Exploring Space The Science of Rockets The Space Program Exploring Space Today Using Space Science on Earth Table of Contents

Exploring Space History of Rockets Rocket - a device that expels gas in one direction to move in the opposite direction –Originated in China during the 12 th century and gradually throughout the world 1100’s 1200’s Chinese created arrows coated with a flammable powder Began using gunpowder inside their rockets British began using rockets against U.S. in war 1812 Russian physicist Konstantin designs first modern rocket 1900 Major advances in rocket science occur during WWII 1940’s Rocket history time line

Exploring Space History of Rockets During WWII… –Germans used a rocket named the V2 Large rocket that traveled about 300 kilometers Designed by scientist, Wernher von Braun After WWII, Braun began designing rockets for the U.S.’s space program

Exploring Space How Do Rockets Work? - The Science of Rockets A rocket moves forward when gases shooting out the back of the rocket push it in the opposite direction.

Exploring Space Action and Reaction Forces The laws of Physics state that for every force (action) there is an equal and opposite force that occurs (reaction) –Thrust – the reaction force of a rocket –Amount of thrust depends on: Mass and speed of the exiting gas –Velocity – speed of a rocket in a certain direction Amount of velocity depends on amount of thrust a rocket has

Exploring Space Orbital and Escape Velocity Orbital velocity – the velocity a rocket must achieve to establish an orbit around the Earth –Upward thrust must be greater than the force of gravity that is pulling it downward Escape velocity – the velocity a rocket must reach to fly beyond a planet’s gravitational pull –A rocket must travel at about 40,200 kilometer/hour to reach escape velocity

Exploring Space Rocket fuels There are three types of fuels used in modern aircrafts: –Solid fuel –Liquid fuel –Electrically charged particles of gas (ions)

Exploring Space Rocket fuels Solid-fuel rocket – Oxygen mixed with fuel creates a dry explosive chemical –May be ignited with a flame –Once ignited the rocket burns until the fuel is gone –Ex: Fireworks rocket

Exploring Space Rocket fuels Liquid-fuel rockets – both oxygen and fuel are in liquid form and stored in separate compartments –As rocket fires, oxygen and fuel combine in a third chamber and are ignited –Fuel burning can be controlled by regulating how much fuel and oxygen are mixed

Exploring Space Rocket fuels Ion rockets – expel gas ions out of their engines at very high speeds –Very fuel efficient, but create less thrust than solid- fuel or liquid-fuel rockets

Exploring Space Rockets Click the Video button to watch a movie about rockets. - The Science of Rockets

Exploring Space Rocket Altitude A rocket’s altitude is how high it is above the ground. Use the graph to answer the following questions about how a model rocket’s altitude changes over time. - The Science of Rockets

Exploring Space Rocket Altitude –Altitude and time, meters and seconds Reading Graphs: –What two variables are being graphed? In what units is each variable measured? - The Science of Rockets

Exploring Space Rocket Altitude –About 65 meters; about 128 meters Reading Graphs: –What was the rocket’s altitude after 2 seconds? After 4 seconds? - The Science of Rockets

Exploring Space Rocket Altitude –6 seconds Reading Graphs: –At what time did the rocket reach its greatest altitude? - The Science of Rockets

Exploring Space Rocket Altitude –The rocket’s inertia caused it to continue to rise after its fuel ran out. Eventually friction caused the rocket to slow down and gravity caused it to fall. Inferring: –Why do you think the rocket continued to rise after it ran out of fuel? - The Science of Rockets

Exploring Space Multistage Rockets Konstantin Tsiolkovsky– (1903) proposed the idea of multistage rockets –Smaller rockets are placed one on top of another and fired in succession –Once each of rocket chamber is emptied, it is ejected off the burning rocket

Exploring Space - The Science of Rockets A Multistage Rocket A typical multistage rocket has three stages. Each of the first two stages burns all of its fuel and then drops off. The next stage then takes over.

Exploring Space Multistage Rockets Development of the Saturn V and other multistage rockets in the 1960’s made it possible to send a spacecraft to the moon and outer parts of our solar system. Today multistage rockets are used to launch a wide variety of satellites and space probes.

Exploring Space Multistage Rocket Activity Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about multistage rockets. - The Science of Rockets

Exploring Space Data Sharing Lab Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity about sharing data for the Technology Lab Design and Build a Water Rocket. - The Science of Rockets

Exploring Space The Race for Space Click the Video button to watch a movie about the race for space. - The Space Program

Exploring Space The Race for Space The space race began in 1957 with the launch of the Soviet satellite, named Sputnik I This caused the United States to speed up their program….beginning the “space race”

Exploring Space First Artificial Satellite Satellite – an object that revolves around another object in space. –Ex. Earth is a natural satellite of the sun. Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth. –After Sputnik I was launched, the U.S. launched their first satellite, called Explorer I The U.S. established a government agency to be in charge of the space program –In 1958 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created.

