting. A lightweight electric car, the Rover, was used. It’s top speed was 18 kilometers per hour.

Getting into Space Spacecraft are robotic or human-occupied vehicles used to explore space and celestial objects. The International Space Station is a research laboratory that is in a low orbit around Earth since 1998.

Benefits of the Space Program: Medical scanning devices Microelectronics New materials Robotics Lasers Space vision technology Anti-nausea medication Freeze-dried foods

It takes an enormous amount of energy by the rocket boosters to launch a spacecraft into space. Most of the fuel is used up during the launch. The pull of Earth’s gravity and the forward motion of a spacecraft keep it in orbit around Earth.

Limitations of Space Travel Human survival: Basic needs; air, food, water, what to do with waste Emotional and mental well-being; homesickness, claustrophobia Physical well-being; weakened bones and muscles do to prolonged periods in space Boredom