Moon and Space Exploration Notes

1. Moon and Space Exploration Notes

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4. Surface Features • Crater – bowl shaped depression caused by an impact (mainly meteorites). • Ejecta– material thrown out of the impact crater. • Rays – bright streaks of ejecta extending outward from impact crater.

5. More Surface Features • Regolith – a layer of crushed rock and dust (from impacts) that covers the moon’s surface. • Maria – dark, flat areas on the moon that are made up of solidified lava. • Rilles– long, deep channels thought to be left over lava tubes within the maria. • Highlands – white elevated areas on the moon’s surface.

6. Space Exploration Notes NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) goal is to provide for RESEARCH into problems of flight within and outside Earth’s atmosphere and to ensure that the United States conducts activities in space devoted to peaceful purposes for the BENEFIT OF HUMANITY.

7. Sputnik 1 (1957): Russia • First satellite to orbit the Earth 2. Vostok 1 (1961): Russia • Yuri Gargarian is the first human man to go into space and return alive.

8. 3. Luna 9 (1966): Russia • The first man made probe to land on the moon and transmit data back to earth. 4. Venera 4 (1967): Russia • The first probe to successfully land on another planet (Venus) and transmit data to Earth.

9. 5. Apollo 11 (1969): USA • The first man (Neil Armstrong) to land and walk on the moon. The first moon samples were brought back to Earth. 6. Columbia – STS1 (1981): USA • The space shuttle program begins.

10. 7. Discovery – STS31 (1990): USA • The Hubble Space Telescope is launched into orbit. 8. Voyager 1 (2013): USA • The first man-made probe to leave our solar system (launched in 1977).

12. Since the Apollo missions, humans have continued to explore space through the use of SPACELABS, PROBES and ROVERS. The next manned mission to the moon is planned for 2025 on the Orion spacecraft. Upcoming missions include MARSONE and the arrival of the New Horizon’s mission to ­ PLUTO in 2015.

13. How do humans study space?

14. Remote Sensing • Remote sensing is the process of collecting data and images from a distance (hence “remote”). • Satellites and aircraft detect different wavelengths of energy reflected or emitted from Earth’s surface.

15. Landsat Satellite - receives reflected wavelengths of energy from Earth, visible and infrared. Temperatures of features on Earth show up as different colors. Topex/Poseidon Satellite - uses radar to map features on the ocean floor. Global Positioning System (GPS) – radio-navigation system that uses at least 24 satellites to determine exact position on Earth’s surface. A handheld receiver shows latitude, longitude, elevation, direction and speed. Types of Satellites

16. Other tools for astronomy • Telescopes are important because they: • Can detect wavelengths our eyes cannot • Bring more light to a focus • Allow for more specialized equipment • Can make time exposures by collecting light over a long period of time

17. Refracting Use lenses to bring visible light to a focus Resulting image is inverted, smaller Reflecting Use mirrors to bring visible light to a focus Resulting image is inverted, larger Types of Telescopes

18. More Telescopes Radio(a large dish, or antenna, resembling a satellite TV dish) • Reflects radio waves to a focus above the dish where a receiver converts the radio waves into electrical signals

19. *Interferometry –process of linking separate telescopes together so that they act as one

20. SPACE TELESCOPES • Why would a telescope be more useful to exploration if it is located in space? • Space telescopes can withstand harmful radiation and do not need oxygen or water to survive. • Space telescopes can detect wavelengths of energy that cannot be detected on earth. • The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is the most well known example.

21. SPACECRAFT - UNMANNED • Like space telescopes, unmanned spacecraft can spend longer amounts of time in space. • Space probes such as Viking 1 and 2, Galileo and Cassini were sent to space in order to collect pictures. • Rovers such as Spirit and Opportunity went to the planet Mars and collected samples to analyze. • Stardust and Genesis were types of spacecraft that collected samples and then returned to earth.

22. SPACECRAFT – MANNED • In the 20th century, humans ventured into space.   • Space Timeline • 1961 – first human in space • 1969 – first human (Neil Armstrong) walks on the moon – Apollo 11 mission • 1981 – first shuttle launches • 2000 – first crew arrives on the ISS • 2011 – shuttles retire (no replacements)?

23. SPINOFFS • Space exploration has brought about many challenges. Scientists have had to create ways to monitor the health of astronauts, design lighter but stronger materials for use in space and develop new technology to use in communications and throughout the space program. • Some common spinoff technologies include the smoke detector, pace makers, under armor material, memory foam mattresses and cross training tennis shoes. • Since NASA is a government agency, they are not allowed to sell the designs for these new innovations!