Exploring Space Humans in Space First person to enter space was a Soviet astronaut named, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961 One month later the U.S. sent astronaut Alan Shepard in the tiny space craft named, Freedom 7 Alan Shepard and the Freedom 7

Exploring Space Humans in Space In 1961 the U.S. also started the Apollo program –Primary goal to land astronauts on the moon July 1969 three U.S. astronauts landed on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission –Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin actually set foot on the moon, landing on a smooth spot named the “sea of tranquility” Armstrong, Collins, and Aldrin

Exploring Space Skills Activity - Calculating If you went to the moon, your weight would be about 1/6 of your weight on Earth. –Recall that in SI, weight is measured in newtons (1 lb = 4.5 N) –To find the approximate weight of an object on the moon, divide its weight on Earth by 6. An astronaut weighs 667 N on Earth. She wears a spacesuit and equipment that weigh 636 N on Earth. What is the astronaut’s total weight on the moon?

Exploring Space Humans in Space In 2004, the U.S. announced a plan to establish a permanent colony of people on the moon. From such a base, missions could be launched to carry people to Mars. ov/en/kids/mars_rocket2.sh tmlhttp://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.g ov/en/kids/mars_rocket2.sh tml

Exploring Space More on Missions to the Moon Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity about lunar exploration. - The Space Program

Exploring Space Space Shuttles A space shuttle – a spacecraft that can carry a crew into space, return to Earth, and then be reused for the same purpose –includes large rockets that launch it into orbit and then fall away –Space shuttle duties include: taking satellites into orbit repairing damaged satellites carrying astronauts and equipment to and from space stations

Exploring Space Space Shuttles NASA has built six shuttles. Tragically, two - Challenger and Columbia - were destroyed during flights. –After the Columbia disaster in 2003, there was much debate about whether to continue the shuttle program

Exploring Space Space Stations A space station – a large artificial satellite on which people can live and work for long periods of time –provides a place where long-term observations and experiments can be carried out in space

Exploring Space Space Stations 1980s, the United States and 15 other countries began planning the construction of the International Space Station –first section of the station was placed into orbit in 1998 –scientists from many countries are already carrying out experiments from the space station Computer simulation of what the completed International Space Station will look like

Exploring Space Space Probes A space probe – a spacecraft that carries scientific instruments that can collect data, but has no human crew –Has a power system to produce electricity –Has a communication system to send and receive signals –Has scientific instruments to collect data and perform experiments. Galileo Space Probe

Exploring Space Space Rovers Rover – small robot that leaves the space probe to explore the surface of the planet or moon. –Usually has instruments that collect and analyze soil and rock samples

Exploring Space Links on Space Exploration Click the SciLinks button for links on space exploration. - Exploring Space Today

Exploring Space The Challenges of Space Conditions in space are very different from those on Earth. –They include conditions that are near vacuum, extreme temperatures, and microgravity. A vacuum – a place that is empty of all matter (except for a few stray atoms) –Space shuttles and suits must be air tight

Exploring Space The Challenges of Space No gases means there is nothing to trap the sun’s heat energy. –In direct sunlight temperatures are extremely hot, but in the shadows it is extremely cold. Microgravity – the weightless feeling astronauts experience in space. –Their mass is the same as it was on earth, but their weight becomes zero.

Exploring Space Space Spin-offs Space spin-off – an item that has uses on Earth, but was originally developed for use in space –The space program has developed lots of products that are use throughout the world, including: consumer products new materials medical devices communications satellites

Exploring Space Space Spin-offs Consumer product examples include: –Joystick –Bar codes –Cordless power tools –Scratch-resistant lenses –Freeze-dried foods –Smoke detectors

Exploring Space Space Spin-offs Examples new materials include: –memory metals –shock-absorbing materials –clear, ceramic material used for invisible dental braces Examples medical devices include: –lasers to clean clogged arteries –pacemakers for hearts –computer-aided imaging techniques

Exploring Space Satellites Satellites are used for communicating, collecting weather, and other scientific data remote sensing – collecting information about Earth and other objects in space using satellites or probes geosynchronous orbit – occurs when a satellite orbits Earth at the same rate as Earth rotates – stays over the same place all the time. Satellite image shows patterns of vegetation in Africa

Exploring Space Links on Satellite Technology Click the SciLinks button for links on satellite technology. - Using Space Science on Earth

Exploring Space Graphic Organizer Astronaut Vostok 1 YearSpacecraftAccomplishment Yuri Gagarin1961 First human in space Alan Shepard Freedom 7 Friendship 7 Neil Armstrong First human to walk on the moon First American in space John Glenn First American to orbit Earth 1969Apollo 11 or Eagle