Costs, Hazards, & Benefits of Space Exploration

1. Costs, Hazards, & Benefits of Space Exploration 9.2, 9.3

2. Agenda • Minds On – How much does it cost? • Benefits of Space Exploration • Costs & Hazards • Case Study – Space Junk • Homework

3. Learning Goals • We are learning to… • Assess the risks, hazards, and costs of space exploration • Identify the benefits of space exploration

4. Minds On • What was the cost of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the orbiter built to replace the Space Shuttle Challenger? http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttle_faq.html#1

5. Minds On • What is the total cost of NASA’s Space Shuttle program? http://www.space.com/12166-space-shuttle-program-cost-promises-209-billion.html

6. Minds On • What is the total cost of the Canadian Space Agency Program? http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/04/09/technology-csa-budget-cuts.html

7. Minds On • What is the total cost of the International Space Station? http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/space_missions/international_space_station

8. Minds On:

9. Minds On:

10. Minds On: Is it right to spend money on space exploration rather than on problems here on earth? Should weapons be allowed in space? Who should pay for space junk clean-up? Who owns space and its various celestial bodies? Is it responsible to send humans into a high-risk environment like space? Who will determine how space will be used? Who is responsible for protecting space environments? Do we have the right to alter materials in space to meet our needs?

11. Benefits • Reveals new details about the universe • Improving our understanding of Earth, the solar system, and the origins of life • SPINOFF – beneficial effect, product, or activity

12. Benefits – Space Transportation • Rockets & Shuttles Rockets lift small capsules containing crew, equipment, or satellites into orbit and beyond.

13. Benefits – Space Transportation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONaPq2L-MRg • Space Stations Assembled in stages since 1998, orbits at 400 km above earth. Canada’s contribution has been the Canadarm2, moves astronauts & equipment around as they work outside the space station. Largest spacecraft ever built…

14. Benefits – Space Transportation • Probes

15. Benefits - Products http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index2.htm

16. Benefits – Satellite Tech. • Communications • Tracking Devices • Remote Sensing & Digital Imaging • Real-time Imaging

17. Costs & Hazards • Challenges in the Physical Environment • Cosmic rays & solar radiation • Risk of space debris • Fluctuations in temperature • No atmosphere Temperatures can range from unimaginably cold in shadows to extremely hot in the full sun. No atmosphere means no gases & no pressure, which keeps our bodily fluids from boiling at room temperature.

18. Costs & Hazards • Challenges of Confined Living • Psychological problems • Confinement issues • Space requirements Imagine spending every minute of every day with one or two people for two years… stepping outside for a break is not an option.

19. Costs & Hazards • Challenges of Microgravity • Body is used to gravity of earth • Heart does not pump as hard • Muscles start to weaken • Bones loose mass • Red blood cell declines • Immune system weakens Within short period of time a person can loose up to 40% of their muscle mass. Studies of reducing negative impacts of microgravity have lead to new treatments of care for the elderly ie. osteoporosis bone degeneration. Must have 1 hr. of cardio training & 1 hr. of resistance training.

20. Case Study – Space Debris • Read the decision-making analysis pages 372 & 373 • Submit a response to the discussion forum