UNIT E: SPACE EXPLORATION

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1 UNIT E: SPACE EXPLORATION S C I E N C E 9 1 Science 9 Unit E Section 2.0 TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS ARE MAKING SPACE EXPLORATION POSSIBLE AND OFFER BENEFITS ON EARTH. SECTI ON 2.0 Science 9 Unit E Section

2 GETTING THERE: TECHNOLOGIES FOR SPACE TRANSPORT TOPI C 2.1 Science 9 Unit E Section THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF EXPLORING SPACE Consider the biggest challenges of exploring space: 1. to go fast enough to achieve orbit around Earth or break free of Earth s gravity and travel to other planets; 2. to keep equipment operating in the extreme environment of space; and 3. to transport people out and back safely. #1 Science 9 Unit E Section

3 TECHNOLOGY TODAY Today, hundreds of satellites circle Earth. They transmit non-stop information for use in communications, navigation, research, and weather forecasting. Robotic space probes have investigated all the planets of our solar system including dwarf planet, Pluto (in a fly-by on July 14, 2015!). Manned spacecraft notably the Russian Mir space station, the American space shuttle, and the International Space Station have conducted studies while in Earth s orbit. Science 9 Unit E Section THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ROCKET SCIENCE Getting an object into space (outside Earth s atmosphere) first required figuring out what speed an object needed to overcome the force of gravity pulling the object back toward Earth. That speed, it was found, had to be at least km/h. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union became the first country in the world to launch an artificial satellite. It was called Sputnik, the Russian word for satellite. It was only about as large as a basketball, but its launch marked the beginning of the satellite age. #2 Science 9 Unit E Section

4 THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ROCKET SCIENCE A month after Sputnik was put into orbit around Earth, the Soviet Union launched a second space capsule, Sputnik 2, which carried a living creature for the first time! This one carried an occupant, a small dog named Laika, who died within hours from overheating. This true cause was not made public until 2002 previous reports indicated that Laika had survived for seven days as the capsule orbited Earth. The valuable information gained from that mission set the path for human space travel. Science 9 Unit E Section A CANADIAN CONTRIBUTION On September 29, 1962, Canada became the third nation in the world (after the Soviet Union and the United States) to launch its own satellite, Alouette I. Science 9 Unit E Section

5 THE SCIENCE OF ROCKETRY Rocketry relies on a fundamental law of physics (Newton s Third Law): for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Rockets use gas under pressure confined in a chamber or tank. An opening in the chamber allows the gas to be released, producing thrust (push) and causing the rocket to be propelled in the opposite direction. #3 and #4 Science 9 Unit E Section PARTS OF A ROCKET There are three basic parts to a rocket: 1. the structural and mechanical elements The structural and mechanical elements are everything from the rocket itself to engines, storage tanks, and the fins on the outside. 2. the fuel The fuel can be any number of materials, including liquid oxygen, gasoline, and liquid hydrogen. The mixture is ignited in a combustion chamber, causing the gases to expand and leave as exhaust. 3. the payload The payload refers to the materials needed for the flight, including crew cabins, food, water, air, and people. #5 Science 9 Unit E Section

6 THE FUTURE OF SPACE TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY Ion Drives are engines that use xenon gas instead of chemical fuels. In the spacecraft engine, the xenon is electrically charged, accelerated, and then emitted as exhaust. The thrust generated by an ion drive is times weaker than the thrust achieved by today s chemically fuelled rocket engines, but it lasts an extremely long time. In space, that little bit of force applied over a long period of time results in a very fast vehicle. For great distances, the amount of fuel required is about 1/10 of what would be used by a typical spacecraft. #6 Science 9 Unit E Section ION DRIVES (03:41) Science 9 Unit E Section

7 THE FUTURE OF SPACE TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY The idea of propelling spacecraft using solar sails is similar to the idea of propelling boats using wind sails. Instead of harnessing air currents for energy, solar sails would use the Sun s light. When the Sun s electromagnetic energy hits the sail, the energy transmitted causes the spacecraft to move. Solar sail craft offer low-cost operations and long operating lifetimes. Since they have few moving parts and use no propellant, they can potentially be used numerous times for delivery of materials. A sail can be used only where its temperature is kept within its material limits. Generally, a sail can be used rather close to the Sun, around 0.25 AU, or even closer if carefully designed for those conditions. #6 Science 9 Unit E Section SUCCESSFUL SAIL: IKAROS 2010 On May 21 st, 2010, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the world's first interplanetary solar sail spacecraft "IKAROS" (Interplanetary Kitecraft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) to Venus. IKAROS is a 200 m 2 solar sail (about the size of a tennis court). IKAROS spent six months traveling to Venus, and then began a three-year journey to the far side of the Sun. Science 9 Unit E Section

