Space Exploration

S1-4-09 Explain how various technologies have extended our ability to explore and understand space.

S1-4-11 Evaluate the impact of space science and technologies in terms of their benefits and risks to humans.

KEY WORDSEscape velocity SatellitesGeosynchronous GPSProbes ISS

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 1st geosynchronous - Anik 1 • Used for telecommunications

Global Positioning System (GPS) • 24 satellites at a distance of 20 000 km above the Earth • not geosynchronous

Space Probes

Space ProbesRobotic 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:VoyagerPioneerCassiniGalileoPathfinderLunar 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. HubbleLaunch: April 24, 1990 from shuttle Discovery

Optical Capabilities Light capabilities: Ultraviolet, visible and infrared Equipment: 3 cameras, 3 spectroscopesData 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 Hadfield Roberta BondarMarc Garneau Julie PayetteBob Thirsk Dave 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 WORDSEscape velocity SatellitesGeosynchronous GPSProbes ISS