1. Challenges to Space travel

2. Learning goals We are identifying some of the risks of space travel.
We are identifying some of the ways to overcome the issues of living in space.
We are evaluating the ethical, political and environmental issues of space.

3. Hazards of traveling to/from space
accidents: loss of human life
cost of equipment in hundreds of millions
thousands of hours of labour
1967: Apollo 1 crew died
USSR cosmonaut died
1986: Challenger Space Shuttle
2003: Columbia Space Shuttle

4. Challenges to living in space
physical environment
solar radiation
space debris
no atmosphere = extreme temps
no O2
confined living
psychological problems
2 years in small space
same people every minute of every day

5. microgravity
the condition in which the gravitational forces that act on a mass are greatly reduced
condition is often likened to a feeling of weightlessness
1/3 on Mars; 1/6 on Moon
ultimately has negative effect on human body

6. microgravity heart is weakened muscles weaken due to lack of use
doesn’t have to pump as hard
muscles weaken due to lack of use
up to 40% of muscle mass lost on ISS
weakened bones
less pressure so loss of minerals
loss of bone mass 2% per month
red blood cell production decreases and immune system weakened
susceptible to illness and tougher to fight infection

7. International space station

8. International space station
Chris Hadfield videos
ISS video

9. Space junk
look out!
ISS and space junk

10. You think you’ve got issues!?

11. Ethical issues
Is it right to spend money on space exploration rather than on solving problems on Earth?
Do we have a right to alter materials in space to meet our needs?
How can we ensure that space resources will be used for the good of humans and not to further the interests of only one nation or group?

14. Political issues
Is it responsible to send humans into a high-risk environment like space?
Who owns space and its various celestial bodies?
Who has the right to use the resources in space?
Who will determine how space will be used?
Should weapons be allowed in space?

15. Environmental issues
Who is responsible for protecting space environments from alteration?
Who is responsible for cleaning up “space junk” (the equipment no longer used in space but left there in orbit)?
Who should pay for space junk clean-up?

16. Learning goals We are identifying some of the risks of space travel.
We are identifying some of the ways to overcome the issues of living in space.
We are evaluating the ethical, political and environmental issues of space.