8 THREE TYPES OF SPACECRAFT There are three main types of spacecraft in use. 1. Shuttles transport personnel and equipment to orbiting spacecraft. 2. Space probes contain instruments for carrying out robotic exploration of space. 3. Space stations are orbiting spacecraft that have living quarters, work areas, and all the support systems needed to allow people to live and work in space for extended periods. #7 Science 9 Unit E Section THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION The International Space Station, orbiting Earth at an altitude of 350 km, is a joint project of 16 nations, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, Brazil, and 11 nations of the European Space Agency. The station will serve as a permanent laboratory in space, as well as a command post for building and launching interplanetary rockets. Science 9 Unit E Section

9 THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Construction of the International Space Station is well under way, with modules (subsections of the craft) being made and sent up from Earth. When it is completed, it will have a living and working space equal to the size of three averagesized Canadian houses. As well, several private companies are planning to develop hotels and amusement parks in space or on the Moon. Science 9 Unit E Section ASSEMBLING THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (04:19) Science 9 Unit E Section

10 LIFE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (04:23) Science 9 Unit E Section CHRIS HADFIELD ON HOW MATH IS USED ON THE ISS (01:23) Science 9 Unit E Section

11 HADFIELD BEHIND THE CONTROLS OF CANADARM2 (02:57) Science 9 Unit E Section HOMEWORK! Textbook Check and Reflect Page 417 # 2 5, 7, 8, 10 Read Topic 2.2 Pages Science 9 Unit E Section

12 SURVIVING THERE: TECHNOLOGIES FOR LIVING IN SPACE TOPI C 2.2 Science 9 Unit E Section HAZARDS OF LIVING IN SPACE Scientists believe we now have the technology to send a group of astronauts to Mars and back. Astronauts going to Mars would be gone for two to three years, compared to typical week-long missions for space shuttle astronauts, or the few months experienced by astronauts in the International Space Station. Science 9 Unit E Section

13 CONSIDER THIS: US ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY Scott Joseph Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is an American astronaut, engineer and a retired U.S. Navy Captain. Kelly's first spaceflight was as pilot of Space Shuttle Discovery in December This was the third servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, and lasted for just under eight days. Kelly's second spaceflight was as mission commander of a 12-day Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station in August Kelly's third spaceflight was as commander on the ISS. He arrived in October 2010, took over command of the station in November 2010, and departed in March NASA Astronaut, Scott Kelly Science 9 Unit E Section CONSIDER THIS: US ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY In November 2012, Kelly was selected, along with Mikhail Korniyenko, for a special year-long mission to the International Space Station. Their year in space commenced 27 March 2015 and lasted until 29 February 2016, when the ISS year long mission ended. He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-18M on 1 March For the ISS year long mission, Kelly spent 340 consecutive days in space. In October 2015, he set the record for the total accumulated number of days spent in space by an American astronaut, 382. This Russian Soyuz capsule contains NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov returning from the International Space Station. Science 9 Unit E Section

14 SCOTT KELLY: THE RETURN TO EARTH For 53 minutes, these three men fell from space in a sometimes blazing fireball that, for a brief time, experienced over 4 Gs of force as it crashed into the atmosphere at unthinkably fast speeds, and finally landed in Kazakhstan! Science 9 Unit E Section SCOTT KELLY, MIKHAIL KORNIENKO, AND SERGEY VOLKOV WELCOME HOME! Since they haven t experienced gravity in a while, the recovery team has to build a little slide around the capsule for the astronauts to get out and onto the ground. After no gravity for so long, he finally gets to take his first breath of fresh air in 340 days! Science 9 Unit E Section

15 CONSIDER THIS: US ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY Kelly's identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, is a former astronaut. The Kelly brothers are the only siblings to have traveled in space. The goal of their year-long expedition is to understand better how the human body reacts and adapts to the harsh environment of space. Data from the 12-month expedition will help inform current assessments of crew performance and health and will validate countermeasures to reduce the risks associated with future exploration as NASA plans for missions around the moon, an asteroid and ultimately Mars. Part of this research also includes a comparative study on the genetic effects of spaceflight with Scott s twin brother Mark as the ground control subject. Science 9 Unit E Section ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS 1. Space is a vacuum, with no air or water. 2. It also contains many hazards for the spacecraft and its occupants, including the damaging effects of cosmic rays and solar radiation and the risk of being hit by meteoroids. 3. There is no atmosphere so temperatures can range from unimaginably cold in shadows to extremely hot in the full sun. 4. The gases in the atmosphere that keep us alive on Earth do not exist in space. 5. Neither does the pressure of the atmosphere, which helps regulate our heartbeats. #8 Science 9 Unit E Section

16 WHAT IF THERE WAS A LEAK IN AN ASTRONAUT S SPACESUIT? If we got out there and somehow there was a leak in the suit, our lungs would rupture, our eardrums would burst, our saliva, sweat and tears would boil and we d get the bends. The only good news is that within 10 to 15 seconds, we d lose consciousness. Lack of oxygen to the brain is what would finish us off. From Chris Hadfield s An Astronaut s Guide to Life on Earth (page 88). Science 9 Unit E Section CHRIS HADFIELD ON GETTING SICK IN SPACE (01:47) Science 9 Unit E Section

17 PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES Long trips in a confined living space may also lead to psychological problems. Imagine spending every minute of every day with one person for two years. Now imagine spending that two years in an enclosure not much bigger than your classroom. Stepping outside for a breath of fresh air is strictly prohibited! #9 Science 9 Unit E Section CSA PRESENTS: THE HADFIELD SHAKE EXERCISE ON THE ISS (02:41) Science 9 Unit E Section

18 MICROGRAVITY There is much to be learned about how the human body adapts physically to living in space. A particular problem is living in microgravity. Recall from earlier studies that gravity is the force of attraction between masses. On Earth, gravity gives us our feeling of weight. Microgravity is the condition in which the gravitational forces that act on mass are greatly reduced. For example, a person would weigh only one-third on Mars of what he or she would weigh on Earth. That s because on Mars the force of gravity is weaker (only one-third) than on Earth. In space, that person is almost completely weightless, as are the spacecraft and all of its contents. #10 Science 9 Unit E Section WEIGHTLESSNESS In conditions of weightlessness, the body undergoes many changes. Bones have much less pressure on them than normal and so they expand. The heart does not have to pump as hard to circulate blood. Muscles used for walking and lifting do not get used as much, and therefore weaken. Even a person s visual depth perception is affected. These and other concerns will be extensively studied on the International Space Station in preparation for interplanetary travel. #11 Science 9 Unit E Section

19 CHRIS HADFIELD ON HOW EYESIGHT IS AFFECTED IN SPACE (02:36) Science 9 Unit E Section CHRIS HADFIELD ON HOW THE BODY ADAPTS TO WEIGHTLESSNESS (02:16) Science 9 Unit E Section

20 THE SPACE SUIT When walking or working outdoors on Earth, we usually try to dress appropriately for the conditions, wearing a warm jacket if it is cold and rain gear if it is wet. When taking a walk in space, however, we would be faced with a more difficult environment. Once astronauts leave their spacecraft, everything they need to survive must be brought with them: air, water, a heating system, a cooling system even a portable toilet. In addition, the suit must be flexible enough to allow the astronaut to grasp a wrench or twist a bolt. Each space suit is customdesigned for the man or woman who will wear it, from the size of the shoes to the size of the gloves. Science 9 Unit E Section NASA SPACESUITS AND SPACEWALKS: HOW THEY WORK (05:18) Science 9 Unit E Section

21 A HOME IN SPACE If people are planning to move out to space colonies in the coming years, their space station homes will have to come with several important features. The space station must provide: i. clean water ii. breathable air iii. comfortable temperatures (heating system) iv. air pressure v. the station must carry its own source of power to provide the energy necessary to run the life-support systems and other equipment at all times. #12 Science 9 Unit E Section SLEEPING IN SPACE (02:43) Science 9 Unit E Section

22 ISS WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM Science 9 Unit E Section RECYCLING WATER The International Space Station will be using devices that can recycle almost 100% of the water in the station. This includes waste water, water used for hygiene, and moisture in the air. Careful recycling of water on the space station will keep a crew of seven comfortable for several months. #13 Science 9 Unit E Section

23 RECYCLING WATER On the International Space Station, the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems are designed to ensure life support. The functions of the life-support system include: recycling wastewater (including urine) to produce drinking water; using recycled water to produce oxygen; removing carbon dioxide from the air; filtering micro-organisms and dust from the air; and keeping the air pressure, temperature, and humidity (air moisture) stable. #14 Science 9 Unit E Section WATER RECYCLING ON THE ISS (01:52) Science 9 Unit E Section

24 CHRIS HADFIELD BRUSHES HIS TEETH IN SPACE (03:11) Science 9 Unit E Section PRODUCING OXYGEN Recall: the process of electrolysis uses electricity to split water molecules into their component elements: hydrogen and oxygen. 2 H 2 O (l) 2 H 2(g) + O 2(g) Applied in a spacecraft, this process can supply most of the oxygen a crew needs. The hydrogen is vented into space. #15 Science 9 Unit E Section

25 TED TALK WITH CHRIS HADFIELD (18:21) Science 9 Unit E Section HOMEWORK! Textbook Check and Reflect Page 425 # 1 3, 7 Read Topic 2.3 Pages Science 9 Unit E Section

26 USING SPACE TECHNOLOGY TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS ON EARTH TOPI C 2.3 Science 9 Unit E Section SATELLITES Satellites sometimes referred to as artificial satellites are objects that are built and sent into Earth s orbit by humans. (A natural satellite refers to any small body that orbits a larger body, such as a moon orbiting a planet.) Looking like small spherical containers or snaptogether toy structures, these relatively small objects are loaded with electronic equipment, digital imaging apparatus, and other instrumentation. They transmit the information they receive to ground stations by radio waves. #16 Science 9 Unit E Section

27 THE ROLE OF SATELLITES IN OUR LIVES Satellites can help us communicate, observe and forecast weather, predict magnetic storms, and find our location on the planet. We send satellites into space to allow us to watch television and make long-distance phone calls. Some newer cars come equipped with satellite tracking devices (GPS). Science 9 Unit E Section COMMUNICATION SATELLITES Setting up telephone communication with someone across an ocean was a great challenge that required laying submarine cables. Today, satellites use digital systems that result in clearer transmissions and allow for a great number of users at any one time. Every nation in the world now employs wireless technologies for a wide range of communications. #17 Science 9 Unit E Section

28 SATELLITES FOR OBSERVATION AND RESEARCH Satellites are invaluable tools for monitoring and forecasting weather. Weather satellites are designed to stay in one position above Earth. This is called a geosynchronous orbit, which means that the satellite moves at the same rate as Earth spins. In this way the satellite can observe the same area at all times. The result is 24- hour-a-day monitoring of weather conditions. #17 Science 9 Unit E Section SATELLITES FOR OBSERVATION AND RESEARCH Observation satellites can do more than just take photographs and monitor weather. Two Canadian satellites, LANDSAT and RADARSAT, have been used to follow ships at sea, monitor soil quality, track forest fires, report on environmental change, and search for natural resources. RADARSAT sees more than km 2 of Earth in each of its orbits. These satellites are not in geosynchronous orbit. #17 Science 9 Unit E Section

29 REMOTE SENSING Remote sensing is a process in which imaging devices in a satellite make observations of Earth s surface and send this information back to Earth. Images can be photographs or data collected from the sensing of heat and other invisible energy waves. Remote sensing can provide information on the condition of the environment on Earth, natural resources, and effects of urbanization. This information is used for planning. #17 Science 9 Unit E Section SATELLITES AS PERSONAL TRACKING DEVICES The Global Positioning System (GPS) lets you know your position on the planet, accurate to within a few metres. This technology was designed to give people, wherever they are, their location on the ground at any time. Twenty-four GPS satellites are in orbit around Earth, which means that at least three are above any given location in the world at any given moment. Radio signals from the satellites are picked up by a handheld receiver. The signals are translated by a computer in the receiver, which then shows on a digital display the operator s position in relation to the satellites. #17 Science 9 Unit E Section

30 COMMON SPIN-OFF OBJECTS WHOSE ORIGINS LIE IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY #18 Science 9 Unit E Section HOMEWORK! Textbook Check and Reflect Page 432 # 1 8 Assess Your Learning Page 433 # 1 5, 7, 8 Science 9 Unit E